How Do I Make My Swimming Pool Water Clear?

Why Swimming Pool Water Gets Cloudy

It’s hot and it’s hazy. You can’t wait to jump into the cool and clear water of your swimming pool… except it isn’t.

If you’re a pool owner, then you know the dread of seeing cloudy or milky pool water. There are any number of reasons why this can happen, but here are the most likely culprits:

• You are adding incorrect levels of chlorine.
• The pH and alkalinity are not properly balanced.
• Your filters are either clogged or not working as they should.
• You have a buildup of algae, ammonia, or debris.

How to Restore Your Pool Water

Fear not! It doesn’t take much effort to restore your pool to its former sparkling state. Here are some easy ways you can clear up the cloudy water in your pool:

1. Balance the level of chlorine in your pool. You can purchase a kit to check the levels and determine how much chlorine you need to adjust. If the free chlorine is greater than 3ppm or the combined chlorine level is less than 0.5ppm, you may need to shock your pool, which will leave it out of commission for at least a day.
2. Check the pH and total alkalinity levels: Too much pH can eat the chlorine in your pool, so you need to make sure you have the right amount. High alkalinity can cause calcium scaling, which is associated with cloudiness. You can fix this by adding muriatic acid, followed by aeration, which also raises the pH level.
3. Replace your filter cartridges and backwash the pool: New filter cartridges will filter your water at the appropriate level, and a backwash will clear out the filter to remove any contaminants.
4. Scrub that pool: Give your pool a good scrubbing and vacuuming to remove debris, algae, and anything else that has accumulated in and on the sides of your pool.
   Everything needs a little TLC, including your pool! By following a few simple and quick steps, you can make sure that your pool is sparkling and ready for the next great cannonball anytime.