The Best Way to Fix Your Hazy Pool Water

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Hazy or cloudy water in your pool in Southwest Florida is probably one of the most common issues that pool owners suffer from. Pool water can quickly lose its clarity; your water can quickly turn from being crystal-clear to a hazy and dull very quickly.

What is this haziness in your pool water?

The milky-looking water is caused by suspended particles in the water, giving the water its hazy look. These particles are too small to touch and too small to get picked up by the filter, so they just pass straight through, staying in the water. These particles can be a variety of different substances like insoluble matter, organic debris, cosmetics like lotions and moisturizers, and dead algae.

Why do I get hazy pool water?

These particles that are suspended in the water could be different materials, such as environmental debris like insoluble matter (dust and dirt) from the outside. Organic matter like this would come from the bather and can consist of different substances such as skin cells and body oils. Other organic materials could be algae, but rarely in a pool. Man-made contamination, again most likely introduced to the water from the bather, could include cosmetics such as detergents, make-up, lotions, and moisturizers. They have washed off the bather into the water.

How do you make your water in your pool clear again?

1.  Empty and refill your pool

Firstly, make sure your core levels are correct. Having low sanitizer levels can cause hazy water as there just isn’t enough ‘fuel in the tank’ to cope with the organic matter being introduced into the water.

·        Ph: 7.4 – 7.6

·        Total alkalinity: 100 – 150 ppm

·        Sanitizer: – Chlorine 3 – 5 ppm / Bromine 4 – 6 ppm

It is advised to seek professional help for this undertaking to ensure optimum results.

2.  Shock treatment

Non-Chlorine Shock

Probably the best way to treat hazy water is by what’s commonly known as ‘shocking’ your water. Shocking your water will oxidize any organic matter. This means it will burn off the organic matter which is usually the most common form of contamination in pool water and turn it into gas, therefore removing it from the water. There are a variety of chemicals which will do this:

Non-chlorine shock (preferred) – add 20g per 1000 liters of water (average hot tub is about 1500 liters) Remove hot tub cover and allow to circulate for up to an hour for full effect.

Chlorine granules – Increase your free chlorine level to 20 ppm and allow to circulate with the cover off.

Bromine granules – Increase your bromine level to 20 ppm and allow to circulate with the cover off.

The preferred treatment is non-chlorine shock as you will be able to use the pool after treating. By using chlorine or bromine granules, you will need to wait until the level naturally reduces to an acceptable level before using the hot tub again. Contact Contemporary Pools of Southwest Florida for more information. Our professionals can help!

 3.  Filter

The filter in a pool is often overlooked. Your pool filter requires regular cleaning; blocked filters mean that they aren’t doing their job properly, so make sure filters are rinsed regularly and are treated with a filter cleaner periodically to remove oils and greases. New filters need fitting every 6 – 12 months.

4.  Clarifier

A clarifier is a specialty water treatment. It works by coagulating the small particles in the water, which are causing the hazy water, into larger particles. These particles are then large enough to get caught in the pool filter and are therefore removed from the water. When you use this treatment, make sure you rinse out your filters to remove the extra debris that has been taken out of your water.

The best cure by far is prevention. By not introducing the contamination to the water, you will remove the possibility that you will get hazy water. We suggest to have your pool professionally cleaned and serviced by the expert pool technicians at Contemporary Pools, a pool company in Southwest Florida servicing Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and Fort Myers, Florida. We offer a variety of pool service and maintenance packages that will suit any of the busiest of lifestyles. Our repair specialists are at hand to respond to your emergency needs. We offer a complete premier equipment upgrade and replacement center.

We hope that you have found this article informative and useful. If you have any questions or comments about this article, please feel free to contact us at 239-549-2300.