How Can I Get Rid of Cloudy Pool Water Fast?

Has your pool water lost its sparkle? Is the water hazy? Or worst-case scenario, can you not even see the pool floor anymore? You have a case of cloudy water, my friend. Of course, you are wondering “How can I get rid of cloudy pool water fast?” But there’s no need to panic. Cloudy pool water is not a difficult fix. Your pool care pros at Fronheiser Pools are here to help with a list of common causes of this annoying condition and guaranteed fixes to clear it up. Let’s get started.

Low Levels of Chlorine or Other Sanitizer 

Cloudy water can happen if there is a buildup of sunscreen or other substances. Also, exposure to UV rays can contribute to cloudy water. Solution: Test the level of sanitizer. Your free chlorine and combined chlorine levels should be between 1-3 ppm. To quickly set things right, you can add calcium hypochlorite shock to the water. Also check the level of cyanuric acid in the water. If the sun’s UV rays are the problem and your CYA level is not 30-50 ppm, you need to add some cyanuric acid. 

Imbalanced Pool Chemicals 

Poor water chemistry can lead to all sorts of problems and is a common cause of cloudy pool water. Solution: Test your water and make necessary adjustments to pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels. A liquid test kit will give you good results. Or bring a water sample to Fronheiser Pools for testing.

• pH: 7.4-7.6
• Alkalinity: 80-120 ppm for vinyl and fiberglass pools
• Calcium Hardness: 100-200 ppm

 

Faulty Filtration

If your pool filter is not working properly, debris and other contaminants will not be filtered out. Your pool pump is the heart of this situation. Solution: Check the following.

• Is the pump powerful enough to cycle the entire amount of water in the pool through the filter in an 8-hour period? 
• Are you running the filtration system 8 to 12 hours a day? 
• Have you cleaned your filter recently? It may need to be backwashed or the cartridge or sand replaced, depending on which type of filter you have. 
• Have you emptied the skimmer basket? 

 

Weather and the Environment

Outside conditions are often a culprit when it comes to cloudy pool water. Rainstorms, heavy pollen, leaves falling, and other factors can affect water quality. Unfortunately, cloudy water can also be an indicator of the beginning of an algae infestation. Solutions:

• To get rid of algae, you will need to skim, brush, and vacuum the pool thoroughly. Add shock and then add algaecide to treat the water. 
• After a storm, test the water, remove all visible debris, and clean the pool. 

 

Super Fixes

The next two methods of clearing cloudy pool water each take 24-48 hours but will definitely do the trick. 

• Pool clarifier. This method works best if your cloudy water situation is on the milder side. Clarifier works with the filtration system to rid the pool of all contaminants that are creating the problem. First, clean and manually vacuum the pool. Test the water, adjust the chemical levels and add pool shock. Run the pool filtration system for 24 hours non-stop. Lastly, add pool clarifier. Clarifier clumps together any remaining tiny debris particles into larger bits that your filter will pick up and remove. 
• Pool flocculant. Pool floc works similarly to pool clarifier, in that it causes small particles to clump together. However, the particles will not pass through the pool filtration system. Instead, they will fall to the bottom of the pool. After adding pool floc to the water, turn off the filter and let the particles settle for 8-12 hours. It is somewhat labor intensive to get them out of the water, as you will need to manually, and very slowly, vacuum up the debris from the floor of the pool. 

  It may be an unpleasant shock to come out and find that you have a pool full of cloudy water. However, now that you know it is fairly easy to sort out the issue, you can relax. No more worries about “How can I get rid of cloudy pool water fast?” Your friendly pool professionals at Fronheiser Pools are here to answer your questions and provide you with all the products you need for a speedy and effective solution. You will be ready for that pool party before you know it! Want to learn more about caring for your pool and keeping your water pristine? Read Water Care 101: Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know.