Something wrong with your pool? This section is organized around symptoms – what you’re seeing – so you can find the right fix fast. Most pool problems have a straightforward cause and a defined solution. The key is identifying which problem you actually have before reaching for a chemical or calling a service company.
A few things to know before you start: test your water first, always. Many pool problems look identical on the surface but have completely different causes. Cloudy water from low chlorine is fixed differently than cloudy water from calcium precipitation. The guides below walk through diagnosis before treatment.
Before You Add Anything — Test First
Most pool problems are either a chemistry issue or a circulation/filtration issue. Test pH, FC, TA, and CYA before adding any chemicals. A $15 test kit reading takes 3 minutes and will save you from making things worse.
Pages in This Section
Cloudy Pool Water: Causes and Fixes
The most common pool complaint. Cloudy water has six distinct causes – low chlorine, high pH, filtration failure, algae bloom, calcium precipitation, or debris load. This guide diagnoses which one you have and how to fix it.
Green Pool Water and Algae Treatment
A green pool is an active algae bloom. This is a multi-step remediation process: shock dosing based on CYA, continuous filtration, brushing, and the follow-up chemistry to prevent recurrence.
Pool Stains: Identification and Removal
Stains are either organic (leaves, algae, tannins) or mineral (iron, copper, manganese). Easy to tell apart, and the treatment is completely different. Covers identification, removal, and prevention.
Foam on Pool Water
Surface foam is almost always caused by organic contamination – body oils, sunscreen, algaecide, or detergent residue. Here’s how to identify the source, clear it quickly, and prevent it from coming back.
Chlorine Level Problems
Covers both sides: chlorine that won’t stay up (often a CYA or demand issue) and chlorine that reads zero despite adding it (chlorine demand). Includes the test for chlorine demand and the protocol to fix it.
Pool Pump and Filter Troubleshooting
A diagnostic guide for the most common equipment failures: pump won’t prime, low flow, noisy motor, air bubbles in return lines, pressure gauge problems, and filter bypassing.