Troubleshooting

Question 1

Cloudy water

Answer 1

Cause: Poor filtration, high calcium hardness, high total alkalinity, high bather load
Solution: Check filter, lower pH/alkalinity with muriatic acid or sodium bisulphate

Question 2

Discoloured water
Green, purpley black or red-brown

Answer 2

Cause: algae (green), manganese (black), iron (red brown)
Solution: Clean/ check filters
Algae- brush, shock, balance and algaecide
Manganese: Superchlorinate, vacuum rust
Iron- shock, brush, clarifier, balance

Question 3

Eye and skin irritation

Answer 3

Cause: Improper pH, chloramines
Solution: Adjust ph- Using muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate to lower or soda ash to raise

Question 4

Chlorine Odor

Answer 4

Cause: Insufficient chlorine, not enough FAC
Solution: Shock treat

Question 5

Scale formation

Answer 5

Cause: High pH, high alkalinity, high hardness
Solution: lower pH and alkalinity with muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate
lower hardness by draining some water from pool or adding scale controller

Question 6

corrosion

Answer 6

Cause: Low pH, low alkalinity, low hardness.
Solution: Add Baking soda to raise pH and alkalinity. Raise hardness by adding calcium chloride

Question 7

Too much chlorine

Answer 7

Add water
Add sun
Increase Temp
Add Sodium thiosulfate

Question 8

Scum ring

Answer 8

Cause: Body oils and dirt accumulation
Solution: Use tile and vinyl cleaner
Prevent: bathing before entering pool

Question 9

Foaming

Answer 9

Cause: build-up of oils or other contaminants. Or use of quat algaecide
Solution: Use a defoamer

Question 10

High combined chlorine

Answer 10

Shock the pool
OR Add potassium monopersulfate

Question 11

High pH or alkalinity (too basic)

Answer 11

Add muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate

Question 12

Low pH (too acidic)

Answer 12

Add Sodium bicarbonate

Question 13

Fecal incident (formed)

Answer 13

Step 1: Close the pool and evacuate
Step 2: Turn off pumps
Step 3: Remove fecal matter from pool, clean and disinfect scooping device
Step 4: Super chlorinate to CT 45
Step 5: Reduce FAC to .5-3ppm. Test and balance
Step 6: Turn pumps back on and if balanced reopen pool

Question 14

Diarrhea incident

Answer 14

Step 1: Close and evacuate
Step 2: Id person who was sick (if possible) and get contact info
Step 3: Turn off pumps
Step 4: Remove with scooping device, clean and disinfect device
Step 5: Vacuum
Step 6: Super chlorinate until CT time is 15300
Step 7: Turn on pumps
Step 8: Reduce FAC to .5-3ppm. Test and balance
Step 9: re-open