How To Troubleshoot and Fix Common Swimming Pool Problems

The Cause Is:

• Lack of chlorine
• Inconsistent chlorine
• High pH
• High or low CYA
• Bad filtration system

The Solution Is:

• Add chlorine
• Balance chemicals
• Lower pH
• Adjust CYA
• Repair filtration system

The Cause Is:

• Too low level of pool chlorine 
• Not adding enough for your size pool
• Too high or low cyanuric acid (CYA/pool stabilizer)
• Heavy rains or large bather load
• Bad/old/wrong drops 

The Solution Is:

• Add enough chlorine for your size pool
• Balance chemicals
• Lower pH
• Adjust CYA
• Get new Reagents or dropper tests

The Cause Is:

• Lack of chlorine
• Inconsistent chlorine
• High pH
• High or low CYA
• Bad filtration system

The Solution Is:

• Add chlorine, maintain shock level, and brush with wire brush
• Balance chemicals
• Lower pH
• Adjust CYA
• Repair filtration system

The Cause Is: 

• Metals (copper) in pool water
• Use of copper algaecide
• Bad well water
• Over-use of pool ionizer

The Solution Is:

• Stop using copper algaecide and only use PolyQuat 60
• Use a metal sequestrant
• Limit or stop using pool ionizer
• Have pool water trucked in 

The Cause Is: 

• Salt pools 
• Using too much pH Up or another type of pH increaser
• Splashing around/heavily used pool 
• Not using enough muriatic acid for your size pool 

The Solution Is:

• Salt pool's pH will always rise 
• Reduce amount of pH increaser 
• Test twice per week and add enough muriatic or dry acid to lower pH to proper level 

The Cause Is: 

• Leaves, metals, or something else fell into the pool  
• Over-use of copper algaecide
• Improper use of ionizer or other metal based sanitizer  

The Solution Is:

• Quickly remove all debris from the pool  
• Monitor the pool on a daily basis  
• Test twice per week and add enough muriatic or dry acid to lower pH to proper level 

The Cause Is:

• Water level below the skimmer
• Bad pump pot lid and/or O-ring
• Pump basket clogged
• Skimmer basket clogged
• Clogged pump impeller
• The filter pump is on low speed (two-speed units)
• Clogged filter

The Solution Is:

• Raise water level 1/3 - 1/2 up from bottom of the skimmer
• Replace pump pot lid and/or O-ring
• Clean pump basket
• Clean skimmer basket
• Clean pump impeller
• Increase speed on variable speed pump
• Clean or backwash filter

The Cause Is:

• The pool filter is dirty
• Restriction in the return line
• Bad pressure gauge
• Pool strainer basket or skimmer basket clogged
• Restriction in suction line - swimming pool leaks
• Air leak in suction line
• Clogged pump impeller

The Solution Is:

• Backwash or clean filter
• Clear return line
• Replace pressure gauge
• Clean pump and skimmer basket
• Clear suction side line
• Repair suction side line
• Clean pump impeller

The Cause Is:

• The pool filter is dirty
• Torn DE grids
• Torn cartridge filter
• Broken laterals in sand filter
• Broken standpipe in sand filter
• Wrong type of sand

The Solution Is:

• Backwash or clean filter
• Replace DE grids and recharge with fresh DE
• Replace cartridge
• Replace laterals
• Replace standpipe
• Use correct type of sand.  Normally #20 silica sand.