Symptom |
Possible Cause |
Possible Reason |
Solution |
Chemical |
Cloudy Water |
Build up of dirt & bather pollution. |
Insufficient chlorine or poor filtration |
Backwash filter then super chlorinate. Add
clarifier to polish water. |
|
|
Start of algae growth |
Insufficient levels of chlorine. |
Super chlorinate. After 24 hours Liquid Chlorine
backwash filter. Maintain chlorine level above 3ppm. Prevent recurrence of algae growth. |
Liquid Chlorine
Chlorine Granule
Chlorine Tablets
Algaecide |
|
Chlorine ineffective |
Over stabilization |
Dilute pool water and super chlorinate. |
Liquid Chlorine |
|
Ineffective filtration |
Filter blocked or filter media needs renewing |
Check sand, filter cartridge or D.E. Media |
See below |
|
Suspended particles |
Precipitation of salts due to high PH or high alkalinity. |
Correct pH and/or alkalinity |
Dry acid |
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Unpleasant Water |
High combined chlorines. |
Free chlorine levels too low |
Dilute pool water |
|
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Sore eyes/throat.
Itching Skin |
Detergents from cleaning compounds getting into pool water. |
Reaction between chlorine
and detergent. |
Use chlorine compatible cleaners. |
Tile & liner cleaner |
|
Water too acidic or alkaline. |
pH too low or too high. |
Correct pH as in chart. |
Dry Alkali or Dry Acid |
|
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|
Chlorine level difficult to maintain |
Sunlight destroys chlorine. |
Chlorine not stabilized. |
Use stabilizer or stabilized chlorine. |
Stabilizer. Chlorine granules or Chlorine tablets. |
|
Build up of pollutants |
Insufficient chlorination. |
Super chlorinate |
Liquid Chlorine |
|
High water temperature |
Organisms multiply more rapidly. |
Increase dose rate of sanitiser. |
Chlorine granules or chlorine tablets. |
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Apparent inability to get a chlorine reading on test kit in spite of chlorine addition. |
Chlorine levels may be too high |
High chlorine content bleaches reagent in test tablet |
Dechlorinate. Allow chlorine to reduce naturally over a period of time. If very high reduce with chemicals.
|
Neutraliser |
|
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|
|
pH too low |
Low pH of local mains water |
Insufficient Dry Alkali being added. |
Add Dry Alkali as per instructions. pH to be between 7.2 & 7.6. |
Dry Alkali |
|
Use of acidic chlorine donors. |
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pH too high |
High pH of local mains water |
Insufficient Dry Acid being added, or applied incorrectly |
Add acid as per instructions .Maintain pH to be between . 7.2 & 7.6. |
Dry Acid |
|
Use of alkaline donors. |
High alkalinity |
Reduce alkalinity to 200ppm Check pH |
Dry Acid |
|
Salts being leached from new concrete pools |
Self correcting over a period of time |
Add acid to maintain pH between 7.2 & 7.6. |
Dry Acid |
|
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|
pH levels erratic |
Insufficient bicarbonate to buffer pH. |
Low total alkalinity. |
Add bicarbonate. Min 100ppm required. |
Alkalinity Increaser |
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|
pH locked |
Too high a level of bicarbonates. |
Topping up from the mains water can increase alkalinity in hard water areas. |
Reduce alkalinity to 200ppm Check pH. |
Dry Acid |
Low Alkalinity |
Bicarbonates reduced by dilution particularly in soft water areas. |
Mains water has low level of bicarbonates. |
Add bicarbonate. Min 100ppm required. |
Alkalinity Increaser |
Pool walls feel slimy |
Algae growing |
Insufficient chlorination and pool wall brushing. |
Super chlorinate to kill algae. Sweep or vacuum debris. Prevent recurrence with algaecide. |
Liquid Chlorine
Algaecide |
|
|
|
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|
Dirt on pool wall at water line. |
Build up of body fat, sun oil or cosmetics. |
Irregular cleaning of surfaces. |
Clean with environment friendly chemical. |
Tile & Liner Cleaner |
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|
Rough scale formed on pool surfaces. |
Water out of balance |
Ratio of calcium hardness to total alkalinity incorrect |
Check levels of pH, alkalinity and calcium. Seek advice from 1st Direct. |
Go to 'Contact 1st Direct' |
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Sharp edges round tiles. |
Grout being leached by water. |
Mains water too soft. |
Regrout the pool. Increase calcium levels to min. 250ppm & maintain. Consider changing sanitiser to HTH Calcium Hypochlorite which will ensure calcium levels are maintained. |
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Ineffective Filtration |
Sand filter
Is the sand level correct? |
|
|
|
|
no: |
No Not enough sand to filter out particles. |
Renew or top up sand. |
Go to 'Contact 1st Direct' |
|
yes: |
Blocked filter or filtration needs assistance |
Backwash filter and use filter aid. |
Sparkle |
|
Cartridge filter:
Is cartridge in good clean
condition? |
|
|
|
|
no: |
Filter allowing particles to pass through. |
Renew cartridge |
Go to 'Contact 1st Direct' |
|
yes: |
Filter requires assistance |
Backwash and use filter aid. |
Sparkle |
|
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Pool left unattended for long period of time |
Unable to treat daily. |
Use Fi-Buoy. Remember to run filter daily on a timeclock. |
|
Fi-Buoy |
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pH Scale on test kit |
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