It’s easy to blame your pool cleaning equipment if you’ve just spent countless hours cleaning your swimming pool, only for it to still look dirty! While it’s true that broken or poor-quality pool cleaning tools can be to blame, that’s not always the case. In fact, there can be several possible causes:
Filtration Issues
Your pool filter is responsible for removing the fine dirt you can’t see. If it doesn’t work properly, that debris just goes straight back into the water.
Fortunately, there are many signs that point to this being the case, such as the water looking cloudy after vacuuming and the dirt settling back on the bottom quickly. There can also be weak water flow from the return jets.
In many situations, filtration problems relate to a clogged filter, old or worn filter media, or a filter that’s too small for the pool. Sometimes, you simply haven’t run the pump for long enough.
Dealing with this issue? Start by backwashing or cleaning the filter, and replace the cartridge or the sand if it’s old. Then, run the pump for 8-12 hours.
Poor Water Circulation
If your filter appears to be working fine, consider the prospect of poor circulation. If the water isn’t circulating properly, dirty water simply isn’t reaching the filter to be cleaned. In this case, you may notice that dirt is collecting in the same spots, and there are ‘dead spots’ where the water barely moves.
Often, poor water circulation results from a dirty pump basket, a blocked skimmer basket, or return jets that aren’t facing the right direction. In more serious cases, the pool pump is weak or failing.
To resolve this problem, empty the baskets and angle the return jets to create circular water movement. Finally, check the pump suction. If you suspect your pool pump is failing, call trusted pool technicians for help.
Algae is Starting to Grow
If your swimming pool is beginning to look a little dusty and dull, it isn’t always dust or dirt. Sometimes, it’s the very early signs of algae growth. It can look like a dust layer that returns after brushing and can have a slight green tinge. The walls may also feel slippery.
Algae growth is common when there isn’t enough chlorine in the water, the water is warm, or the pool has poor circulation.
To resolve algae growth, brush the walls and floor, shock the pool, and maintain proper chlorine levels. Your local pool maintenance experts can help with this.
There is a Chemical Imbalance
You could have just filled your swimming pool with the cleanest water, but, frustratingly, it can still look dull and cloudy! This is often due to bad chemistry. Now’s the right time to brush up on your chemical balancing skills.
Check the chlorine, pH levels, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. High pH causes cloudy water, while low chlorine causes algae growth. High calcium levels are also synonymous with white, cloudy water.
Need a quick fix? Test the water and balance the chemicals. Your pool will clear quickly!
There’s Debris in Your Pool Equipment
Dirt can be hiding deep inside your pool equipment where you can’t see it. As a result, it can be both frustrating and confusing when you’re trying to clean your pool and end up introducing more debris without realizing it!
Check the common hiding spots where debris often gets stuck, such as in pool pipes and filters, behind ladders or steps, and in skimmer throats.
The Dirt is Too Fine for the Filters
While most quality pool filters are designed to capture fine particles, they don’t always remove everything, such as dust, pollen, and dead algae. You may notice fine particles in your pool when the water looks milky or hazy, and when dust settles on the bottom of the pool after vacuuming.
Fortunately, there’s a solution. Use a pool clarifier or flocculant product. Pool floc binds tiny particles into a large clump, making them easier to vacuum. Next, run the filter for longer than you normally would, and then slowly vacuum the pool.
Your Vacuuming Technique is Wrong
Have you asked the experts how to use your pool maintenance equipment properly? Sometimes, user error is to blame when a pool still looks dirty after cleaning, because you can end up stirring up the dirt, rather than removing it!
Many people move the vacuum too quickly, don’t seal the head properly, and use the hose when it’s full of air. These mistakes cause debris to float back into the water.
Talk to your local pool technician about the best pool vacuuming practices. Alternatively, leave this form of maintenance in their capable hands with a weekly service!
Your Pool Equipment is Broken or Worn
Just as a vacuum cleaner you use in your home wouldn’t clean your floors properly if it’s worn out or broken, pool equipment can’t effectively clean your pool for the same reasons.
A cracked vacuum head means more dirt and debris will remain in your pool than can be removed, and a torn filter cartridge can also stop dirt from being trapped and removed. If you feel like you’re wasting your time cleaning your pool week after week, inspect your equipment. Repairs or replacement may be necessary.
Leave Pool Cleaning and Maintenance to Safari Pool Service in DFW
An unclean pool can be frustrating! Especially when you want to spend more time swimming and less time cleaning. The good news is that you can take a hands-off approach to pool care in Dallas-Fort Worth. Safari Pool Service provides a convenient weekly pool maintenance service that includes skimming leaves and debris, checking chemical levels, brushing pool surfaces, inspecting equipment, and more.
Ready to experience a sparkling clean pool once more? Request a free quote from Safari Pool Service today.
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