If your pool water becomes cloudy after rain or other factors, here are some common methods + cleaning tips with home remedies!
Since the clarity of the water in the swimming pool depends on numerous factors, pool water can become cloudy and green, which is unpleasant. This can make the otherwise entertaining place seem intimidating to family and guests in the summer, which is why certain countermeasures are necessary. So that you can clear milky pool water again, it is important to act in good time and prevent such problems. Here are some of the possible causes of cloudy pool water, as well as common methods you can use to clean it.
Why does pool water become cloudy after rain and what influencing factors need to be taken into account?
Some of the main reasons for milky pool water are unbalanced chlorine levels, pH and alkalinity, as well as high calcium hardness, algae formation, ammonia and clogged filter system. As for rainfall, it can also cause your pool water to become cloudy and milky. This is because rainwater binds to dirt particles in the air and causes them to fall into the pool. It can therefore make sense to maintain the chemical balance in the water bodies and prepare them in a timely manner for a rainfall. The preventative approach plays a crucial role in regularPool maintenance before or after rainand prevents future problems.
In addition, if disruptive factors occur, you should not leave your swimming pool unattended so that you do not make the pool water cloudy due to too much chlorine or other errors. Although fluctuations in values are difficult to prevent, testing the pool water would be a first step you should take. During rainy periods, pay attention to the weather forecast and check your pool's water chemistry so you can balance the chemicals in it in advance. So before your pool water becomes cloudy, you can use some ideal values as a guide when testing. They will probably never be in the ideal range, but this would make it easier to ensure balanced pool water.
An example of ideal alkalinity would be 80-100 ppm, while the optimal pH is between 7.4 and 7.6. As for calcium hardness, it is 200-400 ppm, while the cyanuric acid content should be between 30 and 50 ppm. As already described above, chlorine also plays a crucial role, although 2.0 and 4.0 ppm would be ok despite the pool water being cloudy. In addition, the total dissolved solids should not exceed 2500 ppm. If it's about to rain or stormy, you can add a higher dose of required chemicals to your pool to prevent water contamination.
Can cloudy pool water be cleared with home remedies or chemicals?
The algae that often develops in stagnant water gives a greenish hue and causes the appearance of green deposits on the walls. In addition, improper pool maintenance can cause microorganisms to multiply and cause major problems. If this causes your pool water to become cloudy or other dirt to accumulate in it, you can use effective clarifying agents, but these are often expensive or can cause eye or skin irritation if used incorrectly. Even if you use proven chemical cleaners, the pool water, for example, can become cloudy despite flocculants. Fortunately, some less intrusive measures and remedies can also be used to combat cloudy pool water in such cases.
The use of algaecide would also be able to eliminate green algae in its early stages that make pool water appear cloudy. However, the best way to get rid of algae is to clear your pool of it with a large leaf net and then treat it with a special vacuum and chlorine. You should only use algaecide occasionally for prevention and when green algae is just starting to appear. This would not make sense if the algae infestation is large and clearly visible. Although baking soda increases pH, you could use it as a home remedy if it is between 7.2 and 7.5. Baking soda is used as a substitute for chlorine in some cases, which could also reduce eye irritation while swimming. To do this, you can add about 700 grams of baking soda per 38,000 liters of water.
What other actions to take if pool water becomes cloudy?
For example, there is also the option of switching from chemically controlled fresh water to salt water. The salt level in the pool is barely noticeable to swimmers, but the salt provides the necessary acids to prevent algae growth. As the salt breaks down, it converts into a bacteria-killing form of natural chlorine. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide would also break down in water and could act as a natural alternative to chlorine. This milder variant also proves to be beneficialAnimals in the garden areathan safe and is more environmentally friendly because hydrogen peroxide evaporates. You can add about a cup of hydrogen peroxide for every 1 gallon of water.
You may also consider growing appropriate plant varieties near your pool to prevent your pool water from becoming cloudy. The advantage of this preventative measure is that many leafy plants release oxygen and thereby promote good bacteria in the water. These feed on algae and other microorganisms that can cloud the water. If you want to take it a step further, you can even make your swimming pool a water garden by adding aquatic plants to it. In this way you create a living filter system with oxygen, although for salt water you should choose plant varieties that like brackish water.
Also, try to shower before using your pool to avoid additional dirt clouding the water. This would be a simple and natural countermeasure to better prevent cloudy pool water. When swimming, the body also leaves behind oils, although you should also be careful when using sunscreen. Showering before entering the pool removes cloudy oils and prevents them from settling in the pool water. A clever hack is to throw tennis balls into the water and let them float around. The felty coating on a tennis ball can absorb the grease deposits in the water and make the pool water look clear again.