How to fix (and prevent) cloudy pool water

Posted on by sutroconnect

Avoid troublesome algae treatments or costly surface and equipment damage.

The Sutro Water Monitor automatically tests your water 3x/day and gives you exact instructions on how to treat your water so that your pool or spa is always ready.

For pool owners like yourself, nothing is more frustrating than going to sleep with a perfectly clear pool and waking up to a pool that looks like a giant bowl of milk (Also called Turbitidy).

Not only does cloudy pool water look super unappealing, but it is actually dangerous to swim in. That’s why it’s important that you know how to clear a cloudy pool quickly. 

We’ve scoured the web to find the best articles to answer commonly asked questions to help you transform your cloudy pool water into a crystal clear oasis.

My pool water is cloudy. Is it Dangerous?

In a word, yes it is.

Not only is there a higher risk of drowning due to not being able to see struggling swimmers or if someone has fallen in through the murky water, the levels of scary bacteria such as E. coli and Legionella may also be at dangerous levels.

Less frightening, but still nasty is high-levels of chlorine in the pool can cause skin irritations and rashes, and also cause breathing problems for those who have asthma.

When your pool water is cloudy, it is essential that you close the pool until the water ph has been restored.

Why is my pool water cloudy?

To best treat your yucky pool water, it might be helpful for you to understand exactly what is causing the issues.

The best article we found* outlines the main reasons why your pool water could be cloudy.

According to the article, the sun, natural debris or pollutants from humans could be causing your sanitizer or chlorine levels to be off.

This is why it’s important to test and keep adding sanitizer regularly.

It could also be a problem with high levels of calcium, which can make the water hazy.

Or has it been raining a lot recently? Excess rainwater in the pool can cause the pH of the water to be unbalanced.

However, the main culprit for cloudy pool water is problems with the pool’s circulation system.

Make sure to maintain the system to enable it to do its job properly and keep your pool water nice and clear. 

How do you clear a cloudy pool fast?

Of course, getting your pool in swimmable shape as quickly as possible is extremely important.

And it’s also a fairly easy fix.

The most comprehensive article we found**, lays out 6 easy steps you need to take to get your pool water clear again.👇🏼

1. Test your water pH levels

There are several testing kits available on the market to figure out exactly what is out of whack. but whichever one you use, be sure to follow the instructions carefully to ensure you get correct readings.

2. Use a pool clarifier

Essentially, the clarifier makes tiny particles join together to make bigger particles that the pool’s filter can filter more effectively. 

3. Use a pool floc

It’s similar to a clarifier, but instead of the clumps of particles being filtered out, they sink to the bottom of the pool and you’ll have to vacuum them out after turning the filtration system off 48 hours.

    An app that tells you exactly what chemicals to add to your pool and when!

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    4. Drain the pool from the bottom

    5. Clean or replace your filter

    6. Maintain your pool regularly

    How do I stop my pool from getting cloudy?

    While there are no guarantees your pool water won’t ever get cloudy, there are some measures you can take to minimize this issue.

    There are four easy steps* that should be taken daily to keep your pool in tip-top condition:

    Remove debris is the first step to prevent a cloudy pool

    Step 1. Do a Quick Skim

    The longer the debris stays in the pool, the more likely it is to wreak havoc with the pool’s free chlorine. 

    Step 2. Empty Skimmer Baskets

    It’s important to keep debris out of the pool as much as possible so it doesn’t mess with the chemical balance. 

    Step 3. Check the Bottom for Bugs

    These little critters wreak havoc with the pool’s chemicals. After scooping them out, do a quick test of the chemicals and add if necessary. 

    Step 4. Check the Water Levels

    To ensure the pumps are filtering correctly, the water has to be at the right level. Take a quick look and fill up to the right level. 

    Step 5. Test and Treat Your Pool Water Regularly 

    The best way to prevent cloudy pool water is to test and treat your pool. That way, you know that your pool chemistry is in balance.

    For ease of testing your pool chemistry, consider using Sutro: our Water Monitor for Pool, Hot Tubs and Spas.  

    Preventing is easy!

    We hope you never have a cloudy pool but if you do, the steps above should help resolve it fast.

    It’s easy to resolve cloudy pool water fast if you take the time to stay on top of debris removal and test your pool regularly.

    That’s why we at Sutro created the Smart Monitor so that at least the daily testing, will be automatic.

    * From Swim University

    ** According to the people at MyPerfectPool

    *** From The Pool Care Guy




    Don't know what chemicals to add or when? Sutro will tell you!

    With Sutro you’ll save time, cost and effort while keeping your pool chemicals in balance, even if you don’t know what you are doing, the Sutro app will help you out telling you what to do.