Troubleshooting
Why Does My Pool Smell Like Chlorine? (It's Not What You Think)
That sharp chemical smell almost always means your chlorine is used up, not overdosed. Here's what's actually happening in the water and how to fix it.
How to Get Rid of Mustard Algae
Mustard algae shrugs off normal chlorine levels and hides in shady corners and equipment. Here's the specific brush-and-shock protocol that actually clears it, plus how to stop it coming back.
Why Is My Pool Water Turning Brown or Rust-Colored?
Brown or rust-colored pool water almost always means one of two things: dissolved metal or organic debris. Here's how to tell them apart before you reach for chlorine.
Why Does My Pool Have a Yellow Tint?
A yellow or mustard cast on your pool water usually means one of two things: mustard algae or a heavy pollen bloom. Here's how to tell them apart and what to do about each.
What Are Those White Flakes in My Pool Water?
Small white flakes drifting through the water or crusting the tile line are almost always calcium scale, not a sign your pool is dirty or unsafe. Here's how to confirm it and what actually fixes it.
Pool Staining: Causes and How to Remove Each Type
Rust-brown, blue-green, and chalky white marks all get called "pool stains," but they come from different causes and need different fixes. Here's how to tell them apart.
Why Does My Pool Floor Feel Slippery?
A slick, slimy pool floor is usually early-stage algae biofilm forming before you can see any color change. Here's how to check for it and what to do before it turns into a visible bloom.
Why Is My Pool Losing Water? Evaporation vs. a Leak
A simple bucket test to tell normal evaporation from a real leak, plus the signs that mean it's time to call a leak-detection service.
Why Isn't My Pool Filter Catching Debris?
Leaves and dirt still swirling around even though the pump is running usually means the water isn't actually making it through the filter media. Here's how to trace it back to a valve, a torn cartridge, or a backwash you skipped.
Why Is My Pool Foaming?
Pool foam almost always traces back to something you (or a product) put in the water, not a chemistry emergency. Here's how to find the source and clear it up.
Why Do My Eyes Sting After Swimming in My Pool?
Stinging eyes almost never mean too much chlorine. Here's how to tell whether pH or combined chlorine (chloramines) is the real cause, and what to do about each.
Why Is My Pool Cloudy After Rain?
Rain dilutes your chemistry, washes in debris, and can shift your pH all at once. Here's why that clouds the water and the order to rebalance it in.
Why Is My Pool Cloudy After Shocking It?
Cloudy water after a shock treatment is usually a normal, short-lived side effect, but it can also point to a filtration problem. Here's how to tell the difference.
What Is Chlorine Lock and How Do You Fix It?
Your chlorine reads fine but the pool still turns cloudy or green: here's what "chlorine lock" actually means, why it's almost always a cyanuric acid problem, and the two real ways to fix it.
Black Algae vs. Green Algae: How to Tell the Difference and Treat Each
Black algae and green algae look nothing alike under the surface and need different brushing and dosing approaches. Here's how to identify which one you have and treat it correctly the first time.