Fix It: Common Pool Problems & How to Solve Them
Most pool problems trace back to low chlorine, poor circulation, or a dirty filter. Check those three first.
Common pool problems and how to fix them
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Green water: Usually algae from low chlorine or a power or pump outage. Fix: brush everything, balance pH, shock hard (2–3× the normal dose), run the pump 24 hours, and clean the filter.
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Cloudy water: Usually low chlorine, high pH or alkalinity, or a tired filter. Fix: balance pH, shock, and run the pump 24 hours. Add a clarifier, or use a flocculant and then vacuum to waste.
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Black spots: Black algae rooted in the plaster. Fix: scrub with a steel brush (plaster only), apply a chlorine tablet directly to the spots, then shock.
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Mustard or yellow dust: Yellow algae on shaded walls. Fix: brush, shock heavily, and wash your tools and pool toys.
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White crust on tile: Calcium scale from hard water and evaporation. Fix: lower pH slightly and use a scale remover or pumice stone. For heavy buildup, call us about bead blasting.
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Brown or rust stains: Metals (iron, copper) in fill water or from corroded parts. Fix: add a metal sequestrant, then use an ascorbic-acid stain treatment.
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Foam: Lotions, soaps, or low-quality algaecide. Fix: shock, clean the filter, and use an anti-foam product.
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Strong chlorine smell or red eyes: Chloramines (used-up chlorine). Fix: shock the pool to break down the chloramines.
When to call Blue Kiwi Pools
Do-it-yourself care covers the routine. Anything electrical, gas-fired or structural is a job for a pro. Call us when you see:
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A pump that hums but won’t run, leaks, or keeps losing prime
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Heater or gas equipment issues
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A water level dropping faster than evaporation (a possible leak)
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Cracks, delaminating plaster, or loose tile
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Green water that doesn’t clear in 3–4 days
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Salt cell error codes you can’t clear
Rather let us handle it? Book a Blue Kiwi service visit.
