There’s nothing more unsettling than going out to use your pool and seeing that the water isn’t clean, fresh, or clear. Instead, you see green gunk all over.
But the real question is, “why did my pool turn green”? And of course, how do you take care of this problem? So in this article, let’s talk about some of the common reasons that pools can turn green.
And keep in mind that pool maintenance in Atlanta is only one call away if you notice discoloration.
Why Does My Pool Keep Turning Green?
Let’s dive into answering “why does the pool water turn green?” once and for all:
1. Low chlorine levels
This is probably the most common reason that people have green pools. At Absolute Pool & Spa Care, the experts often see that folks keep their chlorine levels below 1 ppm. It should be between 1 ppm to 3 ppm at least.
Otherwise, there’s no free chlorine in the water to combat algae growth. That’s why you’re seeing a lot of green, because algae is free to grow without the proper chemicals. So testing from professionals is really important.
2. High cyanuric acid levels
Another potential answer to “why does my pool turn green?” is cyanuric acid. Chlorine pucks, or stabilized pool chlorine, can cause cyanuric acid levels to rise in the pool. While chlorine is important, you also need to keep it in check with other chemicals.
It acts to balance it and prevent the chlorine from actually burning from UV rays of the sun. Again, the end result is the same, in which there’s not enough chlorine to clean it.
3. The pH levels are too high
If you’re noticing a theme yet, there are several chemicals that need to be properly balanced in a pool to make it clear instead of green.
And that means there are different potential answers to “why does my pool look green?” — so pH levels are one of them. If the pH level is too high, such as 8.0 or more, then the chlorine will be less effective.
4. Phosphate levels are too high
A lot of test kits that you might use at home or order online don’t test for this. However, it’s really important to have correct phosphate levels.
Experts can inspect your pool and balance the proper chemicals to ensure that the phosphate levels maintain the chlorine concentration that you need to keep your pool from being green. This is especially true after rain, debris, or runoff.
5. Metals in the pool
While most green pools have to do with algae, sometimes metals can make your pool water green. This is true if you have copper or iron in the water, which is common in many areas in the United States.
It might be easily mistaken for algae, so don’t hesitate to reach out to Absolute Pool & Spa Care to ensure you don’t have excess metals in your water. After all, you should be able to enjoy clean, clear water.
How To Fix Green Pool Water
When it comes to green pool water, there are certain ways to fix it and there are certain ways to prevent it. But in the first place, you need to understand how to test it.
Sometimes that takes a professional eye and professional equipment. From there, you might consider maintenance and cleaning to ensure that your pool levels are always properly balanced.
That way, you’ll never ask “why does my pool water look green?”— but you’ll always have blue, sparkling, clear water instead.
