Why Is My Pool Water Cloudy and How Do I Fix It?Updated 2 months ago

Cloudy pool water is a common frustration, but it’s usually fixable with a few tweaks to your maintenance routine. Let’s break down the causes—from filtration hiccups to chemical imbalances—and give you clear solutions to restore that crystal-clear finish.

Common Causes of Cloudy Water

1. Poor Filtration

   • Clogged or dirty filter.

   • Incorrect filter run time (e.g., not running long enough in hot weather).

   • Worn-out filter media (sand, cartridges, or DE grids).

2. Chemical Imbalance

   • Low chlorine levels (below 1 ppm).

   • High pH (above 7.8) or alkalinity (above 120 ppm).

   • Low calcium hardness (below 150 ppm for concrete pools).

   • High cyanuric acid (above 50 ppm reduces chlorine effectiveness).

3. Environmental Factors

   • Dust storms, pollen, or bushfire ash.

   • Heavy rain diluting chemicals.

   • Organic debris (leaves, grass).

4. Other Issues

   • Early-stage algae growth (before visible blooms).

   • Swimmer waste (oils, sunscreen).

Step-by-Step Fixes

1. Test Your Water

Start with a reliable test kit to check:

• Chlorine (1–3 ppm).

• pH (7.2–7.6).

• Alkalinity (80–120 ppm).

• Calcium hardness (200–300 ppm for concrete; 150–200 ppm for fibreglass/vinyl).

• Cyanuric acid (30–50 ppm).

Need a test kit? Grab out best-selling Water TechniX 7-in-1 test strips

2. Clean or Replace Your Filter

• Sand filters: Backwash until the water runs clear. Replace sand every 5–7 years.

• Cartridge filters: Remove and hose off debris. Soak in filter cleaner to melt off sticky gunk and junk (Water TechniX Filter Cleaner)

• DE filters: Backwash and recharge with fresh DE powder.

Pro tip: Run your filter 8–12 hours daily in summer to keep up with demand.

3. Balance Chemicals

• Adjust pH: Use pH decreaser (sodium bisulfate) or increaser (sodium carbonate).

• Boost chlorine: Shock the pool to 5–10 ppm if levels are low then wait for chlorine levels to normalise before swimming)

• Lower cyanuric acid: Partially drain and refill the pool if levels are too high or use some Bio-Active Cyanuric Acid Reducer 

4. Use Clarifiers or Flocculants

• Clarifiers: Bind tiny particles for your filter to catch. Add dose weekly during peak use. (Water TechniX Clarifier)

• Flocculants: Rapidly clump particles to sink debris for vacuuming (use for severe cloudiness). (Water TechniX Floc)

Explore our Pool Chemical Collection for more options

5. Tackle Environmental Factors

• Skim debris daily.

• Cover the pool during dust storms or high winds.

• Vacuum after heavy rain or storms.

Prevention Tips

• Test weekly: Adjust chemicals before issues arise.

• Clean filters regularly: Follow your filter type’s maintenance schedule.

• Shock Frequently: Especially after heavy use or storms.

• Brush walls: Prevent biofilm buildup where particles cling.

When to Call a Pro

• Cloudiness persists despite balanced chemicals and clean filters (could indicate pump issues).

• Recurring cloudiness with no obvious cause (may signal phosphates or metals in water).

Final Tip: Cloudy water is often a sign your pool is “talking to you”—don’t ignore it! Stay proactive with testing and cleaning, and you’ll spend less time fixing and more time floating.