6 Common Pool Problems and How to Fix Them

Owning a pool means hours and hours of summer fun—and hours and hours of pool maintenance. Fortunately, many common pool problems have simple solutions, so you can spend less time on troubleshooting and upkeep and more time working on your backstroke. Use this guide to learn about swimming pool issues you may encounter and the best way to fix them so you can get back to enjoying your pool all summer long.

1. Algae Growth

Stepping outside for a refreshing dip and discovering your pool water is green can be quite a shock! Green algae is the most common kind of algae that grows in pools, but yellow algae (also called mustard algae) and black algae can also be found in pools. 

Algae growth usually develops when sanitizer levels are too low and can be a sign that you need to adjust your chlorine levels. To remove algae growth and prevent it in the future, follow these steps:

• Shock your pool with one pound of shock for every 10,000 gallons.

• Treat your pool with the appropriate algaecide for the kind of algae you’re dealing with.

• Thoroughly brush your pool to remove algae stuck to the pool’s surface.

• Let the pool’s filtration system run to filter out algae.

• Wait 48 hours before swimming, and test your water’s chemical levels before using your pool.

2. Clogged Filter

A clogged pool filter can’t do its job effectively and has to work harder than it should. Before long, it can result in cloudy water and excess debris. 

Fortunately, a clogged filter is often an easy fix. Check your filter for debris and clear it out regularly as part of your pool maintenance checklist. If you’ve cleared your filter and problems persist, your filter may need to be serviced or replaced. Hire a pool maintenance pro to find the cause of the problem and repair or replace your filter if needed. 

3. Too Much Chlorine

If your eyes are burning, you’re having trouble breathing, or your skin is red or itchy after using your pool, too much chlorine could be to blame. Chlorine is necessary to keep your pool sanitized and safe for swimming, but too much chlorine can be irritating. 

Test your water’s chemical levels with a pool water test kit. Chlorine should be between 1 and 3 ppm. If your reading is higher than that, you can usually lower your pool’s chlorine level by simply leaving the cover off, running your pump, and waiting for the excess chlorine to dissipate. 

If testing reveals that your chlorine level is right where it should be, it could be that your pool’s pH levels are out of whack. Testing the water will let you know for sure; the ideal range for pool pH is 7.2 to 7.6. According to the CDC, high and low pool pH can both cause skin and eye irritation. Raise the pool’s pH or lower the pool’s pH as needed to get to the recommended levels.

4. Wrinkled Liner

Discovering that your pool’s vinyl liner has developed wrinkles can be a big source of worry for a pool owner. Some potential causes of a wrinkled liner include:

• An improperly installed liner

• Water getting behind the liner from tears in the liner or leaks in the pool

• Imbalanced water chemicals 

• Water loss that causes the liner to move away from the pool walls

In the case of a wrinkly liner, first test your water to ensure all chemicals are at the correct levels and adjust as needed. If your water chemistry looks good, call a local pool repair pro to pinpoint the problem. The cost of replacing a pool liner can average between $1,100 and $3,700, depending on the size and shape of your pool.

5. Scale Buildup

Scale buildup can turn your pool water gray and leave a sandpaper-like texture on the pool’s surface. Scale is usually caused by a buildup of calcium or, less often, other minerals, and you should always address a scale problem as soon as you notice it to prevent a bigger problem down the road. 

Calcium buildup occurs when the water’s pH levels are too high, so test your pool’s pH and lower the water’s pH level as needed. To remove stubborn scale from your pool’s surface, use a wet pumice stone for tile or concrete pools or a water additive specially formulated for scale for vinyl and fiberglass pools. In more extreme cases, you may need to call in a pool resurfacing pro for scale removal to avoid expensive pool resurfacing costs if the problem persists.

6. Change in Water Level

Pools will naturally lose about a quarter-inch of water a day, or about 2 to 4 inches a week, due to evaporation. This is a normal and expected amount of water loss and generally nothing to be concerned about. If your pool is losing more water than that, however, it’s a sign that you may have a pool problem.

The most common source of water loss is a pool leak. Pool leaks can happen almost anywhere in your pool and its plumbing, so you’ll want to find the leak in your pool as soon as possible. Because the inner workings of your pool are complex and trying to track down a leak can be challenging, call a pool repair pro to find and fix your leak safely and correctly.