From Green to Clean

Few things can put a damper on swimming season in Minnesota like a green pool that you just can’t seem to fix. Not only is a green pool an eyesore, but it can also leave you spending money unnecessarily to correct the problem if you don’t know the proper methods.

Fortunately, getting your pool from green to sparkling clean involves following just a few key steps.

What Makes a Pool Green?

To correct your green pool, it helps to first understand what’s causing the color. The reason your pool has taken on a green hue is likely due to algae growth. There are a number of conditions that allow algae to flourish in your pool, including:

• Imbalanced water chemistry
• A dirty or clogged filter
• Poor water circulation
• Lack of chlorine

A combination of sun exposure, rainy weather, and spiking temperatures is most often how algae problems begin. These conditions can throw off the balance of your pool’s water chemistry, leaving it vulnerable to algae growth, which is enhanced by sunlight and warmth.

How to Get Rid of Algae in Your Pool

Once algae growth has taken hold, it can take some time and effort to remove it. That’s why you want to address it as soon as possible and always have the necessary chemicals on hand. But even if algae growth has been an issue in your pool for a while, you can get your water back to sparkling clear with these simple tips:

Test Your Water Chemistry

Before taking any action to remove the algae from your pool, you’ll first want to get an idea of what your water chemistry looks like. This will give you an idea of how the algae growth has impacted your water’s balance and what your water could be lacking to allow algae to grow in the first place.

You can test the water with test strips or a test kit. With test strips, you simply dip one into the water, wait a few seconds, and then match the colors on the strip to the guide on the packaging to determine your water chemistry.

Check Your Equipment

Next, you’ll want to ensure that there’s nothing blocking your pool’s filtration system. Run the pump, and check both the skimmer and filter. If everything seems to be running smoothly, you can proceed to the next steps. If not, then you’ll need to address the blockage beforehand.

Add Chemicals to Balance pH and Alkalinity

If your test strip reveals that the pH and alkalinity levels are off in your pool’s water, you’ll want to add the necessary chemicals at this point. Balancing your pH and alkalinity will allow your next steps to proceed as effectively as possible.

Brush the Algae Off the Pool’s Surfaces

It’s going to be much harder to treat your green pool if you have algae clinging to the walls and floor of it. Grab your pool brush, and scrub down the surfaces to get all the algae into the water, where you can then attack it with chemicals and filter it out.

It’s important to be thorough with this step because any algae left clinging can then lead to more algae growth, defeating the purpose of your other efforts.

Shock the Pool

One of the primary reasons for algae growth is having a low level of chlorine in your pool. You can quickly address this issue by shocking your pool.

Shocking your pool involves adding a large amount of chlorine that can effectively kill off and clear out the algae you’ve brushed into the water with the help of your pool’s filtration system. Add your pool shock, and continue to run the filter until the water is cleared.

Check Water Levels Again

After 24 hours, your pool should no longer look green. If you are still seeing a green hue, test the water levels again, and add any necessary chemicals. You might also shock the pool for a second or third time. If you are still struggling with a green pool, reach out to a pool care professional for further advice.

Professional Pool Care From Performance Pools

By following these tips, you can have your green pool crystal clear and ready for swimming again in no more than a week.

For the best results, turn to the pool care pros at Performance Pools | Poolwerx. We take pride in providing next-level care and service to every customer. Contact us or stop by your nearest location today.