Common Pool and Spa Problems
Pool owners notice when something is not right with their pool or spas.
Sometimes they ignore it, making the situation worse.
Other times they do not know what the problem could be.
There are few clues pool owners can spot to decide when pool and spa repair is needed.
There are many things that may need repair in a pool if there are inconsistencies in the water behavior or pool function.
Pools can have a worn or torn pool liner, cracks in a concrete pool, warped or cracked diving board, or loose pool tile or coping.
The most common problems are found in a malfunctioning pool filter, heater, or pump.
Oftentimes, problems in the pool can be attributed to leaks.
It is not unusual to lose a quarter of an inch of pool water a day due to evaporation, which makes out to about two inches a week.
If the pool is losing more water than that, then a leak is probably part of the problem.
To find out if there is a leak in the pool, fill a bucket with pool water and set it on the steps of the pool with the top of the bucket above water level.
The water in the bucket will stay the same temperature as the pool.
If there are no steps, balance the bucket on the ladder treads.
Compare the water loss between the bucket and the pool over a period of several days.
The longer, the better.
If the difference in water levels is more than the average two inch water loss, then there is a leak in the pool.
To find the leak, fill the pool to the normal level and mark it with a piece of duct table.
Wait 12 to 24 hours to measure the loss of water with the filter system running the whole time.
Refill the pool to the same level and repeat with the filter system off.
If the pool is losing more water with the filter system running, the leak is on the pressure side of the plumbing pass the impeller of the pump.
If losing less water with filter system not running, the leak is on the vacuum side of the plumbing before the impeller.
If water loss is the same, then the leak is in the structure of the pool and not the plumbing.
Spas have inconsistencies that may not seem out of the ordinary, but need repair.
If the water is cloudy or smelly, there are a few causes.
There could be excessive contaminates, out of balance water, a clogged or worn out filter, or low sanitizer level.
Each of these causes has a different repair solution that is best fixed by professionals.
Excessive foaming in a spa is the result of high contaminates or soap residue.
If the water turns milky white from small bubbles when the jets are running, there could be buildups in the spa plumbing system, low calcium water hardness, or out of balance water.
Algae are the result of low sanitizer levels and excessive contaminants.
Scum, oil film, or a tub ring are the result of body oils, cosmetics, lotion residues, or a clogged or worn out filter.
Excessive pH fluctuation is due to improper total alkalinity levels or a high bather load.
Discolored water that turns brown, blue, green, or black can be caused by many things.
These include excessive mineral content, low pH, low hardness level, or metal parts in equipment eroding.
It can also be attributed to copper, iron, or manganese in water being oxidized by chlorine, or monopersulfate, or ozone.
Any types of bodily irritation are a big problem and owners need to seek repairs immediately.
This could be caused by an incorrect sanitizer level, excessive chloramines, out of balance water, buildup of gasses under spa cover, overdose of non-chlorine shock, biofilm contamination, and pseudomonas bacteria.
Sometimes they ignore it, making the situation worse.
Other times they do not know what the problem could be.
There are few clues pool owners can spot to decide when pool and spa repair is needed.
There are many things that may need repair in a pool if there are inconsistencies in the water behavior or pool function.
Pools can have a worn or torn pool liner, cracks in a concrete pool, warped or cracked diving board, or loose pool tile or coping.
The most common problems are found in a malfunctioning pool filter, heater, or pump.
Oftentimes, problems in the pool can be attributed to leaks.
It is not unusual to lose a quarter of an inch of pool water a day due to evaporation, which makes out to about two inches a week.
If the pool is losing more water than that, then a leak is probably part of the problem.
To find out if there is a leak in the pool, fill a bucket with pool water and set it on the steps of the pool with the top of the bucket above water level.
The water in the bucket will stay the same temperature as the pool.
If there are no steps, balance the bucket on the ladder treads.
Compare the water loss between the bucket and the pool over a period of several days.
The longer, the better.
If the difference in water levels is more than the average two inch water loss, then there is a leak in the pool.
To find the leak, fill the pool to the normal level and mark it with a piece of duct table.
Wait 12 to 24 hours to measure the loss of water with the filter system running the whole time.
Refill the pool to the same level and repeat with the filter system off.
If the pool is losing more water with the filter system running, the leak is on the pressure side of the plumbing pass the impeller of the pump.
If losing less water with filter system not running, the leak is on the vacuum side of the plumbing before the impeller.
If water loss is the same, then the leak is in the structure of the pool and not the plumbing.
Spas have inconsistencies that may not seem out of the ordinary, but need repair.
If the water is cloudy or smelly, there are a few causes.
There could be excessive contaminates, out of balance water, a clogged or worn out filter, or low sanitizer level.
Each of these causes has a different repair solution that is best fixed by professionals.
Excessive foaming in a spa is the result of high contaminates or soap residue.
If the water turns milky white from small bubbles when the jets are running, there could be buildups in the spa plumbing system, low calcium water hardness, or out of balance water.
Algae are the result of low sanitizer levels and excessive contaminants.
Scum, oil film, or a tub ring are the result of body oils, cosmetics, lotion residues, or a clogged or worn out filter.
Excessive pH fluctuation is due to improper total alkalinity levels or a high bather load.
Discolored water that turns brown, blue, green, or black can be caused by many things.
These include excessive mineral content, low pH, low hardness level, or metal parts in equipment eroding.
It can also be attributed to copper, iron, or manganese in water being oxidized by chlorine, or monopersulfate, or ozone.
Any types of bodily irritation are a big problem and owners need to seek repairs immediately.
This could be caused by an incorrect sanitizer level, excessive chloramines, out of balance water, buildup of gasses under spa cover, overdose of non-chlorine shock, biofilm contamination, and pseudomonas bacteria.
