Now that you have an idea of what might be causing your cloudy pool water and are taking steps to prevent it from happening in the future, it’s time to fix the issue. There are 3 basic ways to address the situation, and we’ll take a look at each of them.
Use Water Clarifier
A pool clarifier can also be referred to as a coagulant, because this chemical product works by gathering the tiny particles and creating larger particles that your filter will be more likely to pick up. Intended for weekly use, pool clarifiers can be found at most places where pool chemicals are sold.
Use a Flocculant
Instead of a coagulant, you could opt to use another chemical called a flocculant. Also referred to as pool floc, flocculant works similarly to how a clarifier works, causing the offending particles to clump together. Unlike a coagulant, a flocculant will not help the clouding particles to be picked up by your filter. Instead, they send the offenders to the bottom of your pool. A huge cloud is then formed at the bottom of your swimming pool.
Of course, you’ll still have that giant cloud to deal with. You’ll need to vacuum up that cloud using a manual pool pump. Before you vacuum, be sure to set your filter to the “backwash” or “waste” setting (or remove the drain plug, if you’re using a cartridge or DE filter).
Since you want to vacuum the cloudy water out of your pool, you will want to keep your garden hose running and refilling your pool with clean water as you vacuum. Be sure to use a manual vacuum, rather than an automatic pool cleaner; automatic cleaners will disturb the cloud, making for more water waste.
While the clarifier is easier, flocculant is preferable in some instances, because it works more quickly. So if you happen to notice that your pool is cloudy the day before your big pool party, now you know that you do have an option.
Use Your Pool’s Bottom Drain and Filter System
Your pool’s main skimmer at the waterline functions to clear the surface water. In order for cloudy particles to get to that skimmer, you can stir the water by either swimming or using a pool brush. When the particles get closer to the top of the pool, your filter system will begin to get rid of them. Another step you can take is to turn on the bottom drain or drains. As the water is pulled from the bottom, clean water will recirculate back to the top.
While each of those three methods of eliminating cloudy water has its pros and cons, they all take some effort. So be sure to do all you can, keeping up with your pool maintenance, to avoid the issue to begin with.
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