Common pool problems
Symptom-first. Find what is happening in your pool, see why, then follow the fix order that actually works.
Symptom
Strong chlorine smell
A strong chlorine smell usually means too little chlorine, not too much. Here is what is actually going on and how to fix it.
Symptom
Eyes burning or skin itching after swimming
Burning eyes and itchy skin almost always come from wrong pH or chloramines, not from chlorine itself.
Symptom
Free chlorine drops to zero in a day
Chlorine that disappears within 24 hours usually points to low stabilizer, high demand, or strong sun. Here is the order to check.
Symptom
Stains on the pool floor or walls
Pool stains usually come from metals or organics. The color tells you which. Here is how to ID and treat each one.
Symptom
White flakes or scale on tile and water surface
White flakes are usually calcium scale from high pH, high alkalinity or high calcium hardness. Here is how to identify and prevent it.