Results for "algae symptoms"

Maintenance Medium varies by closure type 218 👍 0

How Long Can a Pool Stay Closed? Duration & Safety Limits

Between the winter thaw and spring opening every year, I'm left wondering if my pool's been closed too long and the water is now unsafe. My facility requires extended closure periods for various operational reasons, and I want to establish clear protocols for both planned seasonal shutdowns and emergency closures.

Specifically, I'm looking for data on maximum safe closure timeframes before water chemistry becomes unmanageable and equipment integrity is compromised. What are the industry standards for winterized pools versus temporary emergency closures?…more

Read answer

Filters Easy 30 minutes 171 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Filters Last? Replacement Guide & Signs

After following my pool filter manual religiously for years, I'm baffled why it says replace every 6 months when mine still looks spotless after twelve. Have cartridge now but considering switching. How long do different filter types actually last before they need replacing? What are the signs it's time for a new one?…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Easy immediate recognition 163 👍 0

Can Green Pool Water Make You Sick? Health Risks Explained

Nobody believed me when I said our pool looked dangerous until my husband walked outside and said it resembles a literal swamp. I know it looks gross but is green water actually dangerous or just unsightly?

What kind of health problems can you get from swimming in algae water? Should I keep everyone out until it's crystal clear again?…more

Read answer

Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Pool Chemical Starter Kits

4.5 (18,700 reviews)

Algae Green Pool Medium 3-7 days for full treatment 155 👍 0

Can Pool Algae Cause a Rash? Health Risks & Prevention

Around noon yesterday I finished scrubbing down my pool walls but this morning there's green stuff growing back — could this algae be what's causing the rash on my arms? I've been swimming in it a few times and now I'm wondering if that could be causing the skin irritation I've been experiencing. The pool store told me it's algae and that I need to treat it, but I'm curious about the health risks.

Can pool algae actually cause rashes or other skin problems? I'm worried about my family swimming in it, and I want to understand what I'm dealing with before I start dumping chemicals in. Any guidance on how serious this is and what I should do to fix it would be really appreciated!…more

Read answer

Maintenance Medium 2-3 days for dechlorination 146 👍 0

Can You Use Pool Water for Garden? Safe Irrigation Guide

Last fall when I drained my pool for winter, I couldn't shake the feeling that thousands of gallons going down the drain could've watered my entire garden instead. We grow tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs that my kids love to help harvest and eat.

I know pool water has chlorine and other chemicals, but I'm not sure what levels are safe for plants or if there's a way to make it garden-safe. Are there specific chemical levels I should test for before using it? I want to make sure we're not contaminating the soil or creating any health risks for my family when we eat the vegetables.…more

Read answer

Water Chemistry Medium 30 minutes 136 👍 0

Does Pool Stabilizer Evaporate? CYA Levels Explained

Woke up determined to finally understand pool chemistry, but now I'm standing in the pool store aisle staring at bottles of cyanuric acid and chlorine stabilizer with no clue which one I actually need. I know chlorine evaporates and needs constant replenishment, but I'm unclear about what happens to stabilizer over time.

Specifically, does CYA evaporate from the pool like chlorine does, or does it remain in solution indefinitely? If it doesn't evaporate, what are the actual mechanisms for removing excess stabilizer when levels get too high? I need to understand this for proper water balance management.…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Medium 1-3 days 133 👍 0

Can Pool Algae Kill You? Health Risks & Safety Guide

Turned on my pool lights last night and saw this green stuff floating around - total newbie here and honestly have no idea if this algae thing is dangerous. My pool has been fighting a losing battle against algae for weeks now, and it's gotten to the point where I'm genuinely worried about safety. The water is this nasty green mess, and I keep reading conflicting information online about whether algae can actually make you sick or worse.

I've got kids who are dying to swim, but I'm scared to let them anywhere near this swamp I used to call a pool. Is algae itself actually dangerous, or am I being overly paranoid? I know it makes everything slippery as hell, but are there real health risks I should be worried about? Just need to know if this is a "keep throwing chemicals at it" problem or a "nobody goes near the water" emergency.…more

Read answer

Cloudy Water Medium 2-5 days 127 👍 0

How to Clear Cloudy Pool Water: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Pulled off a perfect shock treatment on my old above-ground pool for this exact cloudy water mess, but my new inground pool still looks like milk. I can barely see the bottom and it's honestly embarrassing with summer parties coming up.

I'm pretty sure I need to do something with the chemicals and maybe run the filter more, but I have no idea what the right steps are or how long this is going to take. Should I be testing the water first? Adding chlorine? Help me get my pool back to that beautiful clear blue!…more

Read answer

Maintenance Easy 15 minutes to 48 hours 124 👍 0

How Long After Pool Cleaning Can I Swim? Safe Wait Times

I noticed after the pool service truck left today that nobody can agree on how long I actually need to wait before diving in. Sometimes I do basic skimming and vacuuming, other times I'm adding shock or algaecide, and occasionally I have to do a full chemical rebalancing. Each situation feels different but I never know how long I should actually wait.

I really want to enjoy my pool this summer, but I also don't want to risk getting sick or having skin irritation from jumping in too soon. Can someone break down the actual wait times based on what type of cleaning or treatment I've done? I'm tired of guessing and would love some clear guidelines I can follow.…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Medium 3-7 days to clear 114 👍 0

Can I Swim in Green Pool Water? Health Risks & Safety Guide

Pulled back my pool cover this morning and my crystal-clear water had somehow transformed into what looks like green Jell-O overnight. I know it's probably algae, but I'm wondering if it's actually dangerous to swim in or just unsightly? My kids are asking when they can get back in, and I'm not sure what to tell them.

The pool store told me I need to shock it and add algaecide, but they didn't really explain the health risks. Should I be worried about infections or other problems if someone accidentally gets in before it's cleared up? I want to make sure I'm keeping my family safe while I figure out how to fix this.…more

Read answer

Cloudy Water Medium 2-3 days 114 👍 0

Can Cloudy Pool Water Hurt You? Health Risks & Safety Guide

About three years in, my pool filter system is starting to let murky water slip through — should I repair or replace the whole thing? The water isn't crystal clear like it usually is - kind of has that hazy, milky look going on.

I keep going back and forth on whether it's actually dangerous to take a dip or if I'm just being overly cautious. Part of me thinks a quick swim won't hurt, but then I start wondering what's actually causing the cloudiness in the first place. Should I bite the bullet and shock it first, or am I overthinking this whole thing?…more

Read answer

Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Pool Heaters

4.4 (8,900 reviews)

Water Chemistry Medium 15 minutes reading 111 👍 0

Can Pool Chemicals Make You Sick? Health Risks Explained

Before I let my kids jump in this morning, I spotted a strong chemical smell around our freshly treated 20,000-gallon pool that wasn't there yesterday. I've been handling chlorine tablets, shock treatments, and pH adjusters, but I'm concerned about whether these chemicals could be making my family sick. We've noticed some skin irritation after swimming sessions, and I occasionally experience a scratchy throat after adding chemicals to the water.

I maintain chlorine levels around 2-3 ppm and pH between 7.2-7.6 based on my test strips, but I'm wondering if exposure to these chemicals during storage, handling, or swimming could cause health problems. I store all chemicals in my garage and sometimes notice strong fumes when opening containers. What are the main ways pool chemicals can affect your health, and how can I minimize any risks while keeping the water safe for swimming?…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Medium 15 minutes to assess, 3-7 days to treat 109 👍 0

Can Pool Algae Make You Sick? Health Risks & Safety Guide

Tried everything to fix my 8-year-old pool filter that keeps letting green algae slip through despite regular cleaning — should I repair or replace? I'm worried about health risks but not sure how serious it actually is.

Will swimming in algae water make them sick? Should I keep everyone out until it's completely clear?…more

Read answer

Cloudy Water Medium 2-4 hours for SLAM treatment 106 👍 0

Can Cloudy Pool Water Make You Sick? Health Risks Explained

About two weeks ago my 20,000-gallon inground pool turned cloudy while my neighbor's stays crystal clear year-round — is mine even safe to swim in? The water has a milky appearance despite my attempts to clear it up with shock treatments and increased filtration. My chlorine levels are reading around 2.0 ppm and pH is at 7.4, which seem normal on my test strips.

My main concern is whether this cloudy water could actually make my family sick if we swim in it. I've heard conflicting opinions from neighbors - some say it's just cosmetic and others warn it could harbor dangerous bacteria. What specific health risks are we talking about here? Should I keep everyone out of the pool until the water clears completely, or is it safe as long as the chemical levels appear balanced?…more

Read answer

Salt Water Medium 2-4 hours for SLAM process 102 👍 0

Can Salt Water Pools Make You Sick? Health Risks & Solutions

My family's been pushing me to convert our chlorine pool to saltwater, but I'm torn between spending thousands on the upgrade versus sticking with what works.

I've been dealing with skin irritation from my regular chlorine pool and considering the switch, but I don't want to spend all that money just to end up with different health problems. Can salt water pools cause illness if something goes wrong with the chemistry? I'm looking for honest answers about the real health risks versus benefits before I blow my budget on what might just be fancy marketing.…more

Read answer

Loading more Q&A...

You've seen all 19 Q&A articles!