What to Do When Your Pool Turns Green
Came home to a green pool? Learn whether to DIY or call a professional, plus step-by-step guidance for restoring your pool to clear blue water.
It happens to the best of us. You go away for a week, or the pump timer breaks, and suddenly your backyard oasis looks like a swamp. Don't panic—it can be fixed.
Step 1: check Your Equipment
Before adding chemicals, make sure your pump and filter are working. You'll need to run them 24/7 during the cleanup process. Backwash or clean the filter immediately if flow is poor.
Step 2: Balance pH and Alkalinity
Chlorine is much more effective at a lower pH. Adjust your pH to 7.2-7.4 before shocking. This "supercharges" the shock treatment.
Step 3: Shock and Brush
Hit the pool with a heavy dose of liquid chlorine (shock). Brush the entire pool vigorously to scrub the algae off the walls and into the water where the chlorine can kill it.
Step 4: Filter and Clean
Run the filter continuously. You will likely need to clean the filter cartridges or backwash daily (or even multiple times a day) as the algae dies and clogs the system. If the water is cloudy grey/blue, the algae is dead; now it's a filtration game.
Summary
Turning a green pool around takes patience and a lot of chemicals. If you can't see the bottom drain, it might be safer and faster to call a pro for a 'Green-to-Clean' service.