Signs of Unbalanced Pool Water: How to Spot and Fix Common Issues

You don’t have to be a chemist to know when your pool water is off. Whether your pool looks cloudy, smells strange, or irritates your skin, these are all warning signs of unbalanced pool water—and they can lead to costly damage if ignored.

At M&M Pool & Spa, we help pool owners identify and correct chemical imbalances before they become bigger problems.

✅ Quick Summary: What to Look For

• Cloudy or green water often means pH or chlorine issues
• Red eyes and itchy skin signal irritating chemical levels
• Chemical smells may point to chloramine buildup
• Scaling or corrosion = extreme pH or hardness levels
• Test your water 2–3 times per week to stay ahead

1. Cloudy or Murky Water

Cloudy pool water is one of the most common signs of imbalance. It often results from:

• Low free chlorine (ineffective sanitation)
• High pH or alkalinity
• Poor filtration or circulation

🧪 Fix: Shock the pool and test pH, alkalinity, and chlorine levels.

🔗 Know More: Follow our Pool Chemical Balancing Guide to restore clarity and safety.

2. Skin and Eye Irritation

Swimmers may complain of:

• Burning or itchy eyes
• Dry, irritated skin
• Sensitivity to pool water

Despite what many believe, this isn’t due to too much chlorine—it’s usually due to imbalanced pH or chloramine buildup.

🧪 Fix: Test and adjust pH to 7.4–7.6 and ensure free chlorine is at 1–3 ppm.

3. Strong Chlorine Smell

That strong chlorine smell? It’s not from free chlorine—it’s from chloramines, a byproduct of chlorine reacting with sweat, oils, and waste.

🧪 Fix: Shock your pool to eliminate chloramines and restore proper sanitization.

External Link: Learn about chloramines and safe pool disinfection in this CDC Pool Chemical Safety Guide

4. Green Tint or Algae Growth

Green pool water = algae outbreak. This is a sign of low sanitizer levels, especially free chlorine below 1 ppm.

🧪 Fix:

• Shock the pool
• Brush pool walls
• Run the pump for 24–48 hours
• Retest and rebalance all levels

5. Staining, Scaling, or Corrosion

Discoloration on surfaces or metal corrosion can signal:

• High calcium hardness
• High or low pH
• Low alkalinity

🧪 Fix: Adjust water balance and consider using a sequestering agent to prevent future staining or scale buildup.

6. Rapid pH Swings

If your pH levels are constantly changing, you may have low alkalinity, which causes instability.

🧪 Fix:

• Raise alkalinity with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
• Retest and rebalance pH afterward

Conclusion: Recognize Early, Fix Fast

Recognizing the signs of unbalanced pool water early can save you time, money, and frustration. A quick water test and small chemical adjustment can prevent major repairs down the road.

Don’t want to guess? Let the pros at M&M Pool & Spa Services Corp handle it.