For first-time pool owners, the maintenance needed may come as a surprise. Pools have a series of mechanical parts that keep the water clean at all times. If the maintenance, pool chemistry, or repairs get neglected, your family might find themselves with a green pool.

Green pools are a direct result of algae growth. Even the cleanest pools have algae spores, though proper chemical levels will ensure they never grow. If left untended, however, they will change the color of the water.

One of the primary reasons for algae growth is stagnant water. When the pumps and filters are not performing up to snuff, the pool becomes an ideal breeding ground. Because algae proliferate, even temporary lapses in maintenance or repairs can yield a green pool.

Algae also thrive when the temperature is warm and the pH balance is askew. The warm weather is conducive to photosynthesis, which is how algae get the energy they need to grow. Furthermore, high pH levels, as opposed to proper or low ones, are also perfect for algae growth.

Your family can use chemicals, such as calcium hypochlorite, to fight back against algae. These products add chlorine to the water that kills the infestation. While the amount you use depends on the size of the pool, the goal is to add enough product so that there are 30 parts per million (ppm).

Once you shock the algae, keep the pool filter and pump running. This activity ensures the chlorinated ingredients in the shocking product kill the algae. Typically, this process takes at least ten hours.

Once the shocking has occurred, the easiest way to remove the algae is with a vacuum. Don’t forget to get to vacuum the bottom of the pool, as the dead algae will sink. If you do not have a vacuum on hand, you may also use a mesh net.