It all started on a Monday.
The water was moody again. A haze had settled over the surface like a mystery waiting to be solved. I had done the usual, tested the water, shocked it with care, balanced the pH. And yet, there it was: cloudy, cranky, refusing to sparkle.
Chapter One: The Clues
There were signs. There are always signs.
- The water shimmered like it was hiding something.
- The pressure gauge seemed unusually high.
- The return jets felt… weak. Tired. As if they were whispering, not shouting.
I noted it all down in my mental detective’s notebook. My pool had become the scene of an unsolved crime.
Chapter Two: The Test Results Lie
The strips told a happy story. Chlorine? Normal. pH? Perfect. Alkalinity? Balanced.
But the water said otherwise. It mocked me.
This wasn’t about numbers. This was deeper. Beneath the surface. Beneath my confidence.
Chapter Three: Interrogating the Equipment
I stood before the filter.
It looked innocent. Freshly cleaned. Filters replaced just last month.
“Are you hiding something?” I muttered.
Nothing. Silence.
I pulled it apart anyway.
Chapter Four: The Truth Beneath the Grid
That’s when I found it.
A fine, slimy film.
It clung to the cartridges like guilt. As if algae had crept in, curled up, and decided to rent a room.
There was buildup in the housing too. I hadn’t deep cleaned it since last season. Back then, I thought a quick rinse was enough. Turns out, quick is lazy when it comes to filters.
Chapter Five: Confession of a Guilty Owner
Let’s break it down:
- I assumed clean meant functional. It didn’t.
- I ignored high pressure readings.
- I never used a degreaser or deep-cleaning solution.
- I forgot to check the inside of the housing.
- I believed test strips over my own eyes.
I was guilty of negligence. Guilty of surface-level maintenance.
Chapter Six: A New Routine
So I built a new system.
- Monthly filter soak: I now soak cartridges in a proper filter cleaner.
- Pressure checks every week: If the gauge rises 8–10 psi above normal, I clean it.
- Seasonal inspection: Full disassembly every 3 months.
- Housing clean: A toothbrush and patience go a long way.
- Backwashing (for sand or DE filters): Once the pressure climbs, I flush out the nonsense.
Chapter Seven: The Return of Clarity
Within two days of the deep clean, the pool transformed.
The water relaxed. The haze lifted. The returns started dancing again.
It felt like the pool was saying, “Took you long enough.”
I accepted the jab. I had earned it.
Chapter Eight: Case Closed
If your water looks off and your test results smile at you, don’t trust them.
Trust the filter. Or rather, distrust it just enough to dig deeper.
Most pool problems are not chemical. They are mechanical, neglected, or misunderstood.
Remember:
- A clean-looking filter can still be filthy.
- High pressure is a cry for help.
- Water doesn’t lie. It hints, sighs, and eventually screams.
The real lesson?
Maintenance is not about appearances. It’s about curiosity. And sometimes, about playing detective in your own backyard.
Case closed.
