How many games should I plan for a pool party?

Short swims may only need two or three structured activities. Longer pool days benefit from a larger game deck, breaks and backup ideas.

What if not everyone is a confident swimmer?

Choose shallow-water, edge-based and dry-side roles, maintain active adult supervision and adapt every activity to the least-confident swimmer participating.

Can adults use the pool game generator too?

Yes. Adult, couple and date-day settings favour social, creative, resort-style and friendly-competition activities.

Can I swap only one game?

Yes. Main games can be rerolled individually, and matched backup games can be swapped into the current lineup.

Should I drain my pool before a major storm?

Do not make a major water-level change simply because a storm is forecast. Pool type, groundwater, drainage, cover and manufacturer requirements all matter. Follow the directions for your specific pool and ask a qualified pool professional when unsure.

Should I leave my hot tub full during a storm?

A filled hot tub is normally managed according to its manufacturer’s operating and cover instructions. Do not drain or alter it automatically because a storm is approaching. Request model-specific advice if flooding, freezing or a prolonged outage creates a concern.

What should I do if pool or spa equipment gets wet?

Do not touch, energize or test electrical equipment exposed to water. Keep people away and arrange an appropriate qualified inspection before taking another step.

Can I run pool or hot-tub equipment from a portable generator?

Do not improvise a connection. Generators must never operate indoors or in enclosed spaces, and any connection to a home electrical system must follow professional and regulatory requirements.

When is it safe to use a pool or hot tub after heavy rain?

Only after the site is safe, equipment is intact and operating appropriately, debris has been removed and the water has been tested and returned to the correct range. Possible floodwater entry requires qualified assessment.

Who can inspect storm-related pool or hot-tub problems in London or Stratford?

Custom LeisureScapes provides pool and hot-tub service across London, Stratford and surrounding Southwestern Ontario communities. Contact the service team with equipment details, visible damage and storm conditions before attempting a restart.

FREE local delivery!

Call Now Custom LeisureScapes: London & Stratford Ontario’s pool, hot tub, and swim spa experts.

Custom LeisureScapes · Pool Water Troubleshooting

What’s Wrong With My Pool Water?

Name: Custom LeisureScapes
Price range: $$$

Use the photos below to choose what your pool water looks or smells like. This interactive guide explains common possibilities, what to test next, and when it makes sense to bring a water sample to Custom LeisureScapes in London or Stratford.

Choose What You’re Seeing
What Should I Test?

Important: water appearance alone cannot confirm chemistry. Do not add pool chemicals based only on a photo or symptom.

Clear healthy swimming pool water reference

Healthy-looking reference
Clear and sparkling is a good visual sign, but a current water test is still what confirms balance and sanitizer levels.

Quick Answer

Can you diagnose a pool problem by looking at the water?

You can often narrow down the likely category of a problem by looking at the water, surfaces and equipment—but you cannot reliably diagnose pool chemistry by appearance alone. Green, cloudy, foamy or strongly scented water can have more than one cause. The safest next step is to combine what you see with a current water test and a quick circulation and filtration check.

Interactive Visual Guide

What Does Your Pool Look Like?

Choose the condition that looks closest to your pool. Every interactive section below will update to match the problem you choose.

How to use it: click one labelled photo. Your choice will get a red outline and a ✓ Selected badge, and the troubleshooting sections below will change to match it.

Green Water

Cloudy / Milky

Foamy Water

Brown / Rust Stains

White calcium scale around pool waterline

White Scale / Buildup

Strong Chlorine Smell

Algae on Walls

Leaves and organic debris on pool surface

Leaves / Surface Debris

Dull blue pool water that is not sparkling

Dull / Not Sparkling

Choose a condition

Your troubleshooting notes will appear here.

Pick the labelled photo that looks closest to your pool. This guide narrows the issue without pretending a photo can replace water testing.

What Should I Test?

Choose a pool-water condition above.

The most useful tests depend on what you are actually seeing. Select a condition and this section will build a problem-specific testing checklist.

Sanitizer
A current sanitizer reading is useful for most unfamiliar water problems.

pH
pH affects sanitizer performance, comfort and water balance.

Water Balance
Alkalinity, calcium and stabilizer may matter depending on the symptom.

Problem-Specific Clues
The selected problem may also call for a metals, equipment, surface or contamination check.

Hands holding a pool water sample and test strip beside a swimming pool

What Else Should You Check?

Choose a condition above for the next troubleshooting checks.

Depending on the symptom, the next useful check may involve circulation, filtration, surface cleaning, recent products, debris or the pool’s water source.

Select one of the labelled problem photos above.
This checklist will change to match your selected condition.

Explore Pool Service

Common Misunderstanding

The same-looking pool problem can have more than one cause.

Choose one of the visual conditions above and this section will explain a common misconception about that specific symptom.

A photo can help narrow the category, but current water-test results and equipment observations are what should guide treatment.

Pool professional testing a water sample

Professional Water Testing

Bring a water sample when the symptom and the test do not tell the same story.

Choose a condition above and this recommendation will update with the most useful information to bring with your sample.

London Showroom
Stratford Showroom

Local Water-Care Help

Pool water help for London, Stratford & Southwestern Ontario.

Custom LeisureScapes supports pool owners from its London and Stratford showrooms and serves surrounding Southwestern Ontario communities across Middlesex, Perth, Elgin and Oxford Counties, including St. Thomas, Strathroy, St. Marys, Dorchester, Woodstock, Ingersoll, Komoka and Grand Bend.

If your water problem keeps returning, the equipment is not circulating normally, or the chemistry does not make sense, the next step may be professional water testing or pool service rather than another guess at the chemical shelf.

Pool & Spa Services
Shop Pool Water Care

Pool store staff member testing a water sample at a water care counter

Pool chemical safety comes before a quick fix.

Never mix pool chemicals, combine leftovers, improvise a dose or add products simply because the water resembles a photo online. Keep products in their original containers, follow the product label and equipment manufacturer’s directions, and use a current water test before correcting an unfamiliar condition. If you are unsure what has already been added, get professional guidance before adding something else.

Pool Water FAQ

Common Pool Water Questions

Why is my pool water green?

Green water commonly points to algae, but it can also be influenced by sanitizer performance, circulation, filtration, organic load or—in some cases—metals. Test the water and inspect circulation before choosing a treatment.

Why is my pool cloudy even when chlorine is present?

Cloudiness can involve fine suspended particles, filtration, circulation, pH or alkalinity balance, calcium, organic contamination or sanitizer that is present but not working effectively. A full test is more useful than a single chlorine reading.

Why does my pool smell strongly like chlorine?

A strong pool smell is often associated with chloramines rather than simply “too much free chlorine.” Compare free chlorine with total chlorine and check pH before deciding what the water needs.

What causes white scale around a pool waterline?

White deposits can be associated with calcium scale and overall water balance. Calcium hardness, pH, total alkalinity, temperature, evaporation and the pool surface all matter, so the deposit should be assessed together with current test results.

What causes brown or rust-coloured pool stains?

Brown, orange or rust-coloured staining can be related to metals such as iron, but organic staining can look similar. Note where the stain appears, whether the water itself is discoloured, and have the water tested before treating the surface.

Can poor filtration cause cloudy pool water?

Yes. Reduced circulation, dirty baskets, filter loading, air in the system or other equipment problems can contribute to poor clarity. Compare flow and filter pressure with the normal baseline for your pool and request service if operation is abnormal.

Where can I get help with pool water in London or Stratford?

Custom LeisureScapes has showrooms at 775 Wharncliffe Rd S in London and 404 Erie St in Stratford. The company’s pool-opening guidance directs customers to bring a water sample to the store for balancing, and professional pool service is also available when the problem involves circulation or equipment.

Clearer Water Starts With Better Information

Still not sure what your pool is telling you?

Bring a current water sample and your notes about what changed—water appearance, recent weather, products added, circulation, filter pressure and how quickly the problem returned. That gives the Custom LeisureScapes team a much better starting point than guessing from colour alone.

London Showroom
Stratford Showroom
Request Pool Service