Derek looked out over his backyard in Loomis, admiring the pool water glistening in the late afternoon sun. “Looks great,” he said. “Clean as can be.” But by midweek, his kids were itching like crazy after swimming, and his wife noticed a strange smell. The pool looked clear—but it was anything but clean.

Here’s the truth: clear water doesn’t mean your pool is healthy. In fact, some of the biggest water problems are invisible.

Lena couldn’t figure it out. Her pool wasn’t green, but it wasn’t exactly crystal clear either. It had this constant haze, like a pair of sunglasses had been dunked in the deep end. She checked the chlorine levels—fine. Cleaned the skimmer baskets—did that yesterday. Her pump was humming away like normal. “So why,” she muttered, “does it still look like a ghost lives in there?”

Here’s the thing: just because your pool filter is technically working doesn’t mean it’s doing its job well. And that can be the difference between a sparkling pool and a murky mystery.

Mark thought the sharp smell coming from his backyard pool meant it was clean. “Must be the chlorine doing its job,” he told his wife as their kids cannonballed in. But by the next day, everyone had red, itchy eyes, and the water had gone from “just a little smelly” to “what died in there?” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t the chlorine — it was what the chlorine had failed to fight off.

If your pool water smells like a chemical plant or has a funky odor you can’t quite describe, your water’s trying to tell you something — and it’s not good.

Amanda had planned everything down to the last detail—string lights, wine glasses, and a night under the stars in her hot tub with a few friends. But what started as a relaxing evening quickly turned into a murky mess. By the next morning, the water looked cloudy, the sanitizer level had plummeted, and the tub smelled… off. What happened? Too many bathers. That’s what happened.

Hot tub owners often underestimate just how much human bodies can affect hot tub water. Between lotions, oils, sweat, dirt, and a surprising amount of dead skin, your hot tub becomes a chemical warzone when overloaded with guests. Let’s break down how heavy usage wrecks your water quality—and what you can do to keep things clean, warm, and inviting.

A couple in Granite Bay had the pool ready for their son’s graduation party. They vacuumed, skimmed, and added chemicals. It looked good—until two days before the big day when the pool water turned green and cloudy. Algae had built up along the walls.

They had skipped one step: brushing.

If you’re not brushing your pool walls on a regular basis, you’re setting yourself up for cloudy water, poor water balance, and, yes, some very expensive repairs down the road.

When Tyler finished shocking the pool, he figured it was safe to swim a few hours later. The water looked good—clear, no smell, no weird color. So, in went the kids.

By that evening, they were complaining about red eyes, itchy skin, and one even had nausea.

What went wrong? Tyler didn’t wait long enough.

Last August, a small wildfire broke out just a few miles from Melanie’s home in Loomis. The flames never reached her backyard, but the smoke and falling ash blanketed everything—especially her pool. The water turned cloudy, the chemical levels crashed, and her once-clear pool was now an expensive science experiment. She called us in a panic.

If you live in Northern California, you already know wildfire season is real—and it doesn’t just affect your air. It can wreak havoc on your pool.

Here’s how to protect your swimming pool, hot tub, and spa during fire season—and what to do when ash hits the water.

Julie noticed her water bill creeping higher, even though her kids had barely been in the pool that week. The pool looked a little low, but it had been hot lately, so she figured it was just evaporation. Two weeks later, the level dropped even more, her pump started making angry noises, and the water turned a weird shade of cloudy green. Turns out, she wasn’t dealing with evaporation at all. She had a slow leak that was slowly sabotaging her entire pool system.

If you’re in Northern California and trying to figure out whether your pool is just evaporating or leaking, you’re not alone. Let’s clear up the confusion and save you from more damage (and a higher water bill).

Cloudy water is one of the most common problems pool owners face, especially during spring and summer in areas like Lincoln, Rocklin, and Granite Bay. The good news? It usually points to one of a few common issues — all fixable with the right regular maintenance.

Travis thought he had everything ready for his daughter’s 10th birthday party. He had the balloons, the cake, and the backyard pool looking picture-perfect. But what he didn’t have? A clean pool. The water looked a little cloudy the night before, but he figured it would be fine. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

The morning of the party, the water had turned a murky green. The smell wasn’t great either. Turns out, Travis hadn’t shocked his pool in over a month.

Darren moved into his new home in Rocklin excited to finally have his own pool. He shocked it, skimmed it, and even bought the fancy robot cleaner. But two weeks later, the water turned green. So he cleaned it again. And again. By the end of summer, Darren was spending more time battling pool algae than actually swimming.

If you’ve dealt with algae that just won’t quit, you’re not alone. Plenty of pool owners around Lincoln, Loomis, and Granite Bay are stuck in the same loop: treat, clear, wait... green again.

Let’s talk about why pool algae keeps coming back—and how to stop it for good.

Brian was proud of his hot tub. It sat under the pergola, bubbling away like a backyard oasis. But here’s the thing—Brian hadn’t drained it once in over a year. He just kept adding chemicals and hoping for the best. One night, a friend hopped in and hopped right back out, saying, “Dude, it smells like a gym bag in July.” That was the first clue.

The second clue? Foamy water, itchy skin, and a gray film that wouldn’t go away. The third clue was a $500 repair bill after the jets clogged with slime.

If you're a hot tub owner in Northern California, here’s why draining your spa regularly matters—and what can happen if you skip it.

Jerry thought he was about to have the perfect Friday night.

He poured a glass of wine, slipped into his favorite swim trunks, pulled off the spa cover, and got ready to relax in his hot tub after a long week. But the moment he lifted the lid, he got hit with a smell so bad, it knocked him backwards.

It wasn’t chlorine. It wasn’t mildew. It smelled like rotten eggs—and the warm water wasn’t inviting anymore. Jerry slammed the spa cover back on, ran inside, and decided the couch was safer.

If your hot tub smells like sulfur, gym socks, or something died under the jets, don’t panic. You’re not alone, and your hot tub probably isn’t doomed. But that smell is trying to tell you something—and ignoring it could lead to cloudy water, foamy water, or even some expensive repairs.

Let’s break down why your spa water stinks and how to fix it.

It happened to Tom in Loomis. Every weekend, like clockwork, he was out back with his pool net and garden hose, giving that filter cartridge a good rinse. He thought he was doing everything right—weekly cleaning, checking the skimmer baskets, even brushing the walls. But no matter what he did, his water just kept looking cloudy. After weeks of frustration (and a few eye rolls from his wife), Tom finally called in a pro. Turns out, his filter wasn’t dirty—it was done. Past its prime. Worn out. No amount of cleaning was going to fix it.

Tom's not alone.

There comes a time when even the best filters wave the white flag. So how do you know when it’s time to stop scrubbing and start replacing? That’s exactly what we’re talking about today.

Jennifer had just hosted a pool party at her home in Rocklin. The weather was perfect, the drinks were cold, and the kids had a blast. But the next morning, she stepped outside and caught a strong, sharp smell that hit her like a chlorine-scented slap to the face. Her pool was sparkling, but it definitely didn’t smell right. Jennifer figured it was just leftover pool chemicals, but a week later, the smell lingered—and so did her confusion.

If you’ve ever walked into your backyard and wondered, "Why does my pool smell so strong?" or "Is this odor normal?" you’re not alone. Weird pool smells are more common than most pool owners realize, especially in places like Northern California where weather swings and debris from surrounding trees can influence your water chemistry. Let’s break down the causes of pool odors and how to fix them.

After a long rainy winter, nothing sounds better than crystal-clear pool water under the warm Northern California sun. But before you grab your towel and jump in, it’s a good idea to check on one of the most important pieces of your pool system—the pump. Your pool pump is the heart of the operation, keeping water moving, filtered, and chemically balanced. If it’s struggling, your whole pool could suffer. Here’s how to tell if your pool pump needs some professional attention—or if it might be time for a full replacement.

Every pool owner in Northern California has looked at their water level at some point and thought, "Wait, wasn’t that higher yesterday?" Whether you're in Lincoln, Loomis, Penryn, Rocklin, or Roseville, water loss is a concern that can creep up on you fast. While evaporation gets blamed for most of it, it's not always the real cause. So before you top it off again, let’s look at some common culprits behind a disappearing pool.

On a hot summer day in Roseville, Amanda noticed her once-clear pool had started to look a little off—slightly cloudy, a hint of green, and the chlorine smell was oddly strong. She hadn’t changed her routine, and the pool had been clean the week before. But the recent heatwave had pushed water temperatures over 85°F, and that shift triggered a series of chemical imbalances. Amanda’s story isn’t uncommon for pool owners across Northern California, especially in places like Loomis and Penryn, where summer temperatures can climb fast.

If you’ve never thought about how water temperature affects your pool’s chemical balance, you’re not alone. But once you understand the connection, you’ll see why managing temperature is just as important as skimming leaves or testing pH.

Owning a pool in Loomis or Penryn means enjoying the Northern California sun, cooling off during those long summer days, and hosting backyard parties that your neighbors wish they thought of first. But if your pool equipment is starting to show its age, it might be time to think about an upgrade. Old equipment doesn’t just slow things down—it can drive up your energy bills, decrease water quality, and lead to some costly repairs that ruin the fun.

If you’ve started noticing your pool looking a little murkier than usual or your water circulation isn’t what it used to be, it might not be your imagination. For pool owners in Northern California cities like Rocklin, Lincoln, Roseville, and Granite Bay, a well-functioning filter is essential for keeping your water clear, clean, and healthy. But even the best-maintained pool filters don’t last forever. Let’s talk about how to spot the signs your filter is waving the white flag and what to do about it.