What's wrong with my pool?
Step 1 of 3
What are you noticing most?
Pick the closest category. You do not need to know the cause yet.
General guidance for residential pools in Ontario, not a diagnosis or a quote. Chemical doses depend on pool volume and test results; follow the product label. Gas and electrical work must be done by licensed trades.
How it works
A starting point, not a guess.
Pick the closest symptom
Green water, cloudiness, water loss, a test reading or an equipment fault. You do not need to know the cause.
Answer one flow question
A pump that is weak or off changes the order of the fix. Moving water comes before another chemical dose.
Open the full guide
The result gives you the first three moves, then links to the complete causes, steps and maintenance plan.
Looking for the full library instead? The pool-care learning centre explains the causes, fixes and maintenance for every problem.
Common questions
Using the symptom checker
Is this a real pool diagnosis?
No. It narrows the likely category and points you to the right guide, but it does not replace a water test, a pressure test or an equipment inspection. Use the result as the first step, then confirm with readings and a qualified technician where needed.
Do I need my water chemistry numbers to use it?
No. If you have a test result, choose the chemistry category and the reading that looks closest. If you do not, start with the visible symptom — green water, cloudiness, water loss or equipment behaviour.
What should I do if the result does not match?
Open the full guide, compare its symptom list with what you see, or browse all ten problems. Pool issues often overlap: low chlorine can make water cloudy, and a clogged filter can look like a chemistry problem.
When should I stop and call a professional?
Call a licensed technician for gas or electrical faults, a pump that will not prime, a breaker that keeps tripping, a leak you cannot locate, or water that stays cloudy after a clean filter and balanced chemistry. Gas work in Ontario must be done by a TSSA-registered contractor.
Do I need to give my email address?
No. There is no signup and no email wall. You can read the result and the full guide without sending contact details. If you want local repair quotes, that is a separate optional step.
Found the likely problem? Get it fixed locally.
Send the symptom and your city once. Up to three local repair crews can reply with a diagnostic fee and a range — free, no obligation.