Dylan hadn’t had to top off his pool in nearly a month, which was odd for late June in Rocklin. No big splash-outs, no obvious leaks, just stubbornly low water that kept creeping downward. Then came the notices—local water restrictions were going into effect. He figured he’d just ride it out, but within a couple weeks, his pool turned a little hazy, then fully cloudy. "I haven’t changed anything," he said. "Why does it look like a swamp now?"

It’s not just about water levels—drought affects your pool chemistry in ways most Northern California homeowners don’t expect.

It started with a faint line of white creeping along the waterline tiles. Then came the dull green haze that wouldn't scrub off. By the end of the month, the once-pristine mosaic bordering Amanda's backyard pool in Rocklin looked like it had aged twenty years overnight. Her water was clear. The filter was running. So what went wrong?

If you’ve noticed your pool tiles changing color—white, green, brown, or worse—it’s not just a cosmetic issue. It’s a warning sign. And in Northern California, where mineral levels and heat can fluctuate wildly, ignoring the signals could lead to permanent staining, scaling, or surface damage.

It started with a few dead bugs here and there. No big deal, right? But by mid-June, Ellie from Rocklin was fishing out bees, beetles, earwigs, and even a drowning lizard almost every morning. The pool didn’t smell bad. The water wasn’t cloudy. But it was starting to feel like a petting zoo—and not the fun kind.

If you live in Northern California and find yourself scooping up more bugs than leaves, you’re not alone. Certain regional conditions make pools here a bug magnet—but the good news is, you can do something about it.

It started with a small tear on the side, barely noticeable. Then Ashley noticed her hot tub wasn’t holding temperature overnight. The water was a little cooler, the chemical smell a little stronger. She shrugged it off—until her next energy bill came in, sky-high and screaming for attention. One soggy, heavy cover later, Ashley realized she’d ignored the problem for too long.

If you own a hot tub, your spa cover is more than just a lid—it’s one of the hardest-working parts of your setup. And when it stops working properly, your hot tub can become a money pit, a bacteria trap, or both.

Here’s how to tell if it’s time to say goodbye to that old cover and upgrade.

It was supposed to be the best birthday bash of the summer. Kristen invited the whole neighborhood over—kids, neighbors, even her sister's Golden Retriever. The grill was hot, the music louder, and her pool crystal clear. But the next morning? That “sparkling blue” water had turned cloudy gray.

The filters were humming. The pump was running. But the pool looked like someone stirred in a gallon of milk.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. After a big pool party, even the cleanest swimming pool can turn murky. Here's why it happens—and what to do about it.

Nate thought he had everything set. His pool heater kicked on, the digital display lit up, and he waited for that perfect warm water moment. But after 30 minutes of anticipation, he dipped his toe in—and immediately pulled it back out. The water was lukewarm at best. “What’s the point of having a heater,” he muttered, “if it’s just going to pretend to work?”

If your pool or hot tub heater turns on but isn’t doing the job, there are several things that might be standing in the way of that cozy swim. Some are simple fixes. Others point to larger maintenance problems you don’t want to ignore.

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.