Your Pool Water Smells Funny. Here’s Why

If your pool smells like a public restroom with a side of chemicals, congratulations. You’re probably dealing with a buildup of something worse than just chlorine. The truth is, properly balanced water doesn’t smell like anything. When it stinks, it’s usually your pool’s way of begging for help.

That smell isn’t chlorine. It’s the stuff chlorine didn’t finish dealing with.

Most people think that sharp, eye-watering odor means there’s too much chlorine in the pool. The opposite is usually true. What you’re smelling are chloramines—chemical byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with sweat, body oils, urine, and other organic matter.

So yeah. That smell? It’s what happens when your pool is trying to clean up after your guests, and it’s losing.

Top reasons your pool smells funky

• Low free chlorine levels. If there’s not enough active chlorine, contaminants start to take over. You get chloramines, cloudy water, and smells.
• High bather load. Had a party recently? That smell is probably a cocktail of sunscreen, sweat, and questionable decisions.
• Dirty filter. If your filter hasn’t been cleaned or backwashed in weeks, it’s just recirculating the gunk.
• Infrequent shocking. Shock isn’t just for green water. It’s how you burn off those nasty byproducts and reset your sanitizer.

How to fix it

1. Test your water. Check free chlorine, combined chlorine, and pH levels. Don’t guess.
2. Shock your pool. Use a strong oxidizing shock at night and let it run overnight. Aim to raise chlorine to at least 10 ppm temporarily to eliminate chloramines.
3. Brush and vacuum. Give your walls and floor a scrub. Dead spots can be holding organic debris that fuels the smell.
4. Clean your filter. Backwash or rinse your cartridge thoroughly. If it’s old, replace it. Dirty filters don’t fix smelly pools.

Prevent the return of the stink

• Shock weekly, even if the water looks good
• Keep free chlorine in range at all times
• Rinse off before swimming (you, not just the kids)
• Stay on top of filter maintenance

Pool water shouldn’t smell like a gym locker. If it does, your chemistry is off and your pool is silently suffering. Fix it now, and you can get back to swimming without wondering what you’re actually swimming in.