Swim Season is Around the Corner!
We made it through the winter! Days are longer, temperatures are warmer, and pools are waiting to be opened. It’s an exciting time! But there’s also a lot to do to make sure your pool is ready for the season…let’s get into it!
There you are, standing on the edge of your pool, anxiously awaiting the next moment…the moment you take off your pool cover after a long winter. Will the pool water be clear? Will the surface be clean? Will the tiles be intact? When you closed, you made sure the water was balanced and the surface was cleaned…but was it enough? You’ll have to lift the cover to find out…
Sometimes opening your pool can feel like a bad dream. But if you follow the right steps when closing and throughout the winter, you really shouldn’t have too much to worry about. That being said, even the best maintained pools can run into issues. Whatever the cause, we are here to help walk you through it!
If you lift the cover to find a swamp where your pool once was, don’t panic! There are a few different factors that can cause green pool water. These include atypically high spring temperatures, rain storms, bad water circulation, lack of cleaning and unbalanced water chemistry. Small amounts of algae are always present in a pool, and scheduled cleaning and water maintenance are key to preventing them from growing into larger, visible colonies. The first step to preventing algae is to have a regular maintenance regimen. This should include brushing, chemical balancing, vacuuming and water testing. Algae is also more likely to grow in uncirculated water. So, always keep your pool pump clean and running during swim season. Lastly, keep an eye on the weather. Algae grows in heat and rain water can alter the chemical balance of your pool water. In times of extreme heat or rain, make sure to monitor your water chemistry and cleaning schedule.
The steps for preventing algae are similar to the steps to get rid of it. If you open your pool to green water, the first step is to thoroughly clean your pool surface to loosen up the algae colonies. This will make it easier to remove. Once you brush, vacuum up as much of the loosened algae as possible. Then, test your water chemistry. pH levels should fall between 7.2-7.8 and alkalinity should be at 80-120PPM. You will also want to check your pool pump to make sure it is clean and running properly. If you are still dealing with algae after going through the last steps, you can shock your pool or call a professional.
Pool stains can be one of the most frustrating problems for pool owners. Hopefully, you can fix the issue quickly, but sometimes they pull a Toby and come back from corporate to haunt you. Unlike Michael Scott, you do have the ability to get rid of them for good!
The first step is to determine what is causing the stains. Stains are caused by a variety of materials reacting with pool water. There are three categories of stains:
- Scale: caused by a calcium build-up in the pool
- Organic: caused by twigs, leaves, acorns, etc. settling at the bottom of the pool. This often happens during the off-season and owners notice it when they pull off their covers in the spring.
- Metallic: caused by metal somewhere near your water – it could be a copper heater, pipe, or even a bobby-pin.
There are ways to get rid of the stains, but they will keep coming back if the cause of the stain is not identified. Once you pinpoint the source, you can take the following measures to get rid of them and make sure they do not return.
For scale and calcium build up:
- For scale, use a pumice stone, stain eraser or scale remover directly on the deposits. Please note that pumice stone should only be used on concrete pools or tile and surfaces should always remain damp to prevent scratching.
- For build up, the only method is using a pumice stone and it takes a lot of effort because they are notoriously hard to remove. If you don’t want to do the work yourself, or if you do not have a cement pool and cannot use a pumice stone, it is best to call a professional.
For organic stains:
- Check your water chemistry to make sure it is balanced. Maintaining proper chemistry at all times is key to keep stains from returning.
- Remove all debris from your pool and thoroughly clean your pool with an auto cleaner or vacuum. Make sure you schedule regular cleaning and maintenance to prevent stains in the future.
- Lower your chlorine levels to 1 parts per million with a chlorine neutralizer.
- Shock the pool by using a granular oxidizer – this will kill bacteria and other organic compounds in the pool.
- Thoroughly brush your pool’s surface, especially the stained areas, until the areas have disappeared or mostly disappeared.
- Run your pool pump for at least 8 hours to make sure you it working efficiently and clean.
For metallic stains:
- Start by lowering your pool’s chlorine level to 0 parts per million. You can either lower your water level and add fresh water or use a chlorine neutralizer.
- Add an algaecide to prevent algae growth while your pool has a lower chlorine level.
- Use a Vitamin C tablet, or ascorbic acid, to scrub directly on the stains or for larger stains try sprinkling ascorbic acid evenly across the pool surface.
- Run your pool pump for at least a half hour so that the filters can circulate these ingredients throughout the pool.
As a reminder for all stains, regularly check for new areas that pop up to take care of them before they spread.
A last resort to conquer stains would be to acid wash the pool. While it can eliminate stains on a surface, it also comes with a few risks. If you do not determine the source of the stains, acid washing will only be a temporary fix and they could come back.
More importantly, acid is corrosive and will wear down the surface, making it rough to the touch. So, to acid wash or not to acid wash? This would be a good question to ask your pool service company. If you do decide to do it, know the risks involved and make sure it is only done after all other options are exhausted.
Does your pools surface look like the Thing from Fantastic Four? Even if it’s just rough to the touch, it can be an issue. Unfortunately, sometimes algae and stains keep coming back even with proper prevention and maintenance. For cement pools, sometimes the condition of the surface can be a major factor in staining. If a pool surface is rough, it can make getting rid of stains and algae much more difficult, if not impossible. Rough plaster with cracks and divets makes it easier for algae to latch on to a surface and harder to remove. Certain algae can even extend roots into the surface which will wear it down and cause staining. A pool surface wears and becomes rough over time due to general wear and tear, chemical erosion or aggressive acid washing. If you do have a rough pool surface, unfortunately there is not a easy fix. The best way to get a smooth interior again is to hire a pool renovation company to resurface. Time for your pool to be resurfaced? Click below.
