Last Updated on April 13, 2020 by Shain Jorgensen
Having a pool is a great pastime. It allows you to host friends and family over for memorable parties and get-togethers. Yet owning a pool means you’re going to have to take care of it. A lot. One problem that pool owners may notice is stains. Depending on what kind of stain it is, it may be easily removed or it may require help from the swimming pool service Gilbert AZ professionals. Here’s a helpful guide to pool stains and how to remove them.
What Kind of Stain is it?
The first step that should be taken in removing pool stains is determining what kind of stain it is. There are three main types of pool stains: Organic, metal, and rust.
Organic stains come from organic materials. This might be from a build-up of algae in your pool. It could also come from leaves and grass that have flown into the pool from an outside source. It may even be due to berries and other flowers that have drifted into the water. The organic material should be cleaned out of your pool frequently.
Metal stains typically come from the water source. The water may contain iron, copper, or manganese. Depending on the metal, the stain may be different colors. These metals can also be introduced to the pool via fertilizer sprays that drift into the pool or yard sprays. When spraying your yard with either, it’s good practice to cover your pool to prevent contamination. It’s also possible that swimmers may have some chemicals on their feet when they walk across the yard to the pool. You may want to implement a sandal rule where swimmers must wear sandals when outside of the pool.
Rust stains can be particularly unpleasant to look at in your pool. They can come from a metallic object that falls into the water and remains there. An example might be a hairpin that fell out of a swimmer’s hair and landed on the bottom of the pool. Over time, the hairpin starts to rust and turns a nasty brownish-red color in the entire area. Rust stains can also come from the rebar. In this instance, it’s best that a professional Gilbert pool service cleans the issue since it may require construction.
One final stain that you may notice is waterline stains. These can come from many different sources. Oil and lotions that are on a swimmer’s skin can cause the stains. As can powerful chlorine tablets. Finally, swimmers who have a tendency to relieve themselves in the pool can also create a stain along the waterline.
Removal Practices
After you have determined what kind of stain it is, you stand a better chance of removing it effectively. One method is to shock it. This method requires you to know the pH of your pool. It should have a pH between 7.0-7.2. Begin by reducing the pH and the alkaline levels.
Then add a few pounds of calcium hypochlorite to the water. The general rule of thumb is to add a bag to every five gallons of water. After a few hours have passed, you can sprinkle some more chlorine granules into the stain directly. Using a brush, scrub the stain until it is removed. You can then return the pool back to its preferred alkalinity by adding sodium bicarbonate into the water.
Another option is to buy an enzyme that can eat away organic material stains. You simply add the enzyme to the water per the manufacturer’s description.
For stains that stem from metallic sources, like metal in the water, you can clean all you want. However, until the source of water is altered, you will continue to see stains. The best option in this regard is to include a filter that can remove the metals before the water is poured into the pool. Then you can clean it using the method described above.
Rust stains can also be prevented by ensuring that no one swims in the pool with metal.
Choose a Professional Cleaner
For the best chance of having a clean and safe pool, you should just hire Ph Balanced Pool. They’ll take care of your pool and its pH levels, so you can just enjoy a beautiful pool.
