How To Remove Stains From Pool Walls

Balance The Pools Chemicals

When the pools pH is high and the pool is thus basic , algae will thrive in it. You should thus keep the pH of the pool about 7.4. Besides this, you need to maintain the chlorine level between 2 and 4 ppm besides many other chemical balances. You should have a pool-testing kit to help you find the right chemical balance for your pool.

Brush The Sides And Bottom Of The Pool

You then brush the sides and floor of the swimming pool to loosen up the algae and other types of debris stuck on the walls and the floor. The type of brush you use will depend on the material used to make the floor and sides of the pool. Hard materials such as plaster or concrete will need a tough stiff or wire brush while softer materials such as vinyl will need softer brushes.

When brushing the inside of the pool, brush all parts including the ladders, walls, corners, steps, the floor and any other parts covered by the water. You may also need to brush the parts next to the pool to prevent debris from getting inside it.

Swimming Pool Stains Removal Guide

For some pool owners, a stained pool is beyond embarrassing, worse than tattered carpet and stained couch cushions. It can ruin your entire backyard experience. Hard-to-remove pool spots and stains can take a bit more than just brushing. You need some powerful methods to treat and prevent pool stains.

The first step to getting rid of those eyesore spots is to diagnose the stain type. Swimming pool stains can be caused by:

1. Metals or Minerals in the pool water coming out of solution2. Rust coming through the wall, floor, or around fittings3. Organic material like leaves, dirt, oils, worms or algae

A clue to identifying the type of pool stain may be found in the color of the stain.

Pool Stain Identification:

First of all, you should determine if the stain is Organic or Metallic.

Many people think that their pool plaster is stained, when they really just have an algae problem. If the stain brushes off, even slightly, or responds at all to shocking or sprinkling granular chlorine over it, then what you most likely have is an algae bloom. Visit our Pool Info page for more information on how to treat pool algae.

Mottling: Sometimes, you will not have a stain at all, but just normal mottling of the plaster. Remember that plaster is a natural product and is subject to variations in hue and shading. Streaks or mottled effects are considered natural, and they cannot be removed.

Read Also: Aria Las Vegas Swimming Pool

Chemical Solutions To The Staining Problem

For light copper and iron stains, BioGaurd Pool Magnet works well on “fresh” stains. For heavier staining, Jack’s Magic Blue Stuff is an effective additive which can also be used in higher chlorine levels, so treating metal in water that also has algae issues can be done at the same time. Products like these are sequestering agents that suspend the metals in solution to prevent them from “plating out” on the surface. As with stains caused by something organic, using an ascorbic or diphosphonic acid based product can help remove metal stains. When treating metal stains and discoloration with products such as these, the results may not be immediate and you may not see the stain lighten or be removed for several days or several weeks. The device discussed earlier that uses scrub pads and muriatic acid can also be effective on metal stains and shows instant results.

How To Prevent Swimming Pool Stains

So whats the one surefire way to prevent pool stain?

Bulletproof pool maintenance habits.

What do we mean by that?

Well, we dont expect you to brush your pool 24/7 or anything crazy like that. Instead, just a few changes thatll keep your pool clean and fend off buildup. A defense again future pool stains.

To prevent pool stains from returning in the future:

• Test and balance your water at least twice a week
• Keep your pool properly sanitized
• Skim and brush the pool 2-3 times each week
• Vacuum at the end of each week for a spotless and debris free floor
• Add a mineral sequestering agent to lock up excess minerals
• Add a metal eliminator pack to contain and deactivate excess metals

Read Also: Is Mandalay Bay Pool Heated

How To Prevent Metal Pool Stains

Itll take a little more vigilance, but you can keep metals from making your pool look ugly.

• Test your water source for metals. If theyre present, use a hose filter when filling or refilling your pool.
• Use a metal sequestrant in your pool. This chemical binds with metal particles to keep them from settling on pool surfaces, and to make it possible for them to be removed by the pool filter.
• Maintain your pool plumbing. If any parts of it use copper pipes, check them regularly for corrosion, and replace them when necessary.
• Keep the pH level in your pool steady. This is especially important if you have copper in your water. A low pH level will make the water acidic, which will corrode copper, which will oxidize it, which will stain your pool.

Important: A metal sequestrant is not a metal pool stain remover. It can help prevent stains by making it easier for metals to be removed from the water. But once you have a metal stain, a sequestrant will not remove it.

Finding a stain in your pool can be dismaying at first. But once youre able to identify the cause and the source of the stain, youll be able to easily remedy it. Then its just a matter of preventing future stains.

Still, its always a good idea to keep plenty of pool shock and metal pool stain remover on hand, just in case.

Happy Swimming!

Send Those Metal Stains Packingin Three Steps

Did you confirm that you in fact have a metal stain making a home out of your pool? Well, get ready to use some muscle. Once you spend a little time prepping your pool, that stain will be coming off in no time. And of course, youll need to restore your pools chemical balance again once thats donebut do it quick and youll be in the clear.

Restoring your chemical balance is all the easier with a powerful pump. If a larger horsepower will turn over your water volume at a sufficient rateand wont overwhelm your filtration systemthen a unit like this Blue Torrent 2 HP Variable-Speed Pump is the one to try. As customer Dave Schmidt says, My pool has never looked cleaner. I am pleased with my new pump!

You May Like: Dolphin Nautilus Cc Plus Troubleshooting

Damages The Look Of Your Pool

Besides plainly giving your swimming pool an awful and scary look, algae also raise the pH of your pool. This leads to a buildup of calcium deposits and scaling on the floor and sides of the pool. This state also affects fiberglass and concrete surfaces with time with discoloration and stains being noted.

How To Acid Wash Your Pool Without Draining

Heres a step-by-step guide to no-drain acid washing the swimming pool in your Dallas home:

Step 1: Make sure you turn off your swimming pool filtration system and remove any time switch trippers to prevent the pool from turning back on.

Step 2: Protect any metal fixtures in the pool from oxidation or discoloration by applying petroleum jelly on them.

Step 3: Add the acid. Calculating a precise acid dosage depends on the pH and size of your pool. If your pool has a pH reading of 7.6, for example, and an average-sized 15,000-gallon pool, you should add 1 ¼ oz of acid. For a more clearer idea of how much acid to add, refer to the table below:

Step 4: Brush the pool surface, starting right at the waterline and down to the bottom curve of the pool. Make sure you cover every inch of the pool.

Step 5: Test the alkalinity levels of the pool water the next day. Add more acid as necessary.

Step 6: Repeat steps and for every day of the no-drain acid wash treatment.

Step 7: As soon as you cannot the stains anymore and your pool is clean, begin to rebalance the pool slowly. You can use a base demand test to estimate the amount of pH increaser you will need. Turn the pool filtration system back on once the pH levels in the pool water reach 7.2.

Don’t Miss: Cyanuric Acid Removal

Chlorine Workhorse Of Your Pool

Chlorine is a pool cleaner that works to break down any bacteria in your pool and thoroughly sanitize the water. It is an ideal way to keep the pool clean and fresh. It is available in different forms, and a pool professional can guide you in determining what would work best for you. However, amounts ranging from 1 to 3 ppm must be maintained in the pool at all times.

Test & Balance The Water Chemistry

In prevention and treatment, water chemistry is one of the most important steps to getting and keeping your pool algae-free.

You need to test your chlorine and pH levels with a good test kit , and bring your pH level to about 7.8 by adding sodium carbonate to increase it or sodium bisulfate will also need to make sure the chlorine is at least above 1 ppm.

You May Like: Aria Swimming Pool

Also Check: How To Take Calcium Off Pool Tile

Liner Pool Stain Colors

Its not always easy to tell whats causing the stains by looking at the color. Sometimes, theres a dead giveaway next to your stain that tells you where it came from , but much of the time youre going to have to look for other clues to find out whats causing it.

Here are a few of the colors that you may see and their usual causes:

• Teal or blue-green stains indicate that you have an issue with copper. The copper stains could be originating from pipes or they could be leaching from the pool heater due to improper chemical maintenance.
• Reddish-brown stains typically come from iron in the pool. Sometimes, the pool liner will also be stained yellow. These rusty patches on the liner can come from metal parts, like handrails or ladders, but they can also be caused by corroded iron pipes or well water.
• Green or brown pool liner stains usually come from organic matter like algae, leaves, bugs, and mud.
• Red or purple stains often come from berries or fruit falling into the pool from nearby bushes or overhead trees. Light pink stains can also be a sign of bacterial buildup.
• Black stains on a pool liner also often come from metals like manganese which usually comes from well water.

Black Spot Algae In Pool

How to remove black algae stains from pool walls. Is it coming back in the same place on the walls? When your pool has black algae, itll not change the color as much as green algae does. Removing black algae from your pool.

This is one of the strongest silver based algaecides available, and silver is best for controlling black algae. And it deeply embeds itself into the pores of those surfaces. Attach a 90 degree fitting on the end to deliver the acid to a stain on the pool wall.

If you have a concrete or gunite pool, use a stainless steel bristle brush. Black algae have a protective cover over. Remove the visible algae from pool surface, to do this scrub the affected areas with an abrasive brush or use muriatic acid diluted in water .

Luckily, whether youre trying to remove leaf stains or algae stains from your pool, theres a simple method to follow. Kit is $295 for pools 10,000 gallons. Of all pool stains, organic pool stains are the easiest to remove that said, youll still need to use a little elbow grease to get rid of them.

If you have problems removing all traces of the stain, apply more muriatic acid solution to that area and scrub it using a stiff bristle brush. Black and green algae stains can cover your homes exterior surfaces, leaving a slippery mess. Image via trouble free pool removing organic pool stains.

How To Get Rid Of Black Algae Black Algae In Pool Swimming Pools Pool Algae

You May Like: How Much Does It Cost To Build An Underground Pool

Small Stains On White Plaster Have Multiple Causes

No one likes to see stains or discolored spots on swimming pool walls. Even if the pool water is clean, spots or stains on the wall can make swimmers think otherwise. To rid your pool’s walls of any stains, there are several options, from chemicals to scrubbing — implement one of the following ways to get your pool sparkling again.

Remove Metal Compounds From Your Fill

Some years back, before the CuLator metal eliminator was available, there were no practical ways of removing metallic compounds from pool fill-water before entering your pool. The only possible way was to treat water inside your pool, which is hard work and expensive to maintain.

CuLator Ultra Power Park is now my best option for this because you can use it in the skimmer or pump basket to remove up to 4 ppm metal compounds from 20,000 gallons of fill-water before entering your pool. If your pool is more than 20,000 gallons, you can increase your parks and use them both in the skimmer and pump basket.

CuLator should work up to 30 days or longer depending on the metal level in your water and is replaceable once worn out.

However, the easiest way to avoid stains in your pool is to avoid filling the water with metals. Before installing your pool, it is important to test your water source for metal content and avoid water sources with metals in it at all costs because maintenance will be relatively hard and expensive in the long run.

Moreover, you need to be careful with the chemicals you add to your pool since copper may find its way in your pool from chemicals such as algaecide or ionizerand eroded pool parts with copper. If you cant use CuLator for any reason, detailed below are more ways to control metal stains in your pool.

Also Check: Is Mandalay Bay Pool Open

Chlorine Levels Too Low Adjust And Increase Chlorine Levels

Raising pool chlorine levels can be much easier as compared to reducing the levels. Reasons that may cause the levels to reduce may include:

• Insufficiently added chlorine
• Cloudy/ murky/ milky water
• Not testing enough

To eliminate these problems, you may simply use chlorine tablets, granules, powder, or liquid shock to increase the amount.

If the water looks murky, shock the pool and raise the levels to around 10 ppm, and wait for it to reduce naturally before swimming. If the water is clear, test and add just a tad bit more to maintain the 3 ppm standard.

Whatever product you use, make sure you read the instructions on using the suitable amount according to your pool needs.

Backwash the water and remove any waste from the bottom to ensure there is no chlorine loss in the pool.

Make sure to use the sticks, tablets, or granules in the later afternoon or evening. This prevents any loss to sunlight, especially if the cyanuric acid concentration is low.

Walk gradually around the pool deck and pour chlorine onto the sides. Run the circulatory pump for about 8 to 10 hours and never put chlorine directly into the skimmer.

Remember, it is always better to start small and go up bit by bit to avoid over chlorinating the pool. Talk to our pool cleaning experts for more information on increasing chlorine amounts in your swimming pool.

Why Is The Bottom Of Mypool Turning Brown

The brown pool stainscan give an appearance that the bottom of the swimming pool is turning brown. Ithas a few causes namely algae, metal or the buildup of dirt.

When you start noticingbrownish-black stains on the sides of the pool, metal might be the usual cause.As for brown stains that are concentrated on the bottom of the pool, it mightbe due to dirt stains, usually enhanced by the accumulation of calcium.

Read Also: Remove Algae Stains From Pool

What Causes Brown Stainsin Swimming Pools

Once there are brownstains in the pool water, you might have second thoughts on taking the plunge.

Aside from the brownstains brought about by the buildup of dirt or metals, it might also be causedby the high concentration of iron. This concentration should be below 0.2 mg/Lor else iron oxides accumulate due to the air oxidation. Once the concentrationlevel is too high, it results in the brownish discoloration of the pool water thatleads to the formation of brown stains.

How To Clean A Fiberglass Waterline

Cleaning a fiberglass pool along the waterline essentially means getting rid of the ring around the pool. The ring is formed due to metals that naturally occur in the water, combined with body oils and sun protection products that have been exposed to the water.

You can get rid of this ring by adjusting the setting on your pool filter to make it work faster than normal. Once you have run the filter and the water becomes clearer, you can add more chlorine. This cleans debris from the water and sanitizes it. Be sure the filtration setting remains at 7.2 so that the water is safe to swim in, even during the cleaning process.

Some swimming pool suppliers provide commercial products that can be used for thorough cleaning. Ceramic tile or vinyl cleaner that is not too abrasive can effectively remove stains from fiberglass pools, especially if the pool has minor stains and is cleaned regularly, these cleaners can work well. Oxalic acid also helps to remove fiberglass pool stains. However, the substance can make the pool water cloudy for a few days. Swimming pool suppliers also have many industrial products that can be used to clean the pool. Atlantic Pool and Spa have a number of products and methods that will keep your fiberglass pool looking its best.

Don’t Miss: How Many Btu For Pool Heater