Your backyard pool is an escape from the world, especially on a hot summer day. Taking the time to properly care for your pool will help ensure the pool is ready to enjoy for many summers to come. Unfortunately, despite your best efforts, pool stains can still happen, and although they are mostly harmless, their unsightly presence can put a damper on your summer fun.
Here are a few of the most common pool stains and how to identify, eliminate, and prevent the stains from occurring again in the future.
Waterline Stains
Waterline stains are the unpleasant discolorations that occur along your pool’s waterline. When the pool water is full, the line is not as noticeable. However, when the pool water begins to evaporate or is splashed out by your kids, the waterline will fall, and the line will begin to form.
Eliminating the line often requires using commercial products specially formulated for this issue. Unfortunately, if the line is significant or if it has spread on the pool walls below the waterline, you might need to drain the pool a few inches to access the scum line and eliminate it.
Contacting a professional to properly lower the water level in your pool and eliminate the noticeable water line is the best option because this ensures the stains are removed safely.
Prevent lines in the future by making sure your pool is full to the water line. Ensure the filter runs, and make sure everyone removes any lotions or perfumes before jumping in the pool. Cleaning organic matter will also help prevent a scum line.
Copper Stains
When copper gets into your pool water, it can leave behind noticeable stains that are either blue, black, or green in color, or a mixture of all three. Many pool ionizer and mineral cartridge pool-cleaning systems use copper and silver compounds to keep the pool water clean. Copper is also found in some algaecides and tablet or granular pool chlorines.
Heaters and heat exchangers can be a source of copper in your pool. With a balanced pH the copper is left intact. If the pH becomes too low, the copper in the heat exchanger will begin to dissolve into the water. You may not ever notice staining until you correct the low pH, at which time the copper will begin to stain because it is no longer being dissolved by the pH.
If you do use systems or chemicals that add copper, it is best to keep the pH balanced and keep the level of copper low. Having a high pH or high copper can cause the copper to no longer be dissolved and begin staining the pool.
Eliminating copper stains can be tricky and is a job best left to the professionals. A professional technician will use the correct chemicals to eliminate excess copper from the water and remove any staining from the walls.
Once the copper levels are stable, your pool technician can determine how the excess copper got into the water and prevent it from occurring in the future. For example, your pool expert might recommend switching to a different pool-cleaning system that works best with the water in your area.
Rust Stains
Finding rust stains in your pool is a common issue and is highly treatable and preventable. The first step is identifying the rust stains, which is the telltale reddish color. Next, a pool expert can help you determine the cause of the rust stains. When any metal falls in the pool, it can leave behind stains.
However, in extreme cases, the rust stains occur because of a breakdown of the pool walls or damage to the pool lining. In-ground pools feature a metal frame that supports the concrete pool and liner. If damage has happened to the pool or the concrete and pool liner are older, the metal frame can become exposed. When metal and water mix, this leads to corrosion and rust stains.
If the rust stains were from pieces of metal falling into the water, a professional can quickly eliminate the stains. When an exposed metal frame causes rust stains, a pool expert can determine the cause of damage and any repairs that are necessary to prevent rust stains in the future.
Organic Stains
Finally, organic stains can happen from falling leaves, tree limbs, or any other types of organic matter that are introduced to the pool. These stains are typically green or brown in color. Shocking the pool and scrubbing away the stains is typically the best option to eliminate them. Luckily, organic stains are highly preventable.
For example, if you constantly clean leaves and twigs out of your pool, cut back the branches of any overhanging trees. Clean the pool after heavy winds or a rainstorm. Schedule an appointment with your pool professional to check out your pool’s filtration system and ensure that it is strong enough to eliminate smaller organic materials from the water.
From organic material to iron and copper, several common stains occur in backyard pools. Contact the professionals at KrisCo Aquatech Pools & Spas to schedule your stain removal services or to ask any questions or concerns you have about your pool. We look forward to serving all of your pool maintenance and care needs.
Recent Comments