Identifying and Removing Pool Stains
Did you know that swimming is the fifth most popular activity in the United States? If you own a pool, you likely get a lot of use out of it.
With persistent use comes regular wear and tear. Although some pool stains aren’t a cause for concern, they can be unappealing to look at.
Luckily, there are methods for identifying the type of pool stain you have and how to get rid of it. Keep reading to learn how to remove pool stains.
How to Identify a Pool Stain
In general, there are two categories of pool stains: organic and metal stains. Organic pool stains occur from the effect of natural elements on a pool such as algae stains or mud.
What do metal stains look like in a pool? Metal pool stains are darker with a reddish-brown appearance. The two most common metal stain types are copper and iron.
You might also hear them referred to as chlorine stains because they are chemically induced spots that manifest from adding chlorine to the water. Proper pool cleaning and maintenance can prevent this.
Confirming Pool Stains
Organic stains are easier to remove than metal stains. Pool owners can conduct simple tests to uncover the stain type.
To confirm an organic pool stain, add sprinkles of granular chlorine to the stain and scrub the granules into it with a brush. If the stain goes away, you have confirmed that it is organic.
For a metal stain test, add some crushed Vitamin C or ascorbic acid to the stain. Try to scrub it away slowly. A metal-based stain that you scrub will slowly disappear.
How to Remove Organic Pool Stains
Learning how to remove pool stains without draining is simple. Organic pool stains don’t pose huge threats to your pool but you can mitigate the unappealing stains by following these steps:
- Remove leaves and debris
- Test the water levels
- Shock the pool
- Brush the stains until they disappear
- Run the pool pump
- Brush the stains again
After completing the above process, check to see if the stains are completely gone. If not, keep repeating the steps.
How to Remove Metal Pool Stains
Learning how to remove brown stains or metal pool stains is a little tougher. These are the steps you will follow:
- Lower the chlorine levels
- Add algaecide
- Apply Vitamin C to the stain
- Add ascorbic acid on larger stains
- Circulate your water
- Check for residual stians
These are the same steps you’d take to remove copper stains from a pool.
If metal stains are still visible after running the pool filter for 30 minutes, repeat the last four steps until the pool is stain-free.
Remove Pool Stains With Our Help
You can remove pool stains by following this guide or by seeking professional help.
At Escape Pools, our expert pool technicians have the materials and equipment necessary to remove either stain type.
Although removing stains involves fairly easy steps, stubborn stains don’t always take to DIY methods. Let us help you if this is the case!
Contact Escape Pools now if you are dealing with stains that you can’t seem to get rid of. We are here to help you with all of your pool maintenance, pool construction, pool renovations and remodeling, patio covers, outdoor kitchens, water features and fire features.
