Category: Acid Washing

Does your swimming pool look so old because of unremovable pool stains? Vigorous scrubbing can only remove so much but it won’t be enough to remove those persistent stains. Chlorine wash pool activities are for algae elimination. You might do this every two or three years. However, another three years of use will form stains that can’t be removed without a specialized acid wash process. The acid washing process using substances as soda ash and muriatic acid can be a hazardous activity if you don’t do it carefully. To acid wash a pool, a garden hose, some over the shelf chemicals for pool acid, and some research won’t always work. If you want a safe and effective stain removal job, then leave it to Flamingo Pools, the pool service gilbert az experts to the the job for you.

Reasons to Acid Wash Your Pool

Is your pool surface, and pool wall, are stained and no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to clean it? If you answered yes to this question, you may want to consider getting pool acid washing. Dirt, rust, and algae will create stains in your pool if not cleaned properly or quickly enough. However, sometimes as your water gets older, the chemicals just aren’t as effective and the pool surface will stain easier.

What Is Acid Washing?

When you are acid washing your pool, you are actually taking off a thin layer of the pool floor or wall, giving it a bright, new look. If the stains run deep in the pebble or plaster, acid wash is not guaranteed to remove all stains. Acid washing your pool is a big job and takes a good amount of time and effort. If you perform this task incorrectly, you can seriously damage your pool, so be sure that you know what you’re doing. If you do not have experience or are not comfortable working with acid, hire a professional to do it for you.

Steps You Need To Take

1. Drain the water– It will take one day to drain pool water. Make sure you know where to dispose of the water. Some cities have restrictions as to where you are able to drain your water. Also, be sure that the temperature is going to be cooperative to avoid serious damage. Draining the water takes time. Having a submersible pump may help you save time. Note also that you need to schedule water draining during the colder months.
   
2. Acid wash the pool- When acid washing your pool, it will look something like this. First, you will rinse a portion of the wall or floor with a hose. Then, you will pour acid on the surface and scrub with an acid brush. After waiting 30-60 seconds, you will rinse the wall/floor. To prevent unwanted damage, you are going to want to neutralize the leftover water-acid mixture that will form at the bottom of your pool as you go by adding the correct proportions of soda ash. For more detailed information on how to acid wash your own pool, visit How To Acid Wash a Pool. Keep in mind that acid can be very harmful and dangerous to work with. Once again, if you do not have experience or are uncomfortable working with acid, contact Flamingo Pools to get this done for you!
   
3. Remove wastewater- The resulting acid puddle is dangerous. Before disposing of your wastewater, make sure you have neutralized it properly. If you fail to do so, the acidic water could cause major damage and be harmful to the health of people, plants, and animals who come in contact with it.
   
4. Refill the pool- Refilling your pool could take a day or two, so plan on the whole process taking a few days total.

How Often Should You Acid Wash Your Pool?

It is a good idea to acid wash your pool around every 5 years. Assuming that you are going to drain and refill your pool every 2-3 years, it would be smart to do this every other time that you drain the water. Do not acid wash your pool too often because it could cause damage to the walls and floor.

What Kind of Pool Surfaces are Safe to Acid Wash?

If your pool has a pebble, plaster, or quartz surface, it is safe to acid wash. If your pool is vinyl, fiberglass, acrylic, or painted, acid washing will cause damage. In Arizona, there are many examples of a concrete pool, but note that even these will receive damage from acid if the task is not done properly. Note also that acids, such as muriatic acid, and any pool acid mixture, is dangerous work. Using protective gear is very important when you do this task.

At Flamingo Pools, we want you to have sparkling clean water so that you can enjoy your pool. We would love to acid wash your pool for you! Enter your information below to schedule. Thank you for being part of the Flamingo Pools Family!