How To Remove Pool Scale and Stains
In the world of pool ownership, stains and scale are two words that often go hand-in-hand because they typically set into your pool at the same time. Pool stain remover and prevention tips to the rescue!
Saturated pool water, choked with calcium and other minerals, can turn your pool water cloudy when typically dissolved solids seep out of the pool water solution due to a chemical imbalance. When this happens, the calcium solids form and bond rapidly with surrounding particles, attaching to your pool surface as an ugly scale stain or as a sheet of dirty calcium film. Just like scale, staining problems most often arise from water balance issues, too. They can also result from organic debris entering the pool.
It might start as just a simple error in pH levels or an innocent shocking of the pool. Next thing you know, the water is cloudy, or scaly pool stains appear days or weeks later. If there are high levels of metals in your water, your pool may be plagued by recurring stains.
For those of you battling waterline pool scale, all-over calcium film stains, or general pool surface discoloration, do not despair. There are solutions to these pesky problems, such as calcium silicate remover for pool surfaces and calcium carbonate removal products. Read on to learn how to deal with swimming pool scaling and staining issues. You can manage most stain and scale issues with the following steps:
Identifying Types of Pool Scale
Recent blogs on the topic of pool scale problems have popularized the notion of two types of pool scale. In reality, there are at least half a dozen types of calcium scale found in pools. But in the majority of cases of calcium scale and stains, calcium carbonate is the culprit. Nearly every pool is susceptible to cloudy water, stains, and scale deposits when not properly managed.
Calcium Carbonate
This type of scale often deposits a fine sheet of film over the entire pool, but can also produce a stalagmite-like residue that builds up in layers. Calcium carbonate will scrape off easily, and dissolves with muriatic acid or other strong acids. High Calcium Hardness, along with high pH and warm water temperatures, will cause this type of pool scale. It can also come from moisture behind pool tile and raised walls, which leaches out of these surfaces as efflorescence.
Calcium Silicate
As the name suggests, this type of pool scale is calcium mixed with a form of sand. It usually takes a long period of time to create these grayish-white, hard deposits on pool surfaces, which can sometimes abrade skin and snag swimsuits. This alarming result is often the result of high pH combined with high calcium levels. New pool plaster is susceptible to this type of scale during the first year, but you can combat this potential problem by carefully monitoring pH and Total Alkalinity levels during the first summer and winter of a new pool or pool surface.
Pool Scale and Stain Removal
If you’re only dealing with stains caused by organic contaminants or metals, you’ll approach it differently than you would with calcium and mineral stains. Most organic pool stains can be eradicated by simply shocking the pool water. Stubborn stains can be treated with direct applications of granular chlorine and a pool brush. Iron stains can be removed with ascorbic acid powder, such as Leslie’s Stain Remover. Keep in mind that ascorbic acid removes chlorine from the water so this product should be used in the off-season.
The best way to remove calcium pool stains and scale from concrete, plaster, and pebble pools may be to drain the pool and acid wash the surface. You could also have the tile line bead blasted. But if you’d rather save time, money and water, keep reading. For manageable amounts of pool calcium deposits, scale, or stains, less drastic (and less expensive) solutions are available. Here are some of the most popular methods of removing calcium or mineral scale and stains in pools:
Pumice Stone: A pumice stone is a natural volcanic stone used on ceramic tile, concrete or plaster surfaces to rub away both main types of pool scale. It’s effective and fun to use (it floats!). However, it wears thin quickly and can make a mess. When using a pumice stone, make sure to keep both the stone and the surface you are cleaning wet at all times to prevent scratching.
Stain Erasers: Stain erasers are made of softer abrasives that are effective on any pool type—even vinyl and fiberglass pools. They’re made for removing calcium scale at the water line or any other place in the pool. True to its name, the stain eraser will rub off stains and scale while you scrub, similar to a pencil eraser. Simply attach to a pool pole or use as a handheld pool stain scrubber.
Descale-It: Descale-It is a safe to use, bio-friendly pool stain removal chemical that works without harsh fumes or rough abrasives. Scrape off the big stuff first, then spray directly on pool scale and efflorescence to remove it. This powerful natural solvent dissolves calcium carbonate scale and helps make removing calcium silicate scale easier when using a pumice stone. It’s safe to use with all pool types, and it’s also great for spas, sinks, tubs, and showers.
Pool Scale and Stain Prevention
There are specific ways you can prevent scale and stains (or scaly stains) in your own pool. This simple three-step pool stain and scale prevention program will keep your pool in top shape:
- Maintain a clean pool and keep organic waste levels to a minimum. Bio-matter in the pool, including algae, coagulates to form dirty stains, especially during scaling events.
- Regularly test pool water and keep it balanced with proper pH, Total Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness levels. Also check for the presence of metals in the water. Maintain a constant and consistent chlorine level of 2-4 ppm at all times. This becomes more important with water temperatures above 70°F, as warmer water makes it easier for pool water to precipitate calcium scale.
- Add a maintenance dose of high-quality sequestering agent, such as Stain and Scale Prevent, every few weeks to maintain a residual level and keep the calcium and metals “locked in” to the pool water solution. Stain and scale chemicals naturally degrade in sunlight and should be replenished regularly.
Sunset Pools, Southwest Florida Pool Builder
Source: Leslie’s Pool
