Those stubborn water rings and deposits in your swimming pool are the result of high calcium hardness, high pH, and high water temperatures. They can be unsightly and distract from your fun. Treatment involves adequately lowering the pH and cleaning your pool with the right agents and methods.

What Causes Pool Stains and Scale?

Calcium hardness is a common pool issue. If your water has 400 to 800 ppm, or higher, calcium falls out of the solution. This leads to a rough, white, or gray scale. It’s also not good to let the water’s pH rise above 7.6. A high pH keeps the water from holding minerals well. As a result, you’ll develop scaling in your pool.

Even things as simple as evaporation and sunlight can lead to unsightly stains and deposits. As your pool water evaporates, it leaves minerals behind. As the concentration of minerals increases, they form hard rings at the waterline. In addition, organic contaminants, such as lotions, oils, and sunscreens, leave behind a black or dark brown, greasy ring.

Removing Stubborn Rings and Deposits

The first thing you need to do is lower the water level, dropping it below the ring. You can use a wet pumice stone to gently scrub the tile. Make sure the stone stays wet to avoid scratching the surface.

You can use commercial pool cleaners or diluted muriatic acid as well. These dissolve calcium carbonate scale. For general stains, try a baking soda paste. Mix baking soda and water. Apply it to the stains, and wait 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing.

Sequestering agents are also effective. Add a metal- or stain-removing one to the pool water. It locks up minerals and keeps them from settling on the pool’s surfaces.

Preventing Water Rings and Deposits

Keep your pool’s water at 7.2 to 7.6 pH. Also, ensure that the alkalinity is between 80 and 120 ppm. Routinely apply a stain preventer or scale inhibitor to further help manage mineral buildup.

Regular cleaning goes a long way in avoiding these issues. The pool’s walls and waterline need frequent brushing. This helps prevent the buildup from becoming a perpetual problem. Using a pool cover will reduce evaporation, and you can use a pre-filter when refilling.

Scheduling professional pool cleaning once a week throughout the summer will be the best thing you can do to avoid water rings and deposits on your pool. Call Landi Pool Service now to learn more about how you can take advantage of our team’s expert pool cleaning in Vineland, NJ.