You guys reading this you’re probably wondering what causes calcium scales in pools? Well, the chances are with your pool you were taking no precautions to help avoid calcium scales. Calcium carbonate typically forms where the water line is in the pool. As the evaporation increases during the summer with warm heat, the scale itself tends to become a white color. But more 9 Times out of 10 it is mixed with dirt algae to make it look darker. The most common cause for this is when the ppm of your water is over 400 and gets triggered by alkalinity. With a high pH in high temperatures, this is the result.
Things to help your calcium empidemic
One common thing that almost every pool owner does is use calcium hydrochloric shock. Putting this into your pool does nothing but add calcium. Using a non-chlorine oxidizer will help you solve that one simple problem. You can also try to lower your pH and alkalinity to make it harder for calcium pieces to form.
Removal
The typical way that calcium scale is first scraping off all of the heavy deposits. Then pour small amounts of any type of acid shock that you use such as acid magic or muriatic acid. You then one to quickly rinse it off and repeat it as needed. But this can be very vary depending on how long its been. If you cant remove it with in the first few times then that when I would recommend reaching out to our professionals and letting us handle the job! We will give you your old pool back without breaking your wallet, it’s what we love to do!
Call us
If you feel this job is too much or will take you too long feel free to give the experts at Specialty Aquatic Tile Cleaning a call. We can help you solve any of your questions or concerns regarding your pool. Our phone number is 626-275-8959. We serve all of Covina CA and neighboring cities. What are you waiting for, give your pool it’s life back and enjoy what you paid for!
Here at the specialty aquatic tile cleaning, we offer a wide range of pool cleaning services! I will first start off by telling you that a clean pool is a lot more enjoyable. When your pool is clean and everything is right you can expect to swim with your eyes open and not worry!
When you get your pool tile repaired or replaced by us you can expect everything to look as good as new. We can help you if they’re discolored as well!
Another service that we offer as well would be our pool makeover special. If your pool hasn’t received the care and attention that it requires you can probably start to notice some discoloration going on. How we address this issue is first we have to completely drain the pool, followed by an acid wash to clean the plaster, and then lastly calcium removal on the tiles. But just like any other job, it all depends on the pool size!
The third most popular service that we offer would be power washing. When we power wash you can expect to have your deck completely clear of any old dirt marks. This is usually what people get as well as the pool makeover. These both go together really well, leaving your backyard as you could remember it years ago.
Ceramic tile with heavy build up
Many pool owners know that owning a pool can be difficult at first and very irritating. So why go through all of the problems that arise with pool owners when you could have a trusted company like specialty aquatic tile cleaning take care of it for you!
Here at specialty aquatic tile cleaning, we charge by the linear foot. In some cases very rarely though, it is by the square foot. Our goal is to satisfy our customers and demolish the competition. We offer free estimates to anyone within 35 miles of us. So why are you waiting? Pick up the phone and call 626-275-8959 and get your free estimate! Proudly taking care of Covina CA and all of its pool owners! Feel free to also give us a call with any other questions or concerns regarding your pool!
Most likely, if you see spots along the waterline, you are dealing with a calcium deposit. And you’ll want to know how to remove lime from the pool, unfortunately, calcium deposits tend to be incredibly difficult to clean.
There are some reasons why you may start to notice these spots around the waterline.
The first reason is hard water, which can leave a calcium residue over time. If you live in an area of the country with hard water, it is likely that you have already noticed this accumulation in your faucets, sinks and even bathtubs.
The second reason is the heat. The high summer temperatures cause the water in the pool to evaporate more, and also raise the water temperature.
When combined with the third reason, the chemical composition of your pool, these conditions can cause calcium deposits.
Specifically, if your pool has a high pH, high alkalinity and hotter water, the calcium scale will begin to form.
Lime stains in pool
The reason why this situation occurs so often in the water line is due to evaporation. These calcium crystals can appear as nodules that dot the metal and plaster, or they can become scabby deposits that live in the corners of the pool.
Technically, these are two different things. Calcium carbonate, which tends to manifest as a scaly substance on the surface of the pool, and calcium silicate, which is grayish-white and harder. Either way, they are not exactly aesthetically pleasing.
What does lime do to your pool?
Obstructed filters
Pool filters are designed to treat water or other types of waste typical of the pool: insects, leaves, etc. But they are not designed for hard calcium deposits.
As more and more hardened calcium passes through the filter, the system will slow down and not work as well due to clogging.
Damage to the Plaster
If left untreated, calcium deposits will continue to grow and spread to other areas of the pool, including, in the background. This can result in the creation of clumps in the plaster that you will have to eliminate if you do not want the finish to be damaged.
Irritation of eyes and skin
If people swim in a pool with excess calcium, which is causing deposits, there is a great chance that there will be skin and eye irritation.
Calcium deposits and scaling are unattractive, make swimming pools uncomfortable for swimming and can cause serious and costly long-term damage.
Steps to Remove Lime
Limescale deposits can form along the waterline of your pool. This is usually caused by a high pH, high alkalinity or a high concentration of calcium. Constant temperature changes along with rapid evaporation will cause the deposits to settle along the side of the pool wall. If the deposits are not removed soon, it can cause permanent damage to the surface of the pool.
Cleaning with vinegar
Baking soda, borax, dish soap, toothpaste, and vinegar can be used in much the same way to clean calcium deposits, so you can use most of the information related to the vinegar and apply it also to cleaning agents.
What you need for cleaning with vinegar:
A cleaning brush. With soft bristles, not metallic.
A bottle of spray.
Vinegar, a 5% solution.
Once you have these items, you can start cleaning.
The first step is to stop all use of the pool until a water test can be performed. If the test reveals that the levels are within range, you can use a stain remover to remove deposits from the waterline. If the pH, alkalinity or calcium levels are too high, they should be reduced before using a scale and scale cleaner.
It is recommended to start first by lowering the hardness of the water. The hardness can only be lowered by partially draining and then filling the pool. Your pool needs a hardness level of 200 ppm to 400 ppm. A level of hardness above 400 ppm can lead to scale formation on the surface of the pool and equipment and can also cause cloudy water.
Once the pool has drained, and filled again, check that the hardness is within range. If it is not, you must repeat step 2 until you normalize the hardness. Only in that case can you adjust the alkalinity. You should retest before doing so because the alkalinity should be lower than before. To reduce alkalinity, you can use dry acid or muriatic acid. The necessary amount of any of the chemical products will vary according to the size and volume of the pool and the reading of alkalinity.
Once the alkalinity is within the range, the pH can be adjusted. For this, a negative pH is used, in case of a high pH. Once the pH is balanced, we can move on to the final step.
The final step will be to use the vinegar. Before adding the product, (following the package instructions), make sure you have a pool brush handy to brush the walls as needed. There are no special tricks. You can put the vinegar in the bottle and spray the solution on the calcium deposits or simply pour it from your own bottle, then use the brush to scrub.
These types of cleaners tend to work quite well if you detect and solve the problem from the beginning, and of course, you should use them fairly regularly to avoid accumulation.
If you do all these steps, and still have lime deposits that are difficult to remove, try the following.
Cleaning with muriatic acid
With the vinegar and the other mild cleansers that we have already mentioned, you can enter the pool while you are cleaning. With muriatic acid, however, this is not recommended.
Muriatic acid is more powerful and more dangerous when handling. You can find this chemical in a home improvement store or pool supply store.
What you need for cleaning with muriatic acid:
Muriatic acid container.
Safety glasses.
Rubber gloves.
Respirator.
Plastic cube.
Measuring cup of plastic.
Plastic spoon
Plastic spray bottle.
Marker.
Non-abrasive scourer
This list of materials is enough for you to realize that this goes beyond the maintenance of the pool for beginners. We want to remind you that muriatic acid is dangerous.
Put on goggles, gloves and the respirator. Then head outside with all your ingredients to start mixing. Absolutely do not attempt to mix in a closed area.
Fill your bucket with four liters of water. Pour 230 grams of muriatic acid with the measuring cup slowly into the water. Always pour the acid in the water instead of the other way round, as the acid is more likely to splash. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should pour slowly since this mixture produces heat.
With the plastic spoon mix the water and the acid. Again, do it slowly, because you do not want it to boil.
Carefully fill the plastic bottle with a mixture of water and acid.
Use the marker to label the measuring cup, spoon and spray bottle with “Muriatic acid”. Do not try to use the chemical for anything else. If you are worried that this may happen, leave the bottle aside for proper disposal.
You should always stay out of the pool, use the spray bottle to spray the waterline of the pool and rub with the non-abrasive scouring pad.
Get in touch with your local pool supply company or with the municipality to learn how to get rid of any unused muriatic acid. Do not simply discard it or pour it down the drain.
Because muriatic acid is much stronger than vinegar or other cleaning products mentioned above, you can eliminate calcium deposits that are much more advanced. That said, with deposits that have been growing and hardening for a long time, sometimes even muriatic acid is not enough.
If that is your situation, you have a remaining option. Pressure washing.
Cleaning with a pressure washer
Cleaning with a pressure washer is something that professional pool cleaners use, called “blasting accounts”. This process uses compressors to “blow up” pearls, sand and other materials (depending on the specific tool used) on your tile at a high speed to basically blow or scrape the calcium deposits.
It works surprisingly well, and it’s fast. And best of all, you are not doing the work yourself. Unfortunately, it can also be expensive, especially if you need to call them to do it regularly.
Calcium deposits, or efflorescence, form when excess moisture inside cement rises to the surface. These white powder deposits are common in basement walls, floors, and other cement surfaces.
Although efflorescence is not harmful to cement, excessive amounts of it can cause fungal or insect problems. Once the calcium deposits harden, they are virtually impossible to remove without acid solutions.
Stronger acids are required for the heavier calcium deposits.
Instructions
Dress appropriately for security purposes. Wear protective clothing, goggles, acid-resistant gloves, and a mask equipped with an acid-grade filter.
Set a portable fan nearby and open the windows to provide adequate air circulation. Fill a spray bottle with acetic acid.
Spray the acetic acid generously on the calcium deposits. Allow the acid to penetrate the cement for the recommended amount of time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the product label.
Scrub the cement with a hard bristle brush to dissolve the calcium deposits. Continue to apply acetic acid and scrub the cement until all calcium deposits are removed.
Sprinkle baking soda generously over clean cement to neutralize the acid. While the acid neutralizes, fill a plastic bucket with water.6 Clean the affected surfaces promptly to restore the appearance of the cement and prevent future problems. To do this, cement thoroughly rinsed with water, using a coarse sponge. Allow the cement to air dry.
Tips and warnings
You can substitute hydrochloric acid for acetic acid. However, never use hydrochloric acid inside or mix it with any chemical.
Be very careful when using acetic acid; It is highly corrosive to the skin.
Lime stains, sometimes called scale, occur around the upper edge of the pool and resemble deposits of white or gray crusts. They are often caused by hard water or minerals that seep from nearby mortar glue.
If left in place, they can lead to permanent stains on the tile, as well as causing the pool to look dirty and unattractive. Removal of calcium deposits from tiles in the pool will require some physical work.
Natural stone and glass tile combo
Unfortunately, you will have to repeat the process periodically, as the spots often return.
Instructions
Drain the water from the pool at least 6 to 10 inches so you can easily access areas stained with calcium. This also allows you to clean the loosened calcium off without depositing it in the pool water.
Kneel on the edge of the pool, or enter the pool if you do not mind getting wet. Place a stiff brush bristle tiles on top of the calcium deposits and scrub the tiles of the pool using circular motions to loosen the deposits.
Clean the tile of the pool with a cloth or a paper towel to remove the loosened calcium. Examine the area to see if all the deposit came off, and use a pumice stone to scrub gently with circular motions or no calcium is maintained.
Remove the thickness scale from the tile with a razor blade, taking care to keep a low angle and avoid scratching the surface.
Clean the area again with the cloth. Repeat the process to clean around the perimeter of the pool to remove the remaining calcium deposits.
Tips and warnings
You can use a standard pumice stone available at beauty stores or buy one at a pool store that has a longer handle made specifically for pools.
Commercial products are also available to remove tile incrustations from the pool.
Have you noticed some greyish white scales in your pool? Or some discoloration right around the water line in your pool? Or even some crusty deposits in the corner of your pool? If yes, those are calcium deposits.
Natural stone that had a heavy build up of calcium
Calcium deposits are caused by an imbalance between the calcium levels and the Ph of your pool.Before we go into removing these calcium deposits, to prevent future deposits you might want to do the following:
(1) Try reducing evaporation in your pool, by installing a pool cover, because when water evaporates, calcium becomes concentrated.
(2) Try draining your pool and lowering the PH of the new water, this is done so if the pool is exposed to sunlight, there won’t be an imbalance between the PH and the calcium level.
REMOVING CALCIUM DEPOSITS FROM YOUR POOL
This must be one of the many questions on the mind of a pool owner.I would be giving 5 ways on how to remove calcium deposits from your pool.
1. Use a calcium releaser
These products makes it easy to remove calcium deposits. While selecting your product, select acid free calcium releasers, as these products are left a long time on your pool tile before scrubbing off, and the acid could destroy your pool finish.
2. Use scaling treatment
If your pool is made of fiber glass, scaling treatment is advised because other methods would scratch the glass since they involve brushing.
3. Use a pumice
This rock is also effective in removing calcium deposits in pools, make sure the surface of both the rock and the pool is wet, and do not scrub too hard in order not to deface your pool.
4. Use white vinegar and a scrub brush
Fill a water bottle spray with half water and half vinegar solution, spray on your pool tile and leave for some minutes before rubbing gently with a scrub brush.
5. Use muriatic acid
This is also known as Hydrochloric acid, this acid has high strength in removing mineral deposits, calcium deposits inclusive.While using it, you should be fully clothed with your google and gloves in order to avoid safety hazards. Make sure not to leave the acid too long because you do not want to destroy the finish of your pool.
Bottomline
Calcium deposits in pools can have side effects on people who use the pool, these effects can range from eye irritation to whole body irritation, they are also irritating to look at and would reduce the interest of people in your pool.
When removiy these deposits, make sure you are dressed properly to avoid safety hazards and also try as much as possible not to destroy the finish of your pool.
With this guide, we are sure you will bring your pool to it’s former glory.
