Keeping your pool clean and healthy should be the entire point of regular pool maintenance. And that pool that looks so great week in and out, is an absolute delight to the pool owner.
The most common solution to achieve this is a regular treatment of the pool water to remove lime and debris.
Ceramic tile with a heavy build up
However, the wrong dosage of cleaning products can lead to the accumulation of several layers of limestone on the walls and in the pool’s bottom. To remove this debris, you need to understand everything that can make them appear.
The Importance of Chlorine for the Pool
Chlorine is the first choice for maintaining healthy pool water. Chlorine has been used for years in swimming pools around the world.
It is a highly reactive chemical that reacts with all kinds of biological impurities in water.
If these organic impurities are not treated with care, bacteria can develop algae or even a bio-film.
What Happens if a Swimming Pool is not Well-balanced?
If the pool water has a high calcium hardness or other debris, this can cause technical problems. Like fouling or lime in the pipes and in the pool itself.
As a result, the maintenance and cleaning of the pool will increase. If the supply water is very hard, large amounts of lime can deposit on the sides of the pool.
Even if there is only a little calcium carbonate in the water, and following an unbalanced addition of chlorine and PH, lime will form at the level of the evaporation line of the water as well as on the pool walls. These lime deposits at the edge of the pool are often difficult to remove and involve manual work.
Water Filtration Rings: Less Effort, Less Cost
Compared to the maintenance consequences described above, the solutions seem incredibly simple.
The main configuration of a swimming pool is always the same. There is a filter system, a pump, and maybe a heating element, that’s all.
In accordance with the size of the pool, you must install a ring at the freshwater supply line and another ring in the circulation line. In the case of a large public swimming pool, install in the circulation line of each swimming pool, to get the same results in all swimming pools.
What’s the result?
In the case of calcium hardness, the ring keeps the dissolved calcium in the pool water, which will have a more fluid texture. Over time, the pool water will be much softer, despite the calcium.
Less crust will form on the evaporation line. And limestone debris will be much easier to remove. When you use these filters and rings, you are also fighting the growth of algae in the pool.
Many owners have stopped using chemicals since the installation of these rings.
No chlorine or other pool chemicals. Without having problems with water quality.
I would not recommend such a thing for a public pool. If countless visitors use this pool, the risk would be too great. I am sure the regulatory authorities would not agree.
However, it is preferable to use these rings even for public swimming pools in order to reduce maintenance costs for protecting pipes or walls of the swimming pool. By doing this, you will need a lot less chlorine to disinfect the water than before while maintaining the same quality of water.
Calcium is good for your body. But when it comes to your pool, that’s a whole different story.
In case you don’t know what that story is, this is it: Not good for your pool. So, what do you do in a situation where your pool is overrun with deposits of calcium (also known as limescale)?
They’re whitish and look rather unsightly on your pool tiles. They could even be dangerous for your body when you swim in the water.
If lime develops in your pool, hire pool maintenance professionals to inspect and clean up debris from its surfaces. Most pool cleaning services make a diagnosis for the localization, as well as the elimination of limescale.
If you want to do it yourself, read the rest of the article.
Why is having lime in your swimming pool a problem?
If pool owners hunt limestone like this, it’s not for nothing! Having excess lime in your swimming pool can indeed be the cause of various problems.
First of all, at the level of the interior of the basin. Because the more our pool is loaded with limestone, the more “chance” we have of seeing it build up from the inside.
And this as well at the level of the waterline as at the level of the walls and the bottom (especially if one has opted for a swimming pool liner as a coating). And a scaled pool is a pool whose water will be cloudy, and whose walls will be covered with gray or whitish deposits.
Stains which, besides being unsightly, will promote the appearance of ‘impurities and algae development. Without forgetting the possible inconvenience for swimmers: possible irritation of the skin and eyes.
But that’s not all: having too much lime can also be dangerous for the filtration system of the swimming pool. Indeed, when there is too much lime in our water, it will simply build up scale and prevent the proper functioning of the swimming pool filter.
So how do you know if your pool contains limestone?
Look for white or light gray spots on the sides and bottom of the pool, as well as the edges of the pool deck. Limestone forms scaly spots or streaks when the pH of the pool water and the calcium levels in the water are out of balance.
Although this build-up of lime can be removed, it can be difficult to do so. This article provides homeowners with tips that any pool maintenance company wouldn’t want you to know to remove lime deposits from the pool walls and prevent their return.
Removing Calcium Carbonate
If your pool contains calcium carbonate, removing it is easy, but takes time.
You can use a rough but harmless object for tiles such as a wet pumice stone or an eraser to flake off deposits.
You can also get calcium descaling treatment solutions from a pool service company or a pool supply store. Follow the product instructions to avoid damaging the pool water or injuring yourself.
Removal of Calcium Silicate
Calcium silicate is incredibly difficult to remove on your own. You can try using a pumice stone, but it will take a ton of elbow grease and time to complete the process successfully.
If you have a vinyl or fiberglass pool, this will not work at all. Even some descaling treatments can take months to break down the lasting calcium silicate.
You will probably need to hire pool maintenance professionals to remove lime build-up if you cannot do it yourself. They can also adjust the quality of your pool water, including pH and calcium levels, to prevent future buildup.
Remove limestone with a blowtorch and a polishing machine
If you have emptied your pool to clean it and you notice traces of lime, there are two methods that can get rid of this debris. These methods are effective but can take a long time depending on the size of your pool.
To remove the lime that is in the walls of your pool, just use a blowtorch to make the tartar less robust and then rub it with a wire brush. With the effect of heat, the tartar will be easily removed.
If you have limestone at the bottom of the pool, simply clean the pool thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner, then sand it with sanding and polishing machine.
Once descaling and polishing are finished, rinse your pool with a Kärcher to remove debris. Then evacuate your pool, let it dry, and fill it again if you want to reuse it.
If you do not want to fill it immediately, choose a tarpaulin or a protective cover. Your pool will therefore remain intact and ready to be filled at any time you wish.
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.
What are Calcium Deposits in the Pool?
Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound made up of a carbonate ion and a calcium ion. It is the main constituent of limestone. This is because limestone is a combination of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate.
Calcium carbonate can settle in your pool and form whitish and possibly rough deposits. The effects of limestone are negative for your swimming pool: scaling, deterioration of equipment, cloudy water, etc. Lime deposits in a swimming pool can also promote the development of algae on the walls.
Depending on where you live, the water contains more or less calcium carbonate. Before filling your pool, measure the hardness of the filling water. This will allow you to select the right treatment products, but also to choose the suitable swimming pool filter, because some clog and scale more easily than others (the diatomaceous filter in particular).
Natural stone that had a heavy build up of calcium
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
You can always try:
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.
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 removing 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 its former glory.
There are so many things to do to keep your pool waters clean, sparkling, and healthy. It’s easy to ignore your pool, but it gets hard when the pool tiles start getting stained with lime/calcium deposits. Avoid this by incorporating a healthy routine to keep your pool always clean. That way each swim is refreshing and not harmful for your skin.
Pool Maintenance Tips to Get Rid of Calcium Deposits
This must be one of the many questions on the mind of a pool owner. And here I will be giving 5 ways on how to remove calcium deposits from your pool! And not only will it look better, but it will also allow you to enjoy your pool like you once did!
1. Use a calcium releaser
These products make 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 fiberglass, 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.
6. Clean the edge of the pool regularly
Cleaning the edge of the pool is a tedious task that is often postponed. However, we recommend that you regularly clean the edge of your pool.
You will thus eliminate the lime at the height of the waterline. If you put off this task over and over, you will have a hard time removing the scale deposit.
Therefore, take the time to meticulously clean the edge of your pool on a regular basis. You will thus obtain an impeccable water line, without the slightest trace of lime on the interior coating.
7. Add fresh water regularly
Our last tip should only apply a few times a year. Adding new water to the pool reduces certain concentrations of salts and metals, such as chlorides, iron, copper, etc.
These concentrations must be reduced in order to guarantee good disinfection of the swimming pool water. In addition, high concentrations of metals can cause brown spots to appear in the pool.
To avoid this inconvenience, add 3 to 5% of the total water volume in your pool at least 3 times a year. Warning: do not use well water in particular. This indeed contains too high concentrations of these metals. You could therefore make the situation worse.
You may be wondering, “What causes calcium white scales and deposits to form on my pool tiles?”
Well, chances are you did not know that some active precautions have to be taken to prevent them from forming.
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 than 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.
Ceramic tile with heavy build up
What to Do About these White Deposits on Your Pool Waterline
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.
Calcium Scale Removal
The typical way is that the heavy deposits of calcium scale are first scraped off. 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 varied depending on how long it’s been. If you can’t remove it within 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!
Why Choose our Professional Calcium Removal Service?
If you love to use your pool but hate the way it looks, look no further. Here at Specialty Aquatic Tile Cleaning, we can take care of just about any problem you have!
Tile Repair/ Replacement
If you have tiles that are beat up, cracked and even chipped we can take care of that no problem. Depending on the tile that you currently have the price will range. Even if you have discolored tiles we can take care of that so please feel free to give us a call today for a free estimate so we can have your pool looking right in no time!
Power washing
Sometimes it’s not the pool you can’t stand to look at. sometimes owners can’t stand the way their back deck area looks. Many people wish it would look 10 years younger! With a power washer that’s achievable. Many people don’t want to go and buy one but here at Specialty Aquatic and Tile Cleaning we have you covered. We can even power was your pool tiles too!
Pool Rehab Special
If you haven’t used your pool in a while because you gave us on it and it has become discolored, don’t worry we can bring your pool back to life. With this special we will completely drain your pool, Acid wash to clean the plaster, and will remove all the calcium from the tile. Now, just like anything else depending on the size of the pool, the price will range. Give your pool the look it deserves! Or if you just have any questions regarding your pool, just one of our pool experts!
Contact Us
Here at specialty aquatic tile cleaning, we offer a range of services. If you have any questions regarding your pool or would like to contact us at 626-275-8959. Our goal is to provide our customers with nothing but great quality and a great experience. We strive to leave your pool area at the end of the day in better condition than it was when we arrived. Serving all of Covina, CA and close neighboring cities.
Calcium is good for your body. But when it comes to your pool, that’s a whole different story.
In case you don’t know what that story is, this is it: Not good for your pool. So, what do you do in a situation where your pool is overrun with deposits of calcium (also known as limescale)?
They’re whitish and look rather unsightly on your pool tiles. They could even be dangerous for your body when you swim in the water.
If lime develops in your pool, hire pool maintenance professionals to inspect and clean up debris from its surfaces. Most pool cleaning services make a diagnosis for the localization, as well as the elimination of limescale.
If you want to do it yourself, read the rest of the article.
Why is having lime in your swimming pool a problem?
If pool owners hunt limestone like this, it’s not for nothing! Having excess lime in your swimming pool can indeed be the cause of various problems.
First of all, at the level of the interior of the basin. Because the more our pool is loaded with limestone, the more “chance” we have of seeing it build up from the inside.
And this as well at the level of the waterline as at the level of the walls and the bottom (especially if one has opted for a swimming pool liner as a coating). And a scaled pool is a pool whose water will be cloudy, and whose walls will be covered with gray or whitish deposits.
Stains which, besides being unsightly, will promote the appearance of ‘impurities and algae development. Without forgetting the possible inconvenience for swimmers: possible irritation of the skin and eyes.
But that’s not all: having too much lime can also be dangerous for the filtration system of the swimming pool. Indeed, when there is too much lime in our water, it will simply build up scale and prevent the proper functioning of the swimming pool filter.
So how do you know if your pool contains limestone?
Look for white or light gray spots on the sides and bottom of the pool, as well as the edges of the pool deck. Limestone forms scaly spots or streaks when the pH of the pool water and the calcium levels in the water are out of balance.
Although this build-up of lime can be removed, it can be difficult to do so. This article provides homeowners with tips that any pool maintenance company wouldn’t want you to know to remove lime deposits from the pool walls and prevent their return.
Types of Calcium that Leave Deposits
There are 2 common types of calcium that form lime in a pool: calcium carbonate and calcium silicate. It is important to understand which type harms the walls of your pool.
The calcium carbonate is white, scaly and easily detached. Calcium silicate is slightly gray and more solid, which makes it more difficult to remove.
If the walls of your pool contain calcium silicate, the scale on the walls of your pool is a symptom of a more serious problem: calcium scale in the plumbing and filtration system. This is a problem that only a professional pool maintenance company can deal with.
If you don’t know what type you have on your pool, use a dropper to pour muriatic acid on the deposits. Calcium carbonate will foam in reaction to acids. Calcium silicate, being a more solid substance with robust construction, will remain unchanged.
Removing Calcium Carbonate
If your pool contains calcium carbonate, removing it is easy, but takes time.
You can use a rough but harmless object for tiles such as a wet pumice stone or an eraser to flake off deposits.
You can also get calcium descaling treatment solutions from a pool service company or a pool supply store. Follow the product instructions to avoid damaging the pool water or injuring yourself.
Removal of Calcium Silicate
Calcium silicate is incredibly difficult to remove on your own. You can try using a pumice stone, but it will take a ton of elbow grease and time to complete the process successfully.
If you have a vinyl or fiberglass pool, this will not work at all. Even some descaling treatments can take months to break down the lasting calcium silicate.
You will probably need to hire pool maintenance professionals to remove lime build-up if you cannot do it yourself. They can also adjust the quality of your pool water, including pH and calcium levels, to prevent future buildup.
Remove limestone with a blowtorch and a polishing machine
If you have emptied your pool to clean it and you notice traces of lime, there are two methods that can get rid of this debris. These methods are effective but can take a long time depending on the size of your pool.
To remove the lime that is in the walls of your pool, just use a blowtorch to make the tartar less robust and then rub it with a wire brush. With the effect of heat, the tartar will be easily removed.
If you have limestone at the bottom of the pool, simply clean the pool thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner, then sand it with sanding and polishing machine.
Once descaling and polishing are finished, rinse your pool with a Kärcher to remove debris. Then evacuate your pool, let it dry, and fill it again if you want to reuse it.
If you do not want to fill it immediately, choose a tarpaulin or a protective cover. Your pool will therefore remain intact and ready to be filled at any time you wish.
Good to know
The disadvantage of chlorine is that it makes no difference between organic impurities and the human body. The consequences after a long stay in the water are red eyes, caused by chlorine. This is the reason why most people wear swimming goggles.
You easily get rid of the limescale (or calcium deposits) and their dangerous effects on the skin and eyes so you can use your pool without worry. All you have to do is call a professional pool calcium removal service. We provide this for you at excellent cost, that way your pool can be as good as new in about a day. And it’ll stay that way for a long time of healthy leisure.
When calcium forms on your pool, an effect known as limescale, your pool can look unsightly and even be in danger.
If lime develops in your pool, you should hire pool maintenance professionals to inspect and clean up debris from its surfaces. Most pool cleaning services make a diagnosis for the localization and the elimination of limescale.
If you want to do it yourself, read the rest of the article.
How to detect lime deposits in your Pool
Look for white or light gray spots on the sides and bottom of the pool, as well as the edges of the pool deck. Limestone forms scaly spots or streaks when the pH of the pool water and the calcium levels in the water are out of balance.
Although this build-up of lime can be removed, it can be difficult to do so. This article provides homeowners with tips that any pool maintenance company wouldn’t want you to know to remove lime deposits from the pool walls and prevent their return.
Lime stains in the pool
If you have ever noticed, you will have seen that there is a white line on the walls, at the height of the surface. This is caused by lime deposits.
In pools with well water, these lime deposits form in a short time, and if they are not removed, the layer becomes thicker and difficult to clean.
Another problem is the roughness that is noticeable on the walls, when passing the hand the touch is rough.
Over time, this texture favors the accumulation of dirt and makes cleaning more difficult.
In addition, if you apply acid to dilute the lime, you are also diluting the cement in the joints, damaging the lining, until you have to empty the pool to repair it.
What if you use well water for your pool?
On many occasions, especially in pools installed in rural areas, there is no access to running water, so there is no choice but to use well water to fill the pool.
Well, I have a trick to remove lime from the pool with well water.
Well water treatment
This trick is not for everyone. It is not difficult to apply, but you have to be careful to follow the steps correctly.
If the pool is already affected by the remains of lime, you should lower the pH as much as possible, adding a lot of acid, or liquid pH-.
With a pH lower than 6, the lime will start to thin, but so will the cement joints.
It is VERY IMPORTANT that no one takes a bath during the process. The acidity of the water will be very aggressive for people.
After a few days in this state, empty the pool completely, clean the surfaces well with acid (better to use a specific liquid or pH reducer based on sulfuric acid, because hydrochloric acid or sulfonate emits a lot of vapors). Finally, you will have to re-grout (apply Borada or seal with cement) all the joints.
As you can see, it is slow and hard work, and it is better to do it out of season, to avoid the effects of heat on the empty pool.
With the pool empty, the next step is filling (you probably already guessed that).
Start filling it by adding shock bleach.
The well water contains a lot of organic matter, is very “alive”, and then the plant matter, such as algae, begin to react to the light of the sun. Water can go bad in a matter of hours. Sometimes the same water is already green. Don’t worry about adding more chlorine than necessary, while no one takes a bath.
How to purify well water
Now comes the secret.
Add flocculant to the water. Yes, it’s that easy, but wait, this is just the beginning.
The flocculant causes all elements other than water to stick together, forming solid “flakes” (flocs) that settle to the bottom of the pool or remain stuck in the sand filter.
Be very careful not to overdo the dose of flocculant, because the sand can stick, and you will have to replace it.
You will have to do sand washes every few hours so that the sediment is expelled.
These remains will include lime, algae, metals, and other elements. The water will be practically pure. You will also have to help by sweeping the bottom so that the dirt does not stay there.
You can increase the effectiveness by adding a layer of diatomaceous earth, or diatomaceous sand over the filter sand, to retain a greater amount of debris.
Anyway, think that diatomite is difficult to find and somewhat expensive, so it is not necessary to use it unless you want to do a cleaning worthy of an operating room.
Most of it will go down the drain when doing a sand wash, so this is disposable.
The process time will depend on the type of water you are treating, so you will have to experiment and observe.
You can also repeat the process after a few days. However, it is better to do it before adding salt, in salt chlorination systems.
Types of Calcium that Leave Deposits
There are 2 common types of calcium that form lime in a pool: calcium carbonate and calcium silicate. It is important to understand which type harms the walls of your pool.
The calcium carbonate is white, scaly and easily detached. Calcium silicate is slightly gray and more solid, which makes it more difficult to remove.
If the walls of your pool contain calcium silicate, the scale on the walls of your pool is a symptom of a more serious problem: calcium scale in the plumbing and filtration system. This is a problem that only a professional pool maintenance company can deal with.
If you don’t know what type you have on your pool, use a dropper to pour muriatic acid on the deposits. Calcium carbonate will foam in reaction to acids. Calcium silicate, being a more solid substance with robust construction, will remain unchanged.
Removing Calcium Carbonate
If your pool contains calcium carbonate, removing it is easy, but takes time.
You can use a rough but harmless object for tiles such as a wet pumice stone or an eraser to flake off deposits.
You can also get calcium descaling treatment solutions from a pool service company or a pool supply store. Follow the product instructions to avoid damaging the pool water or injuring yourself.
Removal of Calcium Silicate
Calcium silicate is incredibly difficult to remove on your own. You can try using a pumice stone, but it will take a ton of elbow grease and time to complete the process successfully.
If you have a vinyl or fiberglass pool, this will not work at all. Even some descaling treatments can take months to break down the lasting calcium silicate.
You will probably need to hire pool maintenance professionals to remove lime build-up if you cannot do it yourself. They can also adjust the quality of your pool water, including pH and calcium levels, to prevent future buildup.
Remove limestone with a blowtorch and a polishing machine
If you have emptied your pool to clean it and you notice traces of lime, there are two methods that can get rid of this debris. These methods are effective but can take a long time depending on the size of your pool.
To remove the lime that is in the walls of your pool, just use a blowtorch to make the tartar less robust and then rub it with a wire brush. With the effect of heat, the tartar will be easily removed.
If you have limestone at the bottom of the pool, simply clean the pool thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner, then sand it with a sanding and polishing machine.
Once descaling and polishing are finished, rinse your pool with a karcher to remove debris. Then evacuate your pool, let it dry, and fill it again if you want to reuse it.
If you do not want to fill it immediately, choose a tarpaulin or a protective cover. Your pool will therefore remain intact and ready to be filled at any time you wish.
Good to know
The disadvantage of chlorine is that it makes no difference between organic impurities and the human body. The consequences after a long stay in the water are red eyes, caused by chlorine. This is the reason why most people wear swimming goggles.
When it comes to your body, calcium is a very good thing, but when it comes to your pool, it is not. When calcium forms on your pool, an effect known as limescale, your pool can look unsightly and even be in danger.
If lime develops in your pool, you should hire pool maintenance professionals to inspect and clean up debris from its surfaces. Most pool cleaning services make a diagnosis for the localization, as well as the elimination of limescale.
If you want to do it yourself, read the rest of the article.
So how do you know if your pool contains lime deposits?
Look for white or light gray spots on the sides and bottom of the pool, as well as the edges of the pool deck. Limestone forms scaly spots or streaks when the pH of the pool water and the calcium levels in the water are out of balance.
Although this build-up of lime can be removed, it can be difficult to do so. This article provides homeowners with tips that any pool maintenance company wouldn’t want you to know to remove lime deposits from the pool walls and prevent their return.
Lime stains in the pool
If you have ever noticed, you will have seen that there is a white line on the walls, at the height of the surface. This is caused by lime deposits.
In pools with well water, these lime deposits form in a short time, and if they are not removed, the layer becomes thicker and difficult to clean. Another problem is the roughness that is noticeable on the walls, when passing the hand the touch is rough.
Over time, this texture favors the accumulation of dirt and makes cleaning more difficult.
In addition, if you apply acid to dilute the lime, you are also diluting the cement in the joints, damaging the lining, until you have to empty the pool to repair it.
What if you use well water for your pool?
On many occasions, especially in pools installed in rural areas, there is no access to running water, so there is no choice but to use well water to fill the pool.
Well, I have a trick to remove lime from the pool with well water.
Well water treatment
This trick is not for everyone. It is not difficult to apply, but you have to be careful to follow the steps correctly.
If the pool is already affected by the remains of lime, you should lower the pH as much as possible, adding a lot of acid, or liquid pH-.
With a pH lower than 6, the lime will start to thin, but so will the cement joints.
It is VERY IMPORTANT that no one takes a bath during the process. The acidity of the water will be very aggressive for people.
After a few days in this state, empty the pool completely, clean the surfaces well with acid (better to use a specific liquid or pH reducer based on sulfuric acid, because hydrochloric acid or sulfonate emits a lot of vapors). Finally, you will have to re-grout (apply Borada or seal with cement) all the joints.
As you can see, it is slow and hard work, and it is better to do it out of season, to avoid the effects of heat on the empty pool.
With the pool empty, the next step is filling (you probably already guessed that).
Start filling it by adding shock bleach.
The well water contains a lot of organic matter, is very “alive”, and then the plant matter, such as algae, begin to react to the light of the sun. Water can go bad in a matter of hours. Sometimes the same water is already green. Don’t worry about adding more chlorine than necessary, while no one takes a bath.
How to purify well water
Now comes the secret.
Add flocculant to the water. Yes, it’s that easy, but wait, this is just the beginning.
The flocculant causes all elements other than water to stick together, forming solid “flakes” (flocs) that settle to the bottom of the pool or remain stuck in the sand filter.
Be very careful not to overdo the dose of flocculant, because the sand can stick, and you will have to replace it.
You will have to do sand washes every few hours so that the sediment is expelled.
These remains will include lime, algae, metals, and other elements. The water will be practically pure. You will also have to help by sweeping the bottom so that the dirt does not stay there.
You can increase the effectiveness by adding a layer of diatomaceous earth, or diatomaceous sand over the filter sand, to retain a greater amount of debris.
Anyway, think that diatomite is difficult to find and somewhat expensive, so it is not necessary to use it unless you want to do a cleaning worthy of an operating room.
Most of it will go down the drain when doing a sand wash, so this is disposable.
The process time will depend on the type of water you are treating, so you will have to experiment and observe.
You can also repeat the process after a few days. However, it is better to do it before adding salt, in salt chlorination systems.
Types of Calcium that Leave Deposits
There are 2 common types of calcium that form lime in a pool: calcium carbonate and calcium silicate. It is important to understand which type harms the walls of your pool.
The calcium carbonate is white, scaly and easily detached. Calcium silicate is slightly gray and more solid, which makes it more difficult to remove.
If the walls of your pool contain calcium silicate, the scale on the walls of your pool is a symptom of a more serious problem: calcium scale in the plumbing and filtration system. This is a problem that only a professional pool maintenance company can deal with.
If you don’t know what type you have on your pool, use a dropper to pour muriatic acid on the deposits. Calcium carbonate will foam in reaction to acids. Calcium silicate, being a more solid substance with robust construction, will remain unchanged.
Removing Calcium Carbonate
If your pool contains calcium carbonate, removing it is easy, but takes time.
You can use a rough but harmless object for tiles such as a wet pumice stone or an eraser to flake off deposits.
You can also get calcium descaling treatment solutions from a pool service company or a pool supply store. Follow the product instructions to avoid damaging the pool water or injuring yourself.
Removal of Calcium Silicate
Calcium silicate is incredibly difficult to remove on your own. You can try using a pumice stone, but it will take a ton of elbow grease and time to complete the process successfully.
If you have a vinyl or fiberglass pool, this will not work at all. Even some descaling treatments can take months to break down the lasting calcium silicate.
You will probably need to hire pool maintenance professionals to remove lime build-up if you cannot do it yourself. They can also adjust the quality of your pool water, including pH and calcium levels, to prevent future buildup.
Remove limestone with a blowtorch and a polishing machine
If you have emptied your pool to clean it and you notice traces of lime, there are two methods that can get rid of this debris. These methods are effective but can take a long time depending on the size of your pool.
To remove the lime that is in the walls of your pool, just use a blowtorch to make the tartar less robust and then rub it with a wire brush. With the effect of heat, the tartar will be easily removed.
If you have limestone at the bottom of the pool, simply clean the pool thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner, then sand it with a sanding and polishing machine.
Once descaling and polishing are finished, rinse your pool with a karcher to remove debris. Then evacuate your pool, let it dry, and fill it again if you want to reuse it.
If you do not want to fill it immediately, choose a tarpaulin or a protective cover. Your pool will therefore remain intact and ready to be filled at any time you wish.
Good to know
The disadvantage of chlorine is that it makes no difference between organic impurities and the human body. The consequences after a long stay in the water are red eyes, caused by chlorine. This is the reason why most people wear swimming goggles.
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.
They can be a major eyesore and make your pool unattractive to swim in. What worse, they’re absolutely difficult to clean… if you don’t know the right way to do it.
In this blog post, we will show you the age-long insider secrets that professional pool cleaners use to get rid of the annoying calcium deposits in swimming pools.
Natural stone that had a heavy build up of calcium
How to Remove the White Crusty Calcium Deposit from your Pool Tiles and Make them Look Good as New
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
You can always try:
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:
Try reducing evaporation in your pool, by installing a pool cover, because when water evaporates, calcium becomes concentrated.
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.
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 removing 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 its former glory.
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.
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.
Sometimes they could be soft white scales and in severe cases, thicker and harder. You’ll have to approach cleaning them with different strategies.
Natural stone and glass tile combo
Unfortunately, you must repeat the process periodically, as the spots often return.
How to Clean the Soft White Scales on Your Tiles
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.
How to Remove the Heavy Concrete Calcium Deposits
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.
