When it comes to your body, calcium is a very good thing, but when it comes to your swimming pool, it’s not. When calcium forms on your pool, an effect known as calcium scaling, your pool can look unsightly and even be in danger. If you develop calcium scaling in your pool, you should hire pool maintenance professionals in Atlanta to inspect and clean grime off its surfaces. Most pool cleaning services in Atlanta are experienced with identifying and removing calcium scaling.
So how do you know if your pool has calcium scaling? Look for white or light gray stains on the sides and floor of the pool, as well as the edges of the pool deck. Calcium forms scaly spots or streaks when the pH of the swimming pool water and the calcium levels of the water are out of balance.
While this scaling can be removed, it can be hard to do so. This guide offers homeowners the tips that any pool maintenance company would want you to know about removing calcium deposits on pool surfaces and preventing their return.
Understand the Types
There are 2 common types of calcium that form pool scales: calcium carbonate and calcium silicate. It’s important to understand which type is discoloring your pool surfaces. Look at the deposits and consult this guide to determine how to proceed with treatment.
Calcium carbonate is white, flaky, and comes off easily. Calcium silicate is slightly gray and more solid, thereby making it harder to remove. If your pool surfaces have calcium silicate, then scaling on your pool walls is only a symptom of a more serious problem: calcium scaling in the plumbing and filtration system. This is an issue that only a professional pool maintenance company can treat.
If you’re unsure which type you have on your pool, use a dropper to drip muriatic acid on the deposits. Calcium carbonate will foam up in reaction to the acids. Calcium silicate, being a more durable and slow-building substance, will be unchanged.
Carbonate Removal
If your pool has calcium carbonate, removal is easy, though time-consuming. You can use a rough but tile-safe object like a moist pumice stone or stain eraser to flake the deposits away. You can also obtain calcium scaling treatment solutions from a swimming pool service company or pool supply shop. Follow the product’s instructions to prevent damage to the pool water or injury to you.
Silicate Removal
Calcium silicate is incredibly difficult to remove on your own. You can try using a pumice stone, but you’ll need to put a ton of elbow grease and time into the process. If you have a vinyl or fiberglass pool, this won’t work at all. Even certain scaling treatments may take months to break down durable calcium silicate. You’ll likely need to hire pool maintenance professionals in Atlanta to remove the buildup with specialized resources. They can also adjust your swimming pool’s water quality, including the pH and calcium levels, to prevent future buildup.