How to Diagnose and Remove Any Swimming Pool Stain

Steps

1. Try to identify an obvious, stains on the floor are likely caused by something organic (the leaves). If there are rust colored stains on the pool wall below a ladder, the source is probably a metal and you should examine the ladder for corrosion.
2. Remove the stains caused by an organic material from your pool surface. Greenish brown colored stains are typically related to something organic (leaves sitting on the floor during winter), or an algae growth. A simple shock treatment and scrubbing with a stiff brush may quickly remove a greenish brown colored stain. You may also try one of the many new enzyme based pool chemicals on the market. All natural pool enzymes will eat away at organic material to remove the pool stain with little or no scrubbing and without the use of harsh chemicals.
3. Stains that appear reddish brown or very dark colors are typically related to metals in your pool water. The metals that commonly cause pool stains are iron, manganese & copper. Copper will result in blue, green or dark (Black) stains. Iron results in rusty, brown or green/brownish stains and Manganese will result in dark brownish/black or purple stains.
4. If you believe your stain is related to metals, or if the suggestions above for organic pool stains do not lighten or improve the stain, you should purchase a natural ascorbic acid based pool product or diphosphonic acid based pool product. When applied directly to the stain, these powerful pool chemicals will almost instantly remove the stain from the pool surface.
5. Take measures to prevent the stain from returning. Have a sample of your pool water tested for metals, and if you fill your pool from a source other than "city water" you should also test the fill water. Metals may be naturally occuring and added to your swimming pool with fill water, or may be introduced into the pool water through corrosion of your pool equipment or pool plumbing.
6. If you determine that your fill water is the problem, drain your swimming pool 1/4 or 1/2 way and refill with softened water. Circulate the water for 48 hours and have it re-tested. If there is still a high concentration of metals, repeat the process.
7. If your fill water is acceptable, metals are being introduced into your pool water through corrosion. You should test the TDS Total Dissolved Solids level of your pool water and the pool pH and Alkalinity levels. If any of these three areas are not within range at all times, your pool water may corrode and leach metals from the pool surface or pool equipment.
8. If you do end up using a stain removing product from your pool store you must lower your chlorine to below 1PPM so that the chlorine does not compete with the stain removing product.
9. After using your stain removing product, make sure you shock the pool so that you have a sufficient amount of chlorine in your pool before it goes green.
10. Use only Dove soap when bathing in the pool. It prevents oil scum build-up and leaves your skin as soft as a baby's butt.

Tips

• Plaster pool owners need to pay particular attention to the pool pH, Alkalinity and TDS level.
• Test the pool pH and Alkalinity weekly and the pool water TDS level monthly or quarterly.
• You can visit http://www.greenpooltips.com to learn more about swimming pool maintenance

Warnings

• If you have a heater on your swimming pool and find copper stains or excessive amounts of copper in your water when tested, immediately test the pool pH and Alkalinity levels and properly maintain them going forward. The plumbing inside a swimming pool heater, called the ?heat exchanger", is made of copper. If the pool pH and pool Alkalinity levels are not properly maintained, this heat exchanger will quickly corrode and dissolve copper into the pool water causing pool stains and quickly destroy the heater.

Sources and Citations

• Please visit http://www.InTheSwim.com for a complete selection of pool stain removing chemicals.

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