Green Pool Cleanup
Last Updated: July 13 2020
Reading Time: 6 minutes
Green, yellow and black algae on pool tiles.
Many pool owners can experience green pools or green spas. Algae can cause many issues like staining your pools surface or even producing toxins. If your pool does not clean up, you should consider hiring a professional. With our easy to use website you can hire local business to come get the job done hassle free!
Health hazard
A green pool should not be ignored, and you most certainly should not swim in it. The green color is caused by a large amount of algae. Algae can sometimes indicate the presence of other existing bacteria which can most certainly be harmful like ammonia. Algae are formed when water is lacking circulation, there is an imbalance of chemicals or if the water temperature is higher than normal. Some of these substances can be very toxic and you should definitely regularly test your water to make sure that you are not developing any toxic bacteria.
Steps to Clean a Green Pool
- Test and Balance Your Water
- Clean Pool Water and Surfaces
- Add shock
- Add Algaecide
- Add Flock
You should first off test the pool water. Algae grows in pools that have a low chlorine level. You can either get some at home water testing kits or you can go to your local pool supply store and test your water for free. A benefit of getting your results tested by a professional is that you do not have to worry about getting inaccurate results. Another benefit of testing your water is that any underlying health issues with your water can be discovered through professional testing. You should always have a balance the pools chemistry meaning that your pool should have a pH of 7 meaning the water is nor acidic nor a base and is safe to swim in!
You should now clean everywhere imaginable in your pool. If you miss a little bit of algae left it will regrow and you will have to clean your pool again. The sides of your pool and even the bottom of your pool should also be cleaned with a pool brush!
Do not forget to clean your pool filter.
Now add shock. Shock usually contains chlorine. Chlorine kills algae and other harmful bacteria. The higher chlorine level in your pool the harder it is for algae to breed.
When adding your algaecide, you have to be careful about the timing. The chemicals in algaecide and shock both cancel each other out so you should wait for the ppm to fall below 5 for the best results. Algaecide will kill any small blooms and help prevent any more algae from growing.
Floc is a chemical that helps you get rid of any dead algae problems. Floc makes all existing algae and other small particles in your pool float to the bottom for an easy clean up with a pool vacuum or filter. For floc to work it should have 1 day without pump running too settle down. When using floc make sure that you do not add to much because too much flocculants can make your pool cloudier not clearer.
You should allow your pump to run for few hours to mix water. The circulation of water will help the products work more effectively. If your pool is extremely green then it will be better to remove filter so it will not get clogged in few minutes.
Next day the floc that you applied in your pool or spa should have made all the algae in your pool sink to the bottom. If there is a lot of waste at the bottom of the pool then it will be better to switch pool pump to waste and pump it out of the pool and after that refill pool with fresh water to proper level. You should retest your water and add whatever is necessary.
Routinely maintenance
If you find yourself neglecting routinely pool cleaning you should think of hiring a pool maintenance specialist and setting up a schedule. With our website you can get the best deal and have a clean pool.
Not only algae:
Keep in mind your pool can also be contaminated with ammonia or sulfur. If your pools water is contaminated with ammonia you should first off check your chlorine levels. Pool water with ammonia will have a chlorine level of close to zero. Sulfur, a chemical found naturally in many plants and foods, can also cause a green pool. Along with creating a green pool sulfur can also cause your water to smell bad and organic contamination. Sulfur is also hazardous to human health! It can cause if ingested diarrhea and nausea.
The odds
A normal amount of green should take around 24 hours to clear up. If the steps above did not improve the green ness of your swimming pool you should try calling a company and getting professional help!
Tips
If you have cloudy pool water then you can add water clarifier instead of flock.
Watch for chlorine level because it will probably go down next day.
Before you use any new product in your pool read label first because it may stain your pool.
Make sure that any of your pool chemicals do not include any mercury. Mercury is not a chemical to mess with called a dangerous neurotoxin. Sometimes unreliable companies can use mercury in their chlorine. If you have contact with mercury it can cause health effects like blindness, chemical burns and sometimes death following your contact with mercury.
Summary
Having a green pool water does not mean you cannot fix it. Treating a green pool will require time effort and care. You should also care weekly for your pool like adding other chemicals to prevent your pool from greening weekly. If you find yourself in a situation that you cannot clarify your water, you should call a local business and gain more information. With our services you can easily complete this process and hire a local business!