How to Prevent and Eliminate Calcium in Your Swimming Pool
Have you ever noticed white-grey staining on a pool’s metal ladder or flaky white deposits on the pool tiles? Both are types of calcium scale or buildup that can be bad for your pool. Calcium scale can build up in pipes, pool filters, and along pool walls and accessories. It isn’t just unattractive; it can damage the plumbing system and filter. Swimming in water with high enough calcium can irritate your skin and eyes. There are steps you can take to bring down the calcium level in your pool and eliminate calcium scale.
Why Does My Pool Have Calcium Scale?
Water contains many minerals, like calcium. If your water is balanced with a low level of calcium, you don’t have to worry about calcium scale. Typically, calcium deposits are the result of one of these three issues:
Chemical Imbalance
When your pool water heats up, calcium scale may start forming if the water has a high pH or high alkaline.
Solution: You can prevent this by keeping the pH of the water between 7.2 and 7.8.
Evaporation
In places like Florida, where a hot sun beats down on your pool for long periods, water evaporation can be a problem. When too much water evaporates, leaving behind calcium, the extra calcium in your pool can buildup.
Solution: You can prevent this by covering your pool when it isn’t being used.
Hard Water
Water with high levels of minerals, like calcium, is considered hard. The naturally high levels of calcium in the water cause it to build upon faucets and showers as well as pool surfaces and pipes.
Solution: Investing in a whole-home water softening system is the best solution if you have hard water. It will remove the excess calcium from all the water you use for cleaning, cooking, bathing, and drinking. Along with protecting your pool, lower levels of calcium in your water will also extend the life of your water-based appliance like your laundry machine and keep your water pressure at a reasonable level.
How do I get rid of calcium scale?
Determine the type of calcium scale
The first step to getting rid of calcium scale is to find out what type your pool has. There are two types of calcium scale: calcium carbonate and calcium silicate. Calcium carbonate scale looks flaky and white. It is the easiest to remove. Calcium silicate scale makes metal and other surfaces look cloudy with white-grey buildup. It is challenging to remove without harming the surface. It is also more likely to build up in the pool’s pipes and filter as well.
You can test the scaling in your pool to find out which type it is by placing a few droplets of muriatic acid on the scaling. If the acid bubbles or foams, it is calcium carbonate scaling. If there is no chemical reaction, it’s calcium silicate scaling.
Choose the best removal method
Removing Calcium Carbonate Scaling
If your pool has calcium carbonate scaling, there are three ways you can remove it.
1. The first option is to use a mixture of vinegar and a brush. Pour vinegar and water into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the scale, then use a hand brush or old toothbrush to scrub away the calcium build up.
2. For severe scaling, you can use muriatic acid. It is an incredibly useful cleaner that can remove calcium scale. This is an extremely harsh chemical. We recommend leaving this to a professional. If you chose to do it yourself, be sure to stay out of the pool and wear gloves, goggles, and a respirator! You’ll want to mix 8 ounces of muriatic acid with one gallon of water to make a cleaning solution.
3. You could also add a scale remover to your water. You can find scale remover at most pool supply stores. It will gradually cleanse away the calcium deposits over time.
Removing Calcium Silicate Scaling
If your pool has calcium silicate scaling, the best option is to talk to a pool expert! Your pool may also have hardened calcium deposits in the pipes and filters that need to be removed. If you want to take care of the scaling in your pool by yourself, you also have three options.
1. The fastest solution is to use a bead blasting pressure washer. Regular pressure washers aren’t up to the tough challenge of removing calcium silicate, but a bead blasting pressure washer can be effective at removing it.
2. Scrubbing the surface with a pumice stone is hard work, but it can get the job done. Be careful not to damage the surface of your pool if you use this method! Making sure that the surface is wet when you scrub can help.
3. Adding scale remover to the water is your last option. Keep in mind that this is a long process and won’t remove it overnight.
We hope this information helps you tackle the calcium scale in your pool! To find out the best solution for your pool, contact a pool expert! Our team at PoolWorks is always happy to help customers throughout Lakeland, FL, get rid of calcium deposits.