When your swimming pool begins to look filthy, you might try your best to scrub it to remove the stains. However, some stains that can form on a pool cannot be removed without using a pool acid wash. 

How Acid Washing Works 

Acid washing is the use of chemicals to remove a layer of accumulated material off of the wall of your pool so that you can then manually use an acid brush to scrub the material off of the pool wall. A common reason why you need to acid wash your pool is to combat algae.

Stains and the Buildup of Algae

In some cases, acid washing becomes essential because a layer of black algae forms on the wall of the pool. This layer needs to be removed using a stiff brush, but this is often not possible because you will need to kill and strip the algae using an algaecide. Then, if you are still not able to remove the algae, you might need to use a pool acid wash.

First, you should treat the surface with an acid wash. Then, neutralize the acid using soda ash. Finally, use a power washer to rinse off the surface that has been treated with the acid. If this is done sparingly, your swimming pool will look much better and will be in better condition. However, if you do it too often, you may strip too much away from the plaster of your swimming pool.

Other Causes of Pool Stains

Besides algae, you may also need to use pool acid wash if you have owned your pool for a long time. This is because the chemicals and sunlight exposure can gradually damage the walls of your pool. You may also notice that your swimming pool has built up a lot of stains over time that you simply cannot remove.

Your pool is very likely to become stained if you allow the water to stagnate. These stains will sometimes form over the winter and you will need to winterize your swimming pool to prevent them from forming.

How a Pool Contractor Can Help

You could do the pool acid wash on your own. However, this can backfire if you make a mistake. It makes more sense to have your pool acid wash handled by a pool contractor. A pool contractor will be less likely to damage your pool. Also, when handling acids, you could potentially burn yourself if you do not wear protective gear.

For more information, contact a company like Scalebusters.