Pool Stain Prevention Products
It is key to understand the different types of stains that are encountered most often in the pool and spa industry before discussing prevention.
- Organic stains – Caused by living things like plant matter (leaves, acorns, flowers et cetera), algae, worms, and anything else that once lived and happens to end up in your pool (or spa). Organic stains are prevented by proper cleaning and not allowing the contaminants to sit in your pool (or spa) for any length of time, while also maintaining proper filtration and sanitizer levels. Organic stains are commonly resolved by shocking and brushing the stains directly.
- Inorganic stains – Caused by metals such as copper and iron and can be more difficult to prevent and treat. Copper can be introduced by mineral systems, algaecides, or old plumbing to name a few and iron can be introduced by well-water and lawn fertilizer over broadcast. Metal stains are typically prevented by either sequestering the metals or removing them from the water. If stains already exist then they can be treated with stain removal products in conjunction with stain prevention products.
There are also some very important concepts to understand when discussing stains and prevention products:
- You should have your water tested for metal content and then understand how the metal was introduced. If you already have stains, you should consider treating the stains and then focus on preventing future stains.
- If you use a sequestrant to prevent staining you will need to apply maintenance doses according to product instructions, otherwise, the metal can precipitate into stains when the sequestrant level dips. There are also products that can actually remove the metals from water by binding them to insoluble polymers like CuLator.
- It’s important to note that if a stain is faint or isn’t very old, stain prevention products may actually lift it. However, if it isn’t lifted then you will require another product to remove the stain first, and then the metal can be sequestered and/or removed.
What Form Does Stain Prevention Come In And How Do I Use It?
Stain prevention products come in liquid form and are typically added directly to any stained areas and then circulated in the pool for stain removal attempts, or if using for a maintenance dose with no stains present they are poured in front of a return jet and allowed to circulate normally. As with all pool (or spa) chemicals, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s directions for their specific product.
Safety Information About Stain Prevention Products
You should always read and follow all safety precautions on the product labels. Keeping your pool (or spa) safe means keeping yourself and others around you safe while maintaining your chemistry and your equipment. Some common recommendations include:
- Wearing protective gear such as gloves and eye protection.
- Store chemicals in ventilated areas and separate from one another to avoid chemical reactions from leaks.
- Do not mix chemicals.
See this informative video for some more great tips on pool chemical safety.
Don't know what chemicals to add or when? Sutro will tell you!