What does it mean to acid wash a pool?

Posted on by Tre Golding

Avoid troublesome algae treatments or costly surface and equipment damage.

The Sutro Water Monitor automatically tests your water 3x/day and gives you exact instructions on how to treat your water so that your pool or spa is always ready.

Acid washing is just what it sounds like, using acid (muriatic acid in the case of acid washing a plaster pool) to clean the plaster surface. Let’s take a look at what it means to acid wash a pool and why it’s important.

How to acid wash your pool

Acid washing a pool is done by draining the water and applying a dilute solution of muriatic acid which actually removes a small layer of plaster to lift stains and contaminants. If not done properly then it can damage your surface and will more greatly minimize the life of the plaster.

Sutro is a perfect solution to help you keep your water balanced so that you don’t have to worry about acid washing, but if you have found yourself in a situation where you need an acid wash then let’s take a deeper look into some specifics and things to consider.

Sometimes an acid bath (aka acid startup in new pool speak) may be performed by pool builders as part of their startup process as well, but the desired method is to follow the National Plaster Council (NPC) startup process and keep the water balanced and brush frequently during startup to prevent improper curing and help smooth the fresh surface.

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    What can acid washing correct?

    A pool in need of acid washing

    Acid washing can remove staining, calcium build up, or even help smooth rough pool surfaces. If a pool has been neglected to the point that the water is black and unrecoverable then acid washing would be part of the recovery process as it will remove the dirt and algae stains on the plaster.  It can also help minimize splotchy plaster and remove metal stains. 

    What surfaces can be acid washed?

    A pool acid wash will ruin a vinyl pool liner so be sure not to do that! Fiberglass pools can be acid washed, however not by draining and treating with an acid solution. Acid (ascorbic acid) is added to the water to make it acidic and remove the stain. It’s really more of an acid bath than a wash. 

    If you have never performed an acid wash or are not familiar with the process we would strongly recommend hiring a professional so that you do not damage your pool. 

    And remember, no matter whether you are starting up a new plaster pool or maintaining an existing pool, Sutro can help you avoid the need for a pool acid wash by monitoring your pH, total alkalinity, and free chlorine. Our monitor checks your pH and free chlorine levels 3 times per day and then recommends adjustments when needed so you can stay ahead of the game.

    Featured image: Cann Do Pool




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