A swimming pool is fun to have when it’s clean and safe to use. However, for some reason, you might be dealing with green water at some point. And as a pool owner, you need to know how to tackle this problem on your own and learn how to clean a green swimming pool. It is never a good experience to see the water has turned green and swampy the moment you pull back that cover. So what can you do? Let’s go ahead and find out.
To Drain or Not To Drain
Before you do anything, it is important to assess whether or not you need to drain the water. Draining the pool is not easy but if the water says you have to, then you don’t have a choice. How ‘green’ should it be for you to consider draining it? Well, if you can see your hand about 8 inches into the water, then this is a lost cause.
Testing the Water
Before you do any treatment or cleaning, it is crucial to test the water first. Using a test kit, check the chlorine and pH levels to know how severe the problem is. When the pH levels are below 1 ppm, this can cause the algae to grow and turn the water to a green color. In this case, it is necessary to “shock” the water to kill the algae using chemicals. This way, the chlorine and pH levels of the pool water will go back to normal.
The Pool Chemistry
Before the treatment, the pH levels of the water should be balanced using a base or an acid. To balance the pH, turn on the pump so that the chemicals will circulate. If the pH level is too high, decrease it by adding sodium bisulfate. And if the pH levels are too low, then increase it using sodium carbonate.
Check the Filter
Clean the water of any debris like leaves and anything that can clog the filter. If needed, backwash the filter and make sure that it is working 100% before you add any chemicals to kill the algae. Then make the filter run for 24 hours to remove all the algae during the cleaning process and until you are done with the treatment process.
Time to Scrub!
If you see algae buildup in some areas of the pool, scrub it. Carefully choose the scrub to use. For a vinyl pool, it is best to use a nylon scrub because wire brushes can damage it. Using your pool brush, take the time to scrub the sides and bottom part before the treatment process. Remember that algae usually clings to the water surface. And scrubbing will help remove and break it up. This way, once you start putting chemicals, it’s going to be more effective.
Once the pre-treatment process is done, then you can proceed with the shock treatment. Removing the green color in a swimming pool is not going to be an overnight process. It will take days to a week or so to completely revive your swimming pool. If you hire professionals to clean the swimming pool, this is the same process that they have to go through.