Calcium build up is a common occurrence in swimming pools. However, it’s best to tackle calcium build up as soon as it occurs and pool owners should take some preventative measure to slow calcium build up in the first place. Aquaman Pools breaks down the ins and outs of calcium build up — and some easy and cost-effective ways to deal with it.
Calcium build up can appear as a white scales or light grayish stains on the pool tile, typically at the water line or below. Because pools need chemicals constantly added to them to keep the water balanced, it’s natural that over time calcium will build up as the absorption of chemicals becomes more difficult.
Calcium build up will not go away on its own and will continue to build if the water is not properly balanced to lower the calcium levels so it’s important that pool owners identify and deal with calcium build up early on. Some calcium build up is flaky and easy to remove by simply brushing it away with a pumice stone or scale remover. Only use the pumice stone when wet to prevent scratching and damaging the tile. Some types of calcium may need additional products or procedures to remove the build-up and a professional calcium build up service may be required to get rid of it.
It’s a good idea to backwash the pool to help balance out the chemicals and lower those calcium levels. Backwashing the pool replaces the water that is calcium saturated with fresh water. After backwashing, it’s also a good idea to test the water’s alkalinity and pH — it should be balanced at between 7.4 and 7.6. If the pH levels are higher than that, it’s typically a sign that the water is over saturated, which causes the water to deposit the excess in the form of calcium build up. Adding some pool acid, little by little, can help bring the pH levels down and balance out the water.
While these tips are solutions to get rid of calcium build up, they are also preventative measures for slowing calcium build up in the first place. A regular brushing and backwashing routine can help keep calcium build up at bay. By taking some easy precautionary measures and keeping a close eye out for calcium build up, pool owners can slow the process and also be ready to take further action if calcium build up does start to increase. Aquaman Pools’ professional technicians are happy to take on the task of regular cleaning and balancing the water to help slow calcium build up.
