On average, the first time performing an acid wash can take two to three full days between draining, cleaning, and refilling the pool. As mentioned earlier, acid washing is an extremely labor intensive project, and it removes a thin layer of your pool surface each time it's done.
30-60 seconds for horizontal surfaces, and 60-90 seconds for walls. Use an acid brush to scrub stained surfaces and to move the acid around. Rinse quickly and thoroughly.
Average pool acid wash cost is $202, cost ranges between $178 to $225 for a pool measuring 500 square feet, according to Improvenet.com in the US in 2020. Of course, prices will vary based on location, size of the pool and the time of the year.
If you don't rinse the acid off right away, though, you can end up with a serious burn. When you're done acid washing your pool, rinse the gloves off thoroughly, and apply some soda ash to them to neutralize any acid residue. Then rinse them again before removing them.
Your pool generally only needs an acid-washing every five to seven years if you regularly treat and maintain the water in it. Acid-washing your pool more often can damage the plaster coating inside the pool because the acid strips away a small layer of it each time you do it.
An acid wash is the process of removing mineral deposits and surface stains from the bottom and sides of your pool. In the process, a thin layer of the pool or spa interior's surface is also removed. When finished, the acid washing process gives your pool a fresh, clean look.
If you regularly clean your pool and keep it in good shape, chances are you will only need to acid wash your swimming pool every 5-7 years. Because acid washing uses harsh chemicals, it is not recommended to get your pool acid washed more frequently than that, as the harsh chemical used can damage your pool's surface.
According to Clean Pool and Spa, you should wait no less than two hours before swimming in a pool which has been treated with muriatic acid. According to the website, "If you pour muriatic acid in the pool and swim within 10 to 15 minutes you might get a 'hot spot' of acid that can burn you."
In a nutshell, a no-drain acid wash is lowering the pH level of your pool so that your pool water becomes acidic and alkalinity close to zero. When this level is hit, some vigorous scrubbing will be required to peel off a bit of the pool surface, essentially giving you an acid wash without draining the pool.
Pool industry experts recommend you drain your pool and refill it every five to seven years. No two pools are alike, so there is no set number at which you must drain your pool.
Plaster Pools
An acid wash is a popular choice for removing tough stains from plaster and Pebble Tec pools. An Acid wash consists of a mixture of water and muriatic acid. The acid makes contact with the pools surface and gently removes a small layer, revealing a fresh layer of plaster underneath.
Hose down the entire area you want to wash, then use a plastic watering can to sprinkle your diluted acid onto the concrete. Brush the acid over the concrete with a push broom or a long masonry brush. Let the acid sit for 5-10 minutes, then rinse the area and scrub it with your push broom and neutralize the acid.
Decorative concrete expert Jason Geiser, of Deco-Crete Supply, acid washes an area of concrete to lighten the color of stain. Acid washing is the process of removing the top layer off a concrete surface to open its pores and provide a clean slate for a coating.
We recommend adding Acid weekly! Adding a little and often is better for your water and can actually save you money overtime. Large doses over longer periods of time take a larger portion of your 'Total alkalinity' away.
Water with a pH that's too high also can cause skin rashes, cloudy water and scaling on pool equipment. Over time, scaling inside pipes can build up, restricting water flow and putting a strain on your pool circulation system that can lead to costly repairs.
When placed in pool water, hydrochloric acid has proven to be profoundly effective at removing algae from the floors and walls of a pool while also lowering pH levels that have become harmful to your health.
If you have a stubborn pool stain, an acid bath is another option. This allows you to remove the stain without draining the swimming pool and uses strong acidic solutions to basically burn-away the stained surface spot. The acid removes the stained concrete surface from the pool.
Stains that appear reddish brown or very dark are typically related to metals in your pool water. The metals that commonly cause pool stains are iron, manganese & copper. Copper is from ionizers and corrosion of copper and brass pipes.
Acid washes are ideal for minor discolorations caused by things like leaves falling into the pool. The main benefit of acid washing, during some new finishes application is to remove any haze or cement residue.
When there is too much of a mineral present in the water, it can begin to stain the pool. Shades of yellow can be a sign of excessive iron. Iron can be introduced into a pool by well water or pipe corrosion somewhere in the pool system.
Mash up a few Vitamin C tablets and sprinkle the powder down into the treads. Brush it away in fifteen minutes or so. If it's metallic in nature, you'll have a white spot. Otherwise, the stain is organic, and chlorine and time will lighten it.
Answer: You have Iron metal in your pool and that's why your pool turns brown when you shock it. Use Ascorbic acid to clear the stains and consider draining and refilling portion of your pool water to lower metal levels or use metal remover like ProTeam Metal Magic to remove metals through the filter.