Average pool acid wash cost is $450, with prices ranging from $400 to $500 for a pool measuring 500 square feet, according to Improvenet.com in the US in 2022.
The duration of acid washing depends on how it's done. Outside of draining the pool, the acid-washing process can last four to five hours. A no-drain acid wash, on the other hand, takes about three days.
Yes, you can. Remember, acid washing pebble is the most aggressive cleaning process available. It involves completely draining your pool and then pouring or spraying hydrochloric acid and water on the pool surface. Often, this process is repeated several times to remove the stains.
It is a good idea to acid wash your pool around every 5 years. Assuming that you are going to drain and refill your pool every 2-3 years, it would be smart to do this every other time that you drain the water. Do not acid wash your pool too often because it could cause damage to the walls and floor.
For a pool that measures around 500 square feet, the costs typically range from the low cost of $178 to a high cost of $255. This price comprises of the cost of labor and all the required chemicals. If you plan to acid wash your own pool, your only costs will be for the various chemicals, in which cost about $30.
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.
The biggest indicator that you need acid washing is when you notice sections of discoloration, no matter how hard you scrub. However, you should not perform acid washing more than once every five years, as it will decrease the lifespan of your swimming pool's surface.
Don't drain and acid wash your pool to remove black spot algae because it will just come back again. Draining the pool is not effective because the algae also lives in the pipework, solar heaters, filter and pump.
While acid washing can dramatically reduce stains or remove spots from a pool's surface, It can shorten the lifespan of plaster finishes. Muriatic Acid, the chemical commonly used is dangerous and corrosive, so the application should be done by a professional.
If your pool is plaster, a chlorine wash will do just fine. If you have pebble, you could choose either, but you should know acid washes aren't recommended unless absolutely necessary. The acid will take a fine layer of your pebble off, so we try not to do them for several years.
The following day, they will perform the acid wash itself, which can take anywhere from 4 -5 hours to complete. After that, the pool can be refilled.
Consequently, it should only be done once every couple of years, not all the time. An acid wash is one of the easiest and fastest ways to make a dramatic improvement to the color, clarity, and safety of your swimming pool.
It is always best to test first! Muriatic acid can create a hot spot of acid in the water that could potentially burn or irritate your skin. It is best to wait 30 minutes after adding it to your pool. We recommend waiting at least 15 minutes to swim after adding algaecide to your swimming pool.
More than just a surface clean, an acid wash actually strips a thin layer of plaster off the surface of the pool. Along with the plaster layer, stains left by chlorine, algae, minerals, and just plain dirt are removed, exposing a fresh, clean layer of plaster underneath.
Rainwater is known to have acidic properties that can negatively affect your pool water chemistry balance. This can affect anything from the pH balance to alkalinity levels and more. The pH of rain across the US, which is all acid rain, is due to industrial gasses (i.e. NOx, SOx) which make nitric and sulfuric acid.
Acidic water can also attack the plaster of inground pools or cause liners to become brittle and crack. Acidic water also makes swimming uncomfortable. A common symptom of acid exposure is red, itchy eyes. You may also experience dry, rash-covered skin after swimming.
Heavy rains will deplete many of the chemistry levels in your pool. Generally your alkalinity will drop significantly. It is a good idea to have Alkalinity, Muriatic Acid, Chlorine (or Salt), and Shock on hand to be able to test your water and treat your pool immediately after the rain stops.
Black algae itself won't hurt you, and you can't get sick from simply swimming in a pool that has algae in it. But black algae growth can encourage the development of bacteria, which can be unhealthy. This is why it's important to treat black algae as soon as you see it -- and to take steps to keep it from coming back.
Shock Your Pool
Shocking increases your pool's chlorine and other chemical levels and is a black algae killer. Now, because black algae are so difficult to kill, we recommend using four times the recommended dosage for your size pool.
Scrub the Black Algae Spots
We like to use chlorine tablets because now only do they offer a scrubbing surface, you're also applying chlorine directly, which can start killing the bacteria while you scrub. Put on your chemical-resistant gloves and protective eyewear. Break a 3-inch chlorine tablet in half.
ACID WASH PRICES: Complete drain & clean charges average $750 for a residential pool. Higher costs may be seen for large amounts of debris in the pool, excessive neglect, or larger sized pools. Lower costs will be realized for clean or empty pools, or localized acid washing.
Simply put, if your pool water is too acidic it can corrode your pool equipment, cause etching on surface materials and cause skin, eye and nose irritations on swimmers. If your pool water is too alkaline, it can cause scaling on your pool's surface and plumbing equipment, and can cloud the pool water.