Pool Opening Time! How do you remove stains from leaves and other debri?

[Spoisal]

Well, it is pool opening time! We have staining from leaves & other debri in our white concrete (gunite) pool. What is the best way to tackle these problems?

 

[Spoisal]

anybody? or are you all out enjoying your pools?!!

 

[bigmerle1966]

I'll answer, although I can't help. Just to keep you at the top so when someone wakes up this lovely AM they may be able to help. Looks to be a nice day today, hopefully the weather will stay nice this weekend so you can use your pool. After last nights downpours and tornado watch.

 

[DawnCt1]

First of all you need to be sure that the water is perfectly balanced or running a bit on the acetic side. A lower ph limits the amount of stains that set. Before you do that however, I have a tool called the Jandy Stain master. All it is is a long tube with an attachment on the end that attaches to the long pole that you vacuum with. The tube inserts through a bottle cap like thing into a gallon of muiactic (sp) HCL acid and syphons down the tube to the attachment that you set over the stain and it comes right up. Let the water circulate for a day or two to see if the stains come off, often they do, but if they don't you can use that tool. Edited to add. www.poolcenter.com/coolpool_poolstor.htm Scroll down and you will see the Jandy Stain Master. $44.

 

[luvflorida]

anybody? or are you all out enjoying your pools?!!

This is what I'm thinking! I keep reading about people already swimming!

At least your pool is open for the season. The pool company is coming out the last week in May to open our pool, but I'm betting it still isn't going to be warm enough to use it. This entire week has been cold, rainy, drizzly, grey, and next week isn't looking much better.

Funny, a few days ago my husband and I were out walking around the pool and I was wondering how our water looks. We both got down on our hands and knees and were trying to peer through the cover to see if we could determine how clean things looked in there. Hard to tell, but I found out one of the reasons the pool company recommends lowering the water at least 18 inches when closing the pool for the winter.

I figured the water wouldn't be anywhere near the top of the pool, so I stepped on part of the cover and ended up with a shoeful of water. I couldn't believe the water was that high up. I guess it was from the melting ice and snow, and from the rain.

 

[Spoisal]

First of all you need to be sure that the water is perfectly balanced or running a bit on the acetic side. A lower ph limits the amount of stains that set. Before you do that however, I have a tool called the Jandy Stain master. All it is is a long tube with an attachment on the end that attaches to the long pole that you vacuum with. The tube inserts through a bottle cap like thing into a gallon of muiactic (sp) HCL acid and syphons down the tube to the attachment that you set over the stain and it comes right up. Let the water circulate for a day or two to see if the stains come off, often they do, but if they don't you can use that tool. Edited to add. www.poolcenter.com/coolpool_poolstor.htm Scroll down and you will see the Jandy Stain Master. $44.

Thanks! I will look into that stain master. Has anyone ever tried pumice or a stainless steel brush?

 

[Spoisal]

This is what I'm thinking! I keep reading about people already swimming!

At least your pool is open for the season. The pool company is coming out the last week in May to open our pool, but I'm betting it still isn't going to be warm enough to use it. This entire week has been cold, rainy, drizzly, grey, and next week isn't looking much better.

We had a gas heater put in & we have a solar cover as well - the pool water was up to 85 degrees in no time! If you don't have a heater, get one of those solar covers - they are affordable & work wonders! (they look like blue bubble wrap)

 

[luvflorida]

We had a gas heater put in & we have a solar cover as well - the pool water was up to 85 degrees in no time! If you don't have a heater, get one of those solar covers - they are affordable & work wonders! (they look like blue bubble wrap)

85 degrees! Wow, we'll be lucky if our water ever hits that temp! Are the solar covers easy to put on and take off, and where do you put it when it's not on the pool? Do you fold it up or lay it out somewhere?

I think we need to seriously look into heaters.

 

[DawnCt1]

Thanks! I will look into that stain master. Has anyone ever tried pumice or a stainless steel brush?

I have a pumice stick that attaches to the pole also but at the bottom of the pool, I can't seem to get enough leverage to stratch off the stains. A white broken brick works also but you will stratch the surface. I prefer to use the acid. After the pool is up and running for a few days, you will be surprised at how many stains just vanish on their own.

 

[Spoisal]

After the pool is up and running for a few days, you will be surprised at how many stains just vanish on their own.

Thanks! I hope so!

 

[Spoisal]

Are the solar covers easy to put on and take off, and where do you put it when it's not on the pool? Do you fold it up or lay it out somewhere?

Very easy. It comes in a rectangular shape. (If I remember, you had a free form pool?). Then, you cut it with a utility knife or scissors to fit. You can also get a reel to wind it up when you don't want to use it....and with 2 people you can walk the reel & cover away if you want to. We got ours from poolandspa.com ....free shipping & I think the 40 x 20 cover plus the reel was less than $400. They really work!

 

[justjulie]

Our pool's only at 46 degrees right now but at least it's open!

With respect to solar blankets, we opted to go for the solar fish rather than the blanket. No roller, no putting on and off. They are fish shaped and contain non toxic chemicals that form a thin barrier on the top of the water and keep the heat in. There is no irritant and when you break the surface of the water the chemicals "scatter". When you're done in the water the chemicals "reconnect" to form an invisible blanket.

 

[luvflorida]

Our pool's only at 46 degrees right now but at least it's open!

With respect to solar blankets, we opted to go for the solar fish rather than the blanket. No roller, no putting on and off. They are fish shaped and contain non toxic chemicals that form a thin barrier on the top of the water and keep the heat in. There is no irritant and when you break the surface of the water the chemicals "scatter". When you're done in the water the chemicals "reconnect" to form an invisible blanket.

I've never heard of anything like this! Can you tell me more about it? Where did you buy it? Is it something that stays in the pool, or do you remove it for swimming? What exactly does it look like? Thanks for any info!

 

[justjulie]

We love them. They stay in the pool for about two months at a time. Here's some information about them. If you search "solar fish" you may be able to find a retailer near you (we're in Canada and we can find them all over up here) ... I tried to post a picture (they really do look like tropical fish) but I was unsuccessful ... apparently there are two kinds now - the newest one has an automatic pump in it that releases the liquid automatically - the older version just lets it seap out throughout the month - we've used both successfully!


The TURBO is the next generation of the TROPICAL FISH Liquid Solar Blanket, featuring the Patented Computerized Pump Disperse System. This Hi-tech pump's microprocessor keeps the TURBO functioning properly and is programmed for different size pools to pump precise measurements of liquid every hour for up to 60 days.
One fish for up to 800 sq. ft of pool surface area
Each fish lasts up to 2 months
Works 24 hours per day, consistently pumping
Patented Computerized pumping system
This intelligent fish automatically dispenses liquid solar blanket into the pool, cutting heating costs and keeping the pool warmer. Each Turbo features a high-tech microprocessor that pumps out precise amounts of liquid every hour for up to 60 days, based on pool size. This invisible liquid rises to the pool's surface, inhibiting the heat evaporation that can cool the pool.

 

[luvflorida]

We love them. They stay in the pool for about two months at a time. Here's some information about them. If you search "solar fish" you may be able to find a retailer near you (we're in Canada and we can find them all over up here) ... I tried to post a picture (they really do look like tropical fish) but I was unsuccessful ... apparently there are two kinds now - the newest one has an automatic pump in it that releases the liquid automatically - the older version just lets it seap out throughout the month - we've used both successfully!


The TURBO is the next generation of the TROPICAL FISH Liquid Solar Blanket, featuring the Patented Computerized Pump Disperse System. This Hi-tech pump's microprocessor keeps the TURBO functioning properly and is programmed for different size pools to pump precise measurements of liquid every hour for up to 60 days.
One fish for up to 800 sq. ft of pool surface area
Each fish lasts up to 2 months
Works 24 hours per day, consistently pumping
Patented Computerized pumping system
This intelligent fish automatically dispenses liquid solar blanket into the pool, cutting heating costs and keeping the pool warmer. Each Turbo features a high-tech microprocessor that pumps out precise amounts of liquid every hour for up to 60 days, based on pool size. This invisible liquid rises to the pool's surface, inhibiting the heat evaporation that can cool the pool.

Thanks for the info! I'm going to check them out online.