Your swimming pool provides your family with a fun way to cool off during those miserably hot summer days. If you've been struggling with algae or foam floating in your pool, you've got to get busy resolving the issue before it gets out of hand. Here, you'll learn how to treat different types of algae growth and how to remove the foam from your water.
1. Foam Issues
If you have foam floating around in your pool, the water isn't right in one way or another. Some things that cause foam in pools are:
To remove the foam, you'll need to use the skimmer to remove as much of it as you can. Then, you'll need to shock the pool and allow the pump to run for several hours. Vacuum the pool, balance the water, and test the levels. If the problem persists once you've cleaned and shocked the pool, you'll need to contact a professional to have your water tested and tended to properly.
2. Algae Problems
Algae spores are carried by the wind right into your swimming pool. Once the spores land in the pool, they stick to the sides and bottom and begin to root if the water isn't balanced properly, poorly filtered, or hasn't been cleaned in a while. The color of the algae will tell you what it will take to remove it from the pool for good.
Green algae is the most common troublemaker. It sticks to the walls and floats in the water. If your algae is green, you're in luck – the fix is as easy as making sure to run your pump more, cleaning the pool, and making sure that you're using the right amount of chlorine.
Yellow algae typically only grows in the shaded areas of the pool. This algae is removed with a 1:1 bleach and water mixture. Use a scrub brush to scrub the algae off of the walls. Then, shock the pool and allow the pump to run for a while. To eliminate the yellow mold for good, you'll need to trim back the trees that are shading your pool.
Black algae is the most difficult to remove from your pool. The roots are deep, and it will stain the grout in your pool. Once the black algae has taken root, you're going to have a lot of work – a stainless steel brush will need to be used to scrub it out of the grout. Shock the pool and let the pump run for a while. You will need to monitor this area for future growth because if the roots weren't killed, they will regrow. If it has spread or has rooted deep into the grout, you may need to have the pool regrouted in that area.
Talk with a company like After Hours Pool Service to learn more about preventing algae and foam from forming in your pool.