Being a pool owner is a lot of work. Not only can it cost plenty of cash in maintenance, but there are also so many factors to think about. For example, you would need to consider the water temperature and acidity level. More so, in order to keep the water clean, it is vital that you add chemical substances every now and again.
One major problem that many pool owners have to deal with is the iron content of their water. Even though this substance is found naturally in water, it can lead to various problems down the line.
In this article, we will be discussing one reliable and effective method that you could use in order to remove iron from your pool. More so, we will mention a few habits that you can adopt in order to prevent iron levels from increasing again in the future.
Iron in the Pool
As we have already mentioned, iron is found naturally in all swimming pool water. When you add equipment to the water, such as a filtration system or pool pump, it will begin to erode, causing the iron levels to increase. This corrosion occurs over long periods of time – however, the process can be quickened when your pool water has high chlorine levels or a low pH.
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If your pool has a high amount of iron present in the water, you will notice that it has a red, brown, or orange cloudiness to it. More so, the tiles surrounding your pool may begin to stain a green, gray or black color.
If you want to save cash in the long run, you will need to remove this iron from your water as quickly as possible.
Getting Rid of the Iron
Luckily for you, removing this iron is a relatively simple process. Below, we have made a step-by-step list that you can follow in order to effectively and reliably remove the element from your pool water.
Step One: Test The Pool Water
The first action you will need to do when removing iron from your swimming pool is to test the water with an iron kit. This is done in order to ensure that there is, in fact, an iron problem that needs fixing. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, you could always take a sample of your water to your local pool supply store to have it tested there.
If there are more than 0.2 parts per million present in the water, you will need to go about removing the iron. When the content is more than this, it will begin staining your tiles and turning the water cloudy.
Step Two: Shock The Pool Water
Next, you will have to shock the water of your swimming pool. There are various forms and types of shock that can be purchased – this is all down to your preference. However, it is important to note that different pool materials require different types of shock.
In order to understand which type of shock is suitable for your swimming pool, it is important that you read the instruction label at the back of the package. You could also simply ask for help at your local pool supply store.
Afterward, you can treat the water with a clarifier in order to reduce the cloudy appearance. You would normally allow the water to sit for between 6 and 8 hours after adding these chemicals. During this period, you can go about scrubbing the walls of your pool in order to remove any iron that may be stuck between the tiles.
Step Three: Add a Flocculent
Now it is time to remove the iron in the water. In order to do this, you should add a flocculent – this is a substance that combines all the particles in your pool and settles them on the floor. This makes it incredibly easy to simply collect the iron using an underwater vacuum.
It is important to note that you will need to backwash your pool filter before adding this substance. If you forget to do this, the filter will be jammed by the sludge that collects.
Step Four: Remove the Sludge on Your Pool Floor
Now that the flocculent has combined all of the iron in your water and settled it on the pool floor, you can set up your underwater vacuum and begin collecting the sludge. You may notice that the particles disperse into the water after a few swipes of the vacuum – for this reason, you should take this step very slowly in order to remove everything.
During this process, a lot of your pool water will also be removed. In order to maintain the water level, use a garden hose to fill the pool with clean water while you vacuum the sludge away.
Maintaining Your Swimming Pool’s Iron Levels
Once you have the iron levels under control, here is how to maintain them.
Step One: Ensure That Your Pool’s pH Remains Between 7.2 And 7.6
If you wish to prevent any staining from occurring, you should ensure that the pH levels of your pool remain between 7.2 and 7.6 at all times. pH tester kits can be purchased from any swimming pool supply store.
Step Two: Conduct a Partial Water Change
If you wish to prevent iron levels from rising again, it is very important that you monitor the water of your pool. This can be done using the iron tester kit that we referred to earlier. If the levels ever rise above 0.2 PPM, you will need to add a flocculent. On the other hand, if the levels rise above 0.5 PPM, you should conduct a partial water change.
Conclusion
Iron is found naturally in pool water. In order to prevent damage, in the long run, you should go about removing this iron when the levels increase too much. To do this, you can use chlorine and a flocculent. The flocculent will gather the iron and settle it on the pool floor. From there, you can simply use an underwater vacuum to remove the sludge.