Swimming Pool Acid Wash Tips
Doing
an Acid Wash for the first time can be challenging but there are some things
you can do to make it go smoothly. The first thing you need to do is to assess
the pool to see if an Acid Wash is even the proper thing to do. By this I mean,
maybe the pool needs more than an Acid Wash and will need to be resurfaced.
If
the plaster has cracks and chips in it already, an Acid Wash will make things
worse. There will be more chipping and bigger chunks of plaster will start to
come off once the pool is refilled. A Pebble Tec pool with pebbles coming off
or cracks is a sign that an Acid Wash should not be done. This will make the
Pebble Tec surface worse and not better.
You
also want to be careful not to drain a pool down if the outside air temperature
is above 90 degrees. This can also cause the plaster to chip, but not until you
refill the pool. Sun exposure at that temperature will weaken the old plaster
and the chipping will appear over time. So it would be optimal to schedule the
Acid Wash offseason when the weather is mild.
The
Acid Wash mix is the most important element of the Acid Wash. Here are the
products that you need for a successful acid wash. You will need 31.45%
Muriatic Acid mixed with water in a 2 to 1 water to acid mix. Bio-Dex Plaster
White ‘n Brite to help thicken up the acid solution so that it runs smoothly
down the walls of the pool and to reduce the acid fumes. Bio-Dex AquaDex 50
Stain-Off which helps to remove iron and other metal staining from the surface.
If you use this Acid Wash mix you will have great results and the plaster or
Pebble Tec will look as good as new!
You
can prep the pool to remove some of the calcium build up on the tile with the
Bio-Dex Protect-All-Supreme which will require you to raise the water level
over the pool tile calcium line, pour in 1 or 2 gallons of the
Protect-All-Supreme into the pool and then run the pool for 24-48 hours. In
most cases this is probably not something that most customers will opt to do
since almost all of the acid washes I have done were in pools that needed to be
drained straight away. But it is a part of the treatment and something that you
can do as the first step.
Here
are the detailed instructions from Bio-Dex on how to do an Acid Wash the
Bio-Dex way:
I
modified their method because it calls for mixing everything in a 5-gallon
bucket and the pouring it down the sides. But I have always done my acid washes
using a Water Pot as I find this to be the easiest and most effective method.
So in the video, I show you the Watering pot mixture also.
Acid
Wash Tips:
Always
wear protective gear as the fumes and acid are hazardous.
The The first thing you should know when you go to do an Acid Wash is that the results
cannot be predicted. I can look at a pool now and pretty much predict the
outcome. But each pool is different, and results vary.
You
also, do not want to drain a pool when the water table is high- basically if you
have 3-6 inches of rain coming your way, do not drain a pool as it could
potentially pop-out. You also don’t want to drain the water into an area around
the pool. The ground can absorb the water, and this can also create a situation
where the pool can pop-out. This is rare and something you really don’t need to
worry about. You of course only want to Acid Wash a plaster of Pebble Tec pool
and never acid wash a Fiberglass pool.
If
the pool has heavy calcium staining on the surface, organic and metal staining
can be trapped under the calcium. You can check for calcium before draining the
pool simply by feeling the pool surface.
If
it feels very rough like sandpaper, chances are there is a lot of calcium
build up on the surface. Before doing the Acid Wash you will need to power sand
the pool surface. You can rent a power sander at Home Depot and then sand down
the entire pool surface prior to the Acid Wash. During the Acid Wash if you
notice the staining is not lifting off, take some sandpaper and rub the area.
Then pour the acid mix over the area again. If the stain lifts then you know
there is a coat of calcium build-up on the surface and you will have to power
sand the entire pool.
Never
use just straight acid on the surface. This will etch and damage the surface
and will create streaking of the plaster. If the stain is not coming off
calcium is probably the issue and not the acid mix.
The
basin in the deep end is very critical. I always add Soda Ash to the basin and
leave the Sump Pump (Submersible Pump) running so that the acid running off the
walls does not pool up and stain the plaster. If this happens, once the pool is
filled you will see a discolored ring around the deep end of the pool. So, keep
the basin filled with Soda Ash or Baking Soda to neutralize the acid as it runs
into the deep end basin and out through the Sump Pump.
If
you follow these tips your Acid Wash will turn out great and your pool will
have a new lease on life.
YouTube Video Index: http://poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/03/swimming-pool-tips-reviews-how-to-video.html – A list of all of my videos.
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