How to Clean A Green Pool

The best cure for a green swimming pool is to never let it turn green in the first place. This means getting to know your pool and what it takes to keep the water clear throughout the year. Then, never letting up on the pool maintenance tasks that keep it from turning green.

But life happens and most swimming pools at some point in their lifetime will suffer from a serious bout of algae. When that happens you'll want to know how to clean up that green pool.

First, let's cover the worse case scenario. The pool is a deep dark green and has been sitting that way for an extended period, let's say weeks or over a month. In this case your best solution will probably be to do a drain and refill. There are some pool service companies that offer a "green to clean" service or you can do it yourself if you have access to a submersible pump and you have a clue of what you are doing. Be sure to check with your city or county to make sure you follow their regulations for draining a swimming pool, or risk being fined.

If you can look at the pool and think the pool water is salvageable, use the following guidelines to clear up the pool.

Remove Large Debris - using a deep pool leaf net, scoop as much large debris as possible from the bottom of the pool. This will stir up the water and temporarily make the pool look even worse. Don't try to vacuum the pool unless you can see the bottom. You don't want to inadvertently vacuum up some form of large debris that will clog up any of the underground plumbing.

Clean Filter after removing the large debris, as you wait for the pool to settle, clean or backwash the main pool filter. Good water circulation is a must during the process of cleaning a green pool, so you'll want to start out with a clean filter and monitor the filter pressure. When the filter pressure rises and water circulation decreases, it will be necessary to clean the filter again. Depending on the size of the main pool filter, it may need to be cleaned several times before the pool water clears up.

Run the Filter Until the Water Clears Up - with the large debris removed,a clean main filter, and good water circulation start up the pool equipment and let it run continuously until the pool water clears. This will take at least 24 hours and perhaps up to 72 hours. Remember, if the filter gets clogged it needs to be cleaned right away to keep the process headed in the right direction.

Superchlorinate - immediately after starting filtration, superchlorinate the pool water. Superchlorination is typically done with granular chlorine. Calcium Hypochlorite will work for most swimming pools and is not expensive. Dosage will depend on the size of the pool. For an average size pool of 20,000 gallons, 4 to 6 lbs would do the trick. Be sure to check with a local pool service professional or a local pool store for the appropriate shock product, proper dosage, and recommended application method for your swimming pool.

Clarifier - sometimes after clearing the pool water will still show signs of algae or the pool water will still be somewhat cloudy. If this is the case, use an algaecide that includes a clarifier and run the filter for another 24 hours. Algatec is one such product that has an excellent track record.

After following these steps, the foundation for cleaning up the green pool has been put in place. But remember, if the filter is not clean or is not working properly to provide excellent water circulation, the pool will not clear up. Continue to run the pool equipment and clean the pool filter until your green pool water is crystal clear once again.

 

 

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