Keeping a pool clean and problem-free isn’talways easy.A lot of different problems canarise with an in-groundpool. One of the lesscommon issues is bubbles or foam in thewater. A foamypool is unsightly, and it is alsoan indication that extra cleaning steps maybeneeded. If you trust your pool care services toexperts like our techniciansat Pool Works, it’san easy fix, since you can give us a call to getrid ofpool bubbles.
What causes poolfoam?
Diagnosing the cause of pool foam can be amatter of trialand error, since there are anumber of possible causes. A very rare causeis aprank, in which someone pours some typeof detergent in the pool. It’s not avery funnyjoke, since removing foam in that type ofcirc*mstance can becostly. For instance, itmay be necessary to quickly drain and refill thepool,as a way of addressing the problem. Thefollowing is information about the morecommon causes of a foamy or bubbly pool:
Lotions and oils in the water
When swimmers get into yourswimmingpool wearing lotions and oils, theresidue from those products cancomeoff in the pool. Residue from hair careproducts such as mousse and hairsprayas well as deodorant, makeup, and bodylotions can also get into thepool. Whenagitated by splashing and swimming, theoils and lotions in thewater can froth up.If swimmers use waterproof products, ithelps to preventfoaming.
A chemistryimbalance
If chemicals and substances in thepoolbecome out of balance, one potentialresult is foamy water. Soft waterwith lowcalcium hardness is prone to foam up.Cheap pool chemicals can also betheculprit.
Ineffective algaetreatments
When algaecide treatments areappliedincorrectly, one potential result isfoaminess in the pool. Even highqualitycopper-based and silver-basedalgaecides will cause foamy pool water,if too much is applied.
A combination ofcauses
It’s often the case that severalissuesare the cause of a foamy pool. If there isan inadequate amount of algaetreatment combined with air in the waterreturn line, it will usually result infoamypool water. Also, if there are algaecidesin the pool but the pool filteris clogged,the water will become foamy.
Tips for preventing pool foam
Asking swimmers to take a shower beforeswimming may not bea popular request, but itcan help prevent foam in the pool. Anotherpreventionstrategy is to maintain anappropriate hardness level in the water,between 200and 400 parts per million (ppm).More pool foam prevention tips follow:
·Use algaecides that are non-copper and non-silverbased. Also, look for “non-foaming” in theproduct description and don’t usetoo much.
·Check pool feeder lines routinely, to make surenoair is getting into them.
How to get rid of pool foam
Your method for getting rid of pool foamdepends on thecause. If algaecide is causingbubbling, for example, you can just wait a fewdays to give the product time to completelyenter the water. You can speed theprocess upby skimming the foam off the pool surface.More ways to get rid ofpool foam follow:
·Using test strips, check the chemicals to be surethey are properly balanced.
·Check pH and alkalinity levels in the pool to seeifthey need to be adjusted. Alkalinity should be100 to 150 ppm and pH shouldmeasurebetween 7.4 to 7.6
·If the above-mentioned suggestions don’t work,shockthe pool at 1 pound per chlorine or non-chlorine shock per 10,000 gallons ofwater.
·Finally, as a last-ditch effort, purchase anti-foamchemicals to the water. This is the best solutionif you’re in a hurry to getrid of the foam, aswell.
Contact Pool Works
Whenever problems arise, you can always callon the expertsat Pool Works. We can get rid ofpool foam for you plus take care of all ofyourpool issues.
