Just as hard water impacts the plumbing in the house it can also impact your swimming pool. Hard water impacts the pool, the swimming pool service contractors from Express Pool Care explain.

Why is there a calcium build up in my pool?

The calcium build up at the water line in the pool is much the same as the bathtub ring in the tub. It is also akin to the build up you see on your glass shower door. Scale build up on the pool is much like scale build up on the shower door — you don’t really notice it until it’s unavoidable.

When water evaporates, calcium crystals form along the surface of the pool plaster and leave deposits — much like soap scum in a bathtub. Calcium scale occurs when the water calcium hardness is higher than 400 parts per million (ppm); water hardness is triggered by high alkalinity, high water temperatures and high pH. When your pool contractor is at your home testing the water and performing maintenance, he will check the calcium hardness and add chemicals to address potential build up if necessary.

How can you prevent calcium scale build up

We will test the water chemical balances on each service visit. To address calcium hardness he will:

  • Add a sequestering agent to keep calcium from turning into waterline deposits
  • If your pool is prone to calcium build up your pool contractor will avoid using calcium hypochlorite shock
  •  Your pool contractor will use a clarifier that seeks out particles and clumps them so they can be filtered out

How will the calcium scale be removed?

After the calcium hardness has been addressed and leveled out, your pool contractor will remove the scale build up with muriatic acid, or dry acid. He will lower the water levels to assure the cleaning agents don’t get into the water and contaminate it. He will sponge on the acid to remove the build up and will use a putty knife or pool wire brush to remove stubborn scale.

When you work with a pool service contractor he will assure your pool water stays in balance and you won’t be faced with calcium build up.