How to Clean a Green Swimming Pool?

What happens if for some reason your pool has turned green? You have to clean it. Here is How to Clean a Green Swimming Pool.
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Pool Filter Cartridges

Green Pool

A swimming pool in your backyard is indeed a dream come true. You can take a dip whenever you feel like it. Swimming is great exercise and is relaxing too. However, being the owner of a swimming pool is not all fun and games. You also have to clean and maintain it. If you don't it will usually turn green.

There may be times when your pool water turns a murky green color. This usually happens when it has been left unused or hasn’t been maintained for a while. The green color is caused by algae growth in the water. This situation calls for a pool cleaning session. The good news is cleaning a green pool is not really that hard, but it does require some meticulous work. So let’s get to it and fix your pool!

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1. Cleaning the Pool Filters

   Before adding any chemicals, it is extremely important to check and clean the pool filter baskets and cartridges. Remove all the debris that may be clogging the filter like leaves, sticks etc. You may also want to backwash the system before you add the chemicals to the pool to remove any excess hidden debris; this is a critical first step as during this process, the filters will have to operate throughout.
   
   

2. Testing the Pool Water

   Once the water in the pool turns green, it is a clear indicator of zero chlorine content. Thus, you don’t need to check it. However, you do need to check the pH level. This is important as you will be shocking the pool and a too high pH level will make the water cloudy. The optimum pH level is approximately 7.2. You can use a pH level test kit or test strips to check. If the pH is high, add a gallon of muriatic acid to the water. It is okay if you add in a little extra. If the pH level is low, add sodium bicarbonate to the pool. Turn on the filter pump so the chemicals can circulate. After 4 hours, check the pH level again.
   
   

3. The Shocking Process

   Once the pool water has gained the desired pH level of about 7.2, it is time to shock it. This means chlorinating the water. For this, you can either add 10 gallons of liquid chlorine to the water or 5 pounds of granular chlorine i.e. calcium hypo-chloride. Keep the pool pump on and distribute the chlorine evenly on the surface of the water. Let the pump operate till all the chlorine level measures between 1.0 and 3.0 parts per million (ppm). It is also a good idea to add an algaecide to prevent algae infestation in the future. Add the algaecide a few hours after the chlorine has been properly circulated.
   
   

4. Brushing and Filtering

   After the chemicals have circulated in the pool for about 24 hours, you will see that the green color of the pool has disappeared. However, cloudiness in the pool water is normal and expected. This will go away with brushing and filtration over the next few days. If you see any green spots on the walls or the bottom of the pool, you will need to scrub them off. After 24 hours of circulation, backwash the filter again.
   
   

5. Monitoring the Pool

   Once all the debris has been removed, the stains scrubbed and the water circulated for enough time, your swimming pool will regain its crystal blue hue. No matter how inviting this may seem, it is important to wait for a few more days before you decide to take a dip. Let the filters run for a few days on their regular schedule and keep a close watch to check if algae start rebuilding again. If this happens, you may have to repeat the shocking process again.
   
   

6. Checking the Level of Chemicals

   Watching for algae rebuild is not all that you should do. You also need to check the chemical levels of the water before you decide to jump into the pool. There is no harm in doing this a couple of times before you plan for a dip.
   
   

Since cleaning a pool can be a long process, it is advisable to maintain it in a proper condition. Checking the chlorine level of the water and cleaning the Pool filter cartridges regularly will help. You can also add in a water clarification solution to keep the water clean and free of algae.

Enjoy     
Richard