Oh, you balanced the pH, threw in some shock, and brushed the walls. You stood back and admired your work, feeling smug. But what’s that? Brown stains creeping along the steps? Gray blotches on the floor?
Yeah, about that. Metals don’t care how hard you scrub if you keep ignoring them. Let’s talk about the mistakes you’re making that keep those stains hanging around.
Mistake One: Pretending Metals Don’t Exist
You’ve heard of iron, copper, and manganese, but you assume they magically disappear when you shock the pool. Spoiler: they don’t. They dissolve in water and cling to your surfaces when the conditions are just wrong enough.
Fix: Test for metals before and after adding any fill water. If they’re high, use a metal sequestrant to keep them suspended and harmless.
Mistake Two: Shocking Without Checking
You toss in chlorine like you’re fighting a war. News flash: high chlorine can oxidize metals, turning them into those ugly stains you hate.
Fix: If metals are present, avoid slamming chlorine levels. Use a metal remover first, then slowly raise chlorine.
Mistake Three: Ignoring Source Water
You think it’s just the pool water that matters, but what about your hose? Municipal and well water often carry metals right into your pool, and you don’t even notice.
Fix: Test your source water before filling or topping up. If it’s loaded with metals, treat it or filter it before it hits your pool.
Mistake Four: Forgetting To Maintain Sequestrants
You added a metal remover once last year and called it good. Hate to break it to you, but sequestrants degrade over time and need to be replenished.
Fix: Add metal sequestrant regularly, especially after backwashing, rain, or adding fresh water.
Your “Stop The Stains” Checklist
Here’s how to finally outsmart those stains:
- Test for metals in pool and source water monthly
- Use metal sequestrant as part of regular maintenance
- Avoid shocking if metals are present
- Treat source water if it contains metals
- Brush and vacuum regularly to prevent buildup
Your pool isn’t cursed. You just ignored the one thing quietly staining your hard work. Start paying attention to metals and watch those stains finally fade away. Then go ahead and brag, because this time you earned it.
