If you’ve ever had to cancel your plans for an evening swim or pool party due to an algae outbreak in the water, you know that it’s an extremely frustrating problem. In the previous articles in this series (see Parts 1, 2 & 3), we’ve explored reasons why algae accumulate in pools, how to recognize specific types of algae, and how to prevent future infestations. We’ve also listed necessary chemicals and other equipment needed to eradicate algae from the pool. This article, our last in the series, will take an in-depth look at the actual methods pool owners like yourself can employ to get rid of algae in your pool water.
Step-by-Step Algae Elimination Process
Once your pool has developed an algae problem, you should act quickly to take care of it before it gets out of control. If your pool has blue algae and you carefully follow the steps laid out in this plan, your pool water could be back to normal in just a few hours. Yellow or black algae may take several days of patient, tenacious treatment in order to be completely eradicated.
1. Thoroughly Brush the Pool’s Surfaces
The amount of brushing required will vary depending on the severity of your pool’s algae problem. Yellow and black algae will normally require more vigorous brushing than blue algae. Keep up the brushing until you no longer see visible algae spots on your pool’s surfaces. You should even brush surfaces where you don’t visibly notice algae in case there are any spots of algae growth that are not yet large enough to detect with the naked eye.
2. Get Rid of Large Pieces of Debris in the Pool
Leaves, dirt, dust, and the like should all be removed from the pool. Rather than a small, handheld skimmer, you’ll need to take your large leaf net and run it through the pool water. You may be surprised to see the pool water start to look really dirty during this part of the process. Don’t be alarmed. That’s actually a good thing because it means that debris that’s sunk to the bottom of the pool is getting stirred up into the water so you can remove it.
3. Vacuum the Pool Water
The large leaf net will be able to get rid of bigger pieces of debris, but that will still leave plenty of tiny particles. That’s where a quality pool vacuum will come in handy. A word of caution is in order. You must be very thorough in getting the large pieces of debris out of the pool before you vacuum. Otherwise, you could end up blocking up your filter and pipes with that large debris. A good rule of thumb is if you can clearly see to the bottom of the pool, it’s time to bring out the vacuum.
4. Test the Pool’s pH Level
After getting rid of the small and large debris from your pool, it’s time to test the water’s pH level. This will help you to determine if you need to add or subtract pH from your pool. If the level of pH in your pool is higher than 7.8, you’ll need to use a pH reducer like pH Minus to get it down to a safe level. In contrast, if the pool’s pH level is anywhere below 7.4, you’ll need to use a pH increaser, such as pH Plus to raise it. Only when the pH level is between 7.4 and 7.8 will you be able to get rid of the algae outbreak in your pool water.
5. Give the Pool a Shock Treatment
Chlorinating your water will help to kill any algae left in your pool after the rest of the steps you’ve already taken. You can use either powder or liquid chlorine. Liquid tends to be quicker at eliminating the problem. The chlorination process may need to be repeated if you don’t see the water clear up after a day or so. You could also add algaecide if you’re not seeing much of a difference in the appearance of the water.
6. Keep Your Pool Filter Running Around the Clock
If you run your pool filter continuously at the end of the process, you’ll likely see faster algae-fighting results. Make sure to backwash your filter daily to keep it in tip-top condition and avoid clogs.
Those are the necessary steps to getting rid of algae in your pool. Hopefully, by following them carefully, your blue, yellow, or black algae problem will soon be history. Then you can get back to making memories and relaxing in your backyard oasis.
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