The Best Solution for Removing Metals from Pool Water – For Good
Metals and pool water are not a good combination. Oxidized metals in your pool will lead to harsh stains along the floors and walls. If the problem is bad enough, the contaminated water will even stain hair and nails.
No one wants to get out of a pool looking green.
The first question customers ask us is, “How did metal get in my pool in the first place?”
The second question customers ask us is, “How do you remove metals in pool water?”
Family Pool Maintenance is here to answer these questions. By the end of this article, you’ll not only get tips on removing metals, but you’ll also know how to prevent them from entering your pool entirely.
What Metals Commonly Affect Pools?
All naturally sourced water contains some minerals and metals. This is often a good thing. The right balance of minerals makes water taste good and can provide health benefits (take fluoride, for example). Other minerals, however, should be removed before entering your pool or drinking water system.
These four metals are common culprits for pool stains:
- Copper: This metal will turn your pool green. Think the color of the Statue of Liberty, which is covered in thin copper sheets.
- Iron: This metal will turn your pool rusty brown, green, or black.
- Silver: This metal will stain your pool and pool equipment black.
- Manganese: This metal will lead to a purple hue.
The most common pool metals are copper and iron, so we’ll focus on strategies for removing these specific metals.
How Do Metals Enter the Pool?
Metal contamination is most commonly caused by the water you use to fill your pool. This is especially true for pools that rely on well water. Well water is filtered less than city water. Of course, even city water can carry metals if the water system is old and uses rusty piping.
Metals might also be introduced to the pool through old pool equipment. A rusty pump, heater, or pipework can lead to metallic water. This is not a common occurrence for modern pools since many parts are now manufactured out of plastic. But it’s worth checking your equipment if you can’t discover the source of the pool metals.
Finally, some cheaper algaecides contain copper. Using too much of these products to kill algae can lead to metal-related staining.
How to Detect Metals in Your Pool?
Metals will not be visible when you first fill the pool with water. Don’t expect small nuggets of iron to come through your water pump. The metals will be dissolved, invisible to the human eye. Stains will start to appear only once chlorine is added. The chlorine causes a chemical process called oxidation, aka rusting. Chemical imbalances can lead to accelerated rust.
Note that oxidation will not always result in a visible change in the water. Sometimes a chemical test is needed. Family Pool Maintenance recommends a chemical test because diagnosis by sight can lead to incorrect conclusions. For example, greenish water can be the result of copper or algae. Only a test will be able to definitively determine the root cause.
How to Remove Metals in Pool Water?
1. Treat the Water
One method of removing metals from pool water is to shock the pool and let the oxidized metals rise to the surface. The rust can easily be vacuumed out of the pool. You can also buy products that remove metals from the pool.
Family Pool Maintenance recommends CuLator Metal Eliminator and Stain Preventers.
Product Description: Patented CuLator Ultra 4.0 removes and eliminates stain-causing metals in swimming pools to non-staining levels. CuLator Ultra 4.0 removes 4 ppm total dissolved metals from your pool water, which prevents pool staining and water discoloration. The goal is to have 0.0 metals in your water. CuLator eliminates stain-causing metals like copper, iron, manganese, and lead from pool water.
2. Filter Metals Before They Enter the Pool
Treating water for metal using additives will always be a short-term solution if the water source is contaminated. That’s why many pool owners choose to install a metal filter. These filters will remove metals before the water ever touches the pool structure. A high-capacity filter can process up to 20,000 gallons of water before requiring a filter replacement.
Family Pool Maintenance recommends FillFast Pool & Spa products from Periodic Products.
Product Description: FillFast uses patented CuLator Filters to remove high levels of particulate and ionic stain-causing metals from swimming pool water. FillFast can be used on city water or well water. FillFast is also great when used to top off your pool and spa water with a single hose. FillFast Pool & Spa removes up to 90% of stain-causing metals like iron, copper, and manganese.
Try out some of these metal-removing solutions if you notice ugly stains along your pool walls. If you aren’t able to find the root of the problem, call Family Pool Maintenance. Our friendly team will help you remove metal in your pool water and get you back to enjoying the outdoors.
