So, you wake up one morning, and your swimming pool is green. You might have just bought a home with a pool, or you may be busy taking care of family members with both kids and pets. Either way, it’s probably not the first time this has happened to your pool, and it definitely won’t be the last. The question is, do you really know what your options are?
In this article, we’ll explore why it’s important to know how to clean a green swimming pool and exactly how long they usually take to clear up.
Nowadays, most people think of swimming pools; they think about chlorine or other chemicals that make the water safe for swimming. However, when most people think of a “pool,” they’re thinking of something filled with naturally pure and clear water. This is why it’s important to understand how pools are so much more than just water and chemicals and why you need to act fast when you have a green pool.
Algae is the reason your pool is green
The problem with a green swimming pool is that the water contains algae, which can quickly grow if left untreated, even one day longer than necessary. Now, if this happens to your pool, then it’s within your best interests to take action immediately before the algae become hardy and starts growing out of control. You’ll need to clean your pool, but how do you do that?
There are two ways to clean a swimming pool to remove algae.
The first way to clean a green pool is to use an algae scrubber. This type of cleaning device uses circulating water with some sort of filtering medium like sand and a scrubbing pad that you can move back and forth to clean algae off the sides as well as the bottom of your pool. While this method is extremely effective in cleaning pools, it does have its downsides. First, it’s expensive, especially if you opt for one that automatically cleans your pool or returns the water to you after it has passed through the filter. Second, if you have a particularly large pool then it might require more than one such device to effectively clean your whole pool in one go.
The second way to clean your green pool is to use chemicals. This is a faster method; however, it might not be as thorough as the first one. In this case, you’ll need a strong chemical like the one used by pool owners in a big hurry. This kind of cleaning agent is applied to your pool water, left alone for some time, and then drained out. The chemical kills off most of the algae, allowing you to drain the water while leaving behind some balance of chemicals that prevent further algae growth. Once done with this, you can refill your pool with fresh water to clear out whatever chemicals might still be in the circulation and filter systems.
How long does it take green pools to clear after being properly cleaned?
If you’ve already taken the proper steps described above, then there’s a good chance that your green swimming pool should clear up within 24 hours or a few days at most. However, if you left your pool untreated for an extended amount of time, you might need to replace some parts of your pool, such as the filter and possibly even the pump.
Green pools are not that uncommon when a new pool is first put into service. It’s almost a given as this serves as a sort of break-in period where the manufacturers have to make sure that their product will be up to the task for years to come. This means that there’s a chance that your pool will become green after you’ve just recently treated it with chemicals or put in additives like algaecide.
