Algae dust is a significant concern for pool owners. As algae grow, it releases a powdery substance that floats in the water and attaches to surfaces around the pool. This dust can be difficult to remove from your deck, furniture, and other parts of your home, but there are ways to eliminate this pesky problem.
In this blog post, I’ll share what you need to know about how to get rid of algae dust in pools so that you can enjoy your swimming season without worrying about keeping up with your maintenance! Algae dust is a fine, powdery film that contains high amounts of phosphate.
10 Steps to Follow on How to Get Rid of Algae Dust in Pool
Step One: Use Salt Water in Your Pool
There are special chemicals in pool salt that can kill off algae in many different ways. You can treat your pool with saltwater by purchasing a bag of table salt at your local grocery store, dissolving it in a bucket of warm water, and adding this mixture to your pool.
For large pools, this should be done twice a week for up to two months. If you have smaller pools, you can do this once a month for up to six months. You may need to repeat this process if algae returns, possibly after other forms of treatment or natural algae cycles wear off.
Step Two: Test Your Water and Adjust the Chlorine
Algae need water, heat, and sunlight to survive. So if you lower the chlorine in your pool and raise its pH level while maintaining a steady temperature and keeping it out of direct light, you can kill off algae on contact before it even has a chance to multiply or cause damage.
But if it does multiply, you will need to shock your pool by raising the chlorine level very high and then lowering it again in a short period. You should test your pool water for pH level before shocking. A chlorine shock product can be purchased at home supply stores, and you will need to follow the directions on the package very carefully.
Step Three: Acid Wash Your Pool
If algae remain after your first attempts at removing it, then you may want to try acid washing your pool. You should do this in the fall when your pool is not in use, and you should wear protective gear, including eye goggles and rubber gloves. Mix muriatic acid with water at a ratio of 1 part acid to 10 parts water.
Pour this mixture into your skimmer or directly into the pool near the edges. It would help if you then covered the pool to prevent fumes from escaping and getting into your lungs. You should allow the acid to sit overnight before allowing anyone back in the pool, and you will need to be careful as it can burn eyes and skin if touched.
Step Four: Try an Algaecide
If none of these steps work for you, or if all of them prove too expensive or time-consuming, then you may want to try an algaecide. There are several types of these chemicals available at home supply stores, and which one depends on what type of algae is in your water.
You should carefully follow the directions for adding it to your pool, as these chemicals can be dangerous if not used correctly. You should then test your pool at least once a week, adjusting the levels of chemicals as needed to ensure that the algae don’t come back.
Step Five: Drain Your Pool
If you would like to rid your pool of algae forever but aren’t up for any of these maintenance steps, you can drain your pool. You will need to drain the water down to at least two feet below your skimmer opening or one foot below your return fittings, whichever is more profound, and you should use a pump to remove it.
It would help if you were sure that you could refurbish your pool yourself before doing this, as once it is drained, there’s not much that can be done except fill it back up and start over. Next, drain the water through a garden hose, taking special care to minimize splashing, as this can release algae spores into the air, where they will form new colonies when exposed to sunlight.
Step Six: Refurbish Your Pool
Now that you have drained your pool, you will need to refill it with fresh water. This water should be balanced with the addition of new chemicals so that they are not reintroduced into your pool when the water is replaced.
You can buy this at home supply stores or ask for pool refurbishment services if you would prefer to have a professional handle this for you. Your pool should be refilled to its regular level, and you should clean any scum lines that may have formed around the edge while it was empty. This will help in how to get rid of algae dust in pools.
Step Seven: Prevent Algae in the Future
Regularly maintain your pool so that algae do not have a chance to take hold or spread. Test your water regularly for pH levels, chlorine, and acidity to ensure that everything is balanced.
It would help if you also brushed your pool regularly using a soft bristle brush or a vacuum cleaner with a long hose attachment, as this will remove algae spores from the walls. Another option is to use an algaecide periodically if you find too many algae for you to handle.
Step Eight: Clean Your Filter
You will also need to clean your pool filter regularly. This is usually once a week or whenever you notice that the pressure on your pump has increased. You should turn off the power and open the housing lid before moving, brushing, or vacuuming the algae from the grids.
Be careful when cleaning these parts, as they are quite fragile. You should also make sure that you don’t lose any small plastic or metal parts, as these can be put back in to allow for later reassembly.
Step Nine: Clean Your Skimmer
It would help if you cleaned your skimmer basket once a week or whenever you noticed that it was full of debris. You will need to remove the lid and pull out the basket so that you can brush or vacuum any algae from inside. You should also make sure that your skimmer is in good working order and that it is tightly sealed to your pool wall.
If there is a gap, fill it with caulk as this will keep bugs, leaves, and other debris from falling in and reduce evaporation. You can also buy a mesh cover at home supply stores to place over the top of your skimmer opening. These steps should help you in learning how to get rid of algae dust in pools.
Step Ten: Use a Pool Cover
Finally, you should consider investing in a pool cover if you find too much effort to keep algae from growing in your pool. The cover will reduce evaporation and ensure that leaves, bugs, and other debris do not fall into your pool.
You can also use it to decrease water loss due to sublimation; this is where the pool cover turns to ice instead of evaporating because the surrounding air temperature is below freezing. Make sure that you obliterate the pool cover when swimming so that no one accidentally falls in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Safe to Swim in Pool with Dead Algae?
Dead algae are not dangerous to swim in, but they should be removed before using the pool. A few algae can actually help filter out larger particles that would otherwise cause clogging and reduce water quality. Dead algae will decompose and eventually break down into harmless chemicals over time.
Can You Vacuum Algae Out of a Pool?
A pool is a large body of water such as a swimming pool, lido, or spa. Algae is a type of plant that grows in pools and contains the chlorophyll necessary for photosynthesis. Algae also make the water green by absorbing sunlight and turning it into oxygen.
When algae accumulate too much in your pool, it can cause unsightly stains on the walls and flooring of your pool. It can also grow to be quite thick in certain areas, making cleaning difficult because you have to reach deep down to clean around the edges where algae might be hiding from sight.
Does a Sand Filter Remove Algae?
A sand filter is a type of filter that uses the force of gravity to remove water from your pool. It does not remove algae because it removes the particles, not the nutrients in the water. However, you can use a clarifier or a carbon block to remove these unwanted particles when you have an algae problem.
Will Shock Get Rid of Algae?
Shock treatment is a term that refers to using an electric current to kill unwanted algae in a body of water.
Some types of algae need more energy than other types, so using electricity kills the weaker type and leaves the stronger type alive. Shock treatment may also be used to help control algal blooms caused by the overpopulation of planktonic organisms.
Conclusion
There are many different types of algae. Green algae are the most common type in pools because they can overgrow and reproduce at a high rate, but blue-green algae thrive in warmer water.
With all these variations, you may be wondering how to get rid of algae dust from your pool before it grows out of control. Well, thankfully, we have some great tips for helping you do just that! In this blog, we’ve laid out a few tips on how to get rid of algae dust in pools.
