Thursday, August 1, 2013

Tile Maintenance: Avoiding Scale Buildup





Scale deposits usually appear as white or gray patches on your pool tiles. Unbalanced pH levels can cause calcium carbonate to separate from the water and form these unsightly patches. Regular pool maintenance along with balancing the water can restore the health of your pool water and prevent future scale buildup. You can find most of the items you’ll need to prevent scale at a local pool store.  Follow these steps:

1.Test your total alkalinity level to make sure it falls between 80 and 120 ppm. Alkalinity works as a buffer to your pH and helps keep levels from fluctuating. Adjust this level before adjusting your pH

2.Keep your pH levels below acidic ranges. Test your pool water to make sure your pH levels remain between 7.2 and 7.6. Adjust by adding a pH balancer to the water.

3.Keep your calcium hardness level between 200 and 245 ppm; high levels increase the risk for scale. If you have too much, the easiest way to bring it down is to add soft water. You may also use a scale inhibitor.

4.Prevent scale buildup by following a pool maintenance schedule for cleaning and testing the balance of your water. Weekly testing will ensure your levels do not get too far out of hand to easily correct them.

5.Remove areas of scale buildup by scrubbing with a pool brush or a sponge and a tile cleaning product.