ServicesAcid Washes
Acid Washes in Gold Canyon
An acid wash strips a very thin layer of stained, scaled plaster so the clean surface underneath shows again. We drain the pool, wash it by hand, neutralize the acid and refill. We also tell you straight when a wash will help and when it won't.
What an acid wash does, and when it makes sense
Plaster is porous. Over the years it soaks up stains from leaves, metals in the water and old algae, and hard water leaves gray-white scale on the walls and floor. Brushing and chemicals only reach so far. An acid wash takes off a thin skin of the surface, and the stains go with it.
That is also why we don't push it. Every wash uses up some plaster, and plaster only has so much thickness to give. Done when it's needed, a wash buys a tired surface more good years before replastering. Done too often, it shortens them. We look at your pool first and tell you which side of that line it's on.
Acid washes are for plaster and some pebble finishes. Vinyl liners and fiberglass need different care, and we'll say so when you call.
What the job includes
- 01
Draining the pool the right way
We pump the pool down and send the water where local rules allow, usually a sewer cleanout instead of the street. If you only need fresh water and no wash, our pool drain and refill service covers that on its own.
- 02
Keeping the plaster damp
We rinse the walls before we start and keep them wet as we go. Dry plaster takes acid unevenly and can end up streaked.
- 03
Washing one section at a time
We apply a diluted muriatic acid mix, brush it in and rinse it off before moving to the next section. Stubborn spots get a second pass. Light areas get less, so we don't take plaster we don't have to.
- 04
Neutralizing and removing the residue
The acid that collects in the deep end gets neutralized with soda ash, then pumped out, and the floor is rinsed clean. Nothing acidic goes back into your plumbing or your yard.
- 05
A close look while it's empty
An empty pool is the best time to spot cracks, loose tile, hollow plaster and worn fittings. We take photos of anything we find and show you before the water goes back in.
- 06
Refill and start-up balance
We restart the equipment and balance the new water. Fresh plaster is easy to damage with off-balance water in the first weeks, so this step matters.
Questions about Acid Washes?
Call(480) 534-9618Signs your pool may need an acid wash
Stains that brushing won't move
Brown, black or green patches that stay put after brushing and chlorine have likely set into the plaster.
Rough gray-white scale on the walls
Hard water leaves calcium deposits that feel like sandpaper. If the scale is only at the waterline, calcium removal and tile cleaning can often handle it without draining.
Clear water, dingy-looking pool
The water tests fine and you can see the drain, but the bottom still looks dirty. That points to the surface, not the water.
Marks left after a green pool
A pool that sat green for weeks can leave algae shadows behind. Green to clean recovery clears the water first. If the plaster stays marked after that, a wash is the usual next step.
How the day goes
- 1
A look before any water comes out
Tell us about the pool and the stains when you call. We set a time to see it, check the plaster and the type of staining, and give you a free quote. Nothing gets drained until you say go.
- 2
An early start
Draining a plaster pool in hard afternoon sun stresses the surface, so we start in the cooler morning hours and steer clear of the hottest summer weeks when we can.
- 3
Wash, neutralize, clean out
Once the pool is empty we wash it section by section, neutralize the runoff, pump it out and rinse the floor. Patio furniture and plants near the edge get moved or covered first.
- 4
Walk-through, then refill
Before the hose goes in, we walk you around the empty pool and show you what we washed and anything else we noticed. How long the refill takes depends on the pool size and your water pressure.
- 5
Balance and first-week care
When it's full, we balance the water and restart the pump and filter. The surface should be brushed daily for the first week, by you or by our weekly crew.
What moves the price
No two pools wash the same, so we quote after we've seen yours. The free quote spells out what's included, from draining to refill. That way you know the whole job before we start.
- Size and depth
- More surface means more acid, more labor and more water to drain and replace.
- How deep the stains go
- Light surface stains come off in one pass. Metal stains or years of built-up scale can take several passes or a different treatment.
- Plaster condition
- Thin or flaking plaster needs a lighter hand. Sometimes the honest answer is that a wash isn't worth the money on that surface, and we'll tell you.
- Extra work while it's empty
- Tile cleaning, filter cleaning or small fixes are easiest with no water in the way. They're optional and quoted separately, so you choose what gets done.
Acid wash questions we hear
How often should a pool be acid washed?
Only when it needs it. Each wash removes some plaster, so we'd rather keep your surface clean with brushing and steady water chemistry and save the wash for stains that won't come out any other way. Many pools go several years between washes.
Will an acid wash make my old plaster look new?
It will look a lot cleaner, but it won't fix cracks, etching or thin spots. If your plaster is close to the end of its life, we'll tell you before you spend money on a wash.
How long will my pool be out of use?
The drain, wash and start of the refill usually happen in one day. Refill time depends on your pool and your water pressure. Once the water is balanced, you can swim again, often within a day or two.
Is the acid safe for my yard and plants?
We neutralize the acid in the pool before any of it gets pumped out. We also keep runoff away from planters and gravel and rinse the deck around the pool when we're done.
How do I keep the stains from coming back?
Steady water chemistry does most of the work. Our weekly pool cleaning keeps it in check, with chemicals included in the monthly price. New customers get a free first month of weekly service. There's no contract, so you can cancel whenever you decide it's not for you.
Find out if a wash is the right fix
Tell us what the stains look like and roughly how old the plaster is. We'll come take a look and give you a straight answer along with your free quote.