How To Remove Iron From Swimming Pool Water

Iron can form in pool water by the addition of pollutants from your body to the water, either through swimming or sweating. These particles are then brought into the water by small chemical reactions, which create corroded iron deposits that are then drawn into your feet when you step in. This causes intense irritation, burning and aching upon contact and can also taint or discolor said pool. In this article, we’ll detail the best ways to take care of this annoying problem.

Here are some signs that your pool has too much iron in it:

• Rusty Sides – This is the main reason why people turn to professional iron removers. This type of rust is white or gray in nature and can be found all over your pool. It can also cause discoloration.
• Corroded Iron Stains on the Water Surface – This is more common on marble and on cement surfaces, but it can also happen on other surfaces, such as fiberglass. These corroded iron stains are also white or red in color, and they quite often leave a dark film after being gone for some time.
• Black Iron Stains on the Surface – This is often seen with vinyl liner pools. This black iron stain is quite nasty and it can be quite difficult to remove. It’s also hard to remove in a timely manner since it tends to absorb other impurities as time passes.

Risks Of Having Iron In Your Swimming Pool

It should be noted that iron is rather dangerous to humans. It can stain your pool and increase the risks of corrosion (https://homeguides.sfgate.com/stop-iron-staining-pool-90603.html). In addition, it can also cause discomfort while swimming and it can also cause severe health problems if consumed in large quantities.

Here’s how you can remove iron from swimming pool water

1. Use A Solid Iron Filter – There are a number of solid iron filters on the market, which are specifically designed to remove excess iron from water in a swimming pool. These filters are often used on gravity fed filtration systems, but you can also find them on other systems. The solid iron filter works by removing the excess iron particles and releasing it into another part of the system, where it will be stored for later release. The problem with this filter is that it can often release these particles back into the water if there is not enough pressure to move these particles out of your swimming pool. This causes water discoloration once again, as noted by Hunker.
2. Use A Liquid Iron Filter – A liquid iron filter is much harder to find. If you do find one, it will most likely be somewhat expensive. Their main use is similar to that of a solid iron filter. They both remove excess iron by filtering the water and then releasing it into another part of the system. The big difference between the two is that a solid iron filter can release it when there isn’t enough pressure whereas a liquid iron filter won’t release it until there is a significant change in pressure or flow.
3. Pool Chemicals That Remove Iron in Water – Most swimming pool chemical companies have a product specifically designed to remove iron from pools and it is often fairly inexpensive when compared to other options. You should be able to find this option in your local store and it should work just as well as a positive ionizer does.
4. Find The Source Of Your Iron – The first thing you want to do when attempting to remove iron from a swimming pool is to find where the iron in your pool is coming from. You may already know the source of the iron but if you don’t it can be hard to fix, according to Pool Xperts, iron in your pipes can come from rust, corrosion, or bad filters that allow particles to flow through the pipes. The particles then end up in your swimming pool water and cause yellowing and cloudiness. The next thing you want to do is find where the iron in your pool is coming from. When you find the source of the particles, it’s much easier to fix. If you are able to drain off all the water and then replace it with clean water without removing any of your pump or filter screens, this will remove most of the iron and other debris from your pool.
5. Powerwash – Powerwashing is one of the best ways to remove stains quickly and easily and it also works well on white streaks. Paint, silk screening and other unsightly paints can be removed using powerwashing and it’s an easy way to clean your pool. Just make sure you have the right yard equipment for the job.
6. Saltwater Clarifier Regeneration – Another option to remove stains is to clear out your saltwater pool with a saltwater clarifier regeneration cycle. Gravity drains to pull out and replace water. This is a great option for small, lightly stained pools with minimal debris. If you’ve cleared your pool of debris with a clarifier regeneration, this should remove most or all of your visible stains. However, it does not clear the pool of organics that caused the staining in the first place. For that reason, it is best to follow up a saltwater clarifier regeneration with regular backwashing to remove any remaining particles and organics from the bed of your pool.

Final Thoughts

The best way to remove iron stains from your pool is to find the source of the stain and fix it as soon as you can. Iron can make water cloudy and discolored, and it can also cause many other health problems so you definitely want to get rid of it as soon as possible. If you can’t find the source of the iron, there are a number of pool chemical treatments that will work fairly well. You should also remember that your filter will pull iron into it as it is cleaning the water in your swimming pool. For this reason, you should schedule regular filter maintenance so that they can be changed before they get full of iron and other particles. Iron is one of the most common stains in swimming pools because it’s so common in our environment.