How To Remove Calcium Deposits From Pool Tiles

Amber Sohail
6 min readJul 30, 2023

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Do You Notice Calcium Deposits On The Pool Tile? If Yes, It’s Important To Learn How To Remove Calcium Deposits From Pool Tiles.

According To Pool And Hot Hub Alliance, About 10.4 Million Residential And 309,000 Public Pools Existed Throughout The United States.

Swimming Pool Maintenance Can Be Quite Challenging Despite How Enjoyable It Is To Use If You Neglect The Maintenance Of Your Pool For A Long Time, It Leads To Calcium Buildup.

Is Calcium Buildup A Problem?

Yes, Calcium Buildup Causes Problems. It Leads To Health Issues Such As Eye And Skin Irritation And Also Causes Damage To The Pool And Pool Equipment. If Calcium Buildup Is Not Treated Promptly, It Settles At The Bottom Of The Pool And Ruins The Pool Floor, Forcing You To Rebuild It. This Needs A Huge Expense, But You Don’t Want That.

Let’s Suppose Your Pool Filter System Stops And Needs Repair. You Are Worried About What Happened And Why. The Answer Is That Pool Filters Are Designed For Removing Bugs And Leaves, Not For Dealing With Hard Calcium Deposits. When Calcium Deposits Run Through The Filter With Water, It Will Slow Down Or Stop The System From Working.

Types Of Calcium Buildups:

Calcium Buildups Appeared In Different Forms Such As Rough Spots And Cloudy Discoloration. Their Formation Caused Due To Several Factors Such As High PH Levels, Hard Water, And Poor Water Circulation.

All The Calcium Deposits Do Not Equally Create In The Pool. Calcium Deposits Occur In Different Forms, Each Has Its Own Characteristics And Treatment Methods.

Calcium Carbonate: If Calcium Deposits Are In The Form Of A Thin Film That Builds In Layers And Leaves Behind Residues, Called Calcium Carbonate. This Type Of Calcium Deposit Is White And Flaky And Easily Cleaned Through Regular Cleaning.

Calcium Silicate: If Calcium Deposits In The Form Of Sharp, Crystallized, And Sandy Particles Are Called Calcium Silicate. It Is Whitish-Gray And Required Intensive Cleaning To Clean. It Produces By High Calcium And PH Levels In The Water.

Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum): If Calcium Is Deposited In The Form Of Crusty, White, Or Grayish Buildup On Pool Surfaces, Called Gypsum. It Is Caused By Calcium Combined With Sulfate, Which Is Present In Water Sources. This Condition Is Found In Areas With Hard Water.

Efflorescence: When Calcium-Containing Water Moves Through The Grout Or Mortar And Causes Efflorescence Condition. It Appeared In The Form Of A White And Powdery Substance.

How To Identify Calcium Buildup On Pool Tile

It’s Important To Know How To Identify Calcium Buildup In Your Pool. There Are Certain Clear Signs That Help You To Identify It.

  1. Any White, Scaly Residues On The Surfaces Of Your Tiles Or Along The Waterline.
  2. Any Cloudiness Or Discoloration On Your Tiles May Be A Cause For Problems.
  3. You Can Also Put One Or Two Drops Of Muriatic Acid On The Affected Pool Tiles. After Dropping, If It Produces Foam Then It’s Calcium Carbonate Deposits, While If It Doesn’t Produce Foam Then It’s Calcium Silicate Buildup.

Remember, Before Cleaning You Must Have The Right Information And Skills To Perform This Task.

Necessary Tools And Materials:

When You Are Going To Remove Calcium Deposits From Pool Tiles, Ensure That You Have All The Necessary Materials And Tools.

Tools Include:

  • Pool Brush With Stiff Bristles For Scrubbing Away The Calcium Deposits
  • Plastic Scraper For Gently Removing Away Any Large Or Stubborn Deposits
  • Pressure Washers For Blasting Away Calcium Deposits
  • Pool Vacuums For Removing Any Loose Calcium Debris
  • Pumice Stone For Gently Buffing Away Calcium Deposits
  • Professional Pool Nets For Removing Pool Debris

Materials Include:

  • White Vinegar
  • Tile Cleaner
  • Muriatic Acid

Remember, It’s Important To Take Safety Measures, Such As Wearing Protective Gear Such As Gloves And Goggles While Handling Chemical Cleaning Solutions.

Remove Debris From The Pool

Before Starting The Cleaning Of Pool Tiles, Remove Debris From The Pool Such As Leaves, Grass, Flies, And Any Dead Algae. For An Effective Pool Cleaning Experience, We Highly Recommend The Professional Pool Nets For Cleaning Available At Amazon. Because These Nets Come With A Wide Mouth That Is Specifically Designed For Pool Cleaning.

For All Pool Users, We Highly Recommend Utilizing A Pool Vacuum As An Effective Method To Maintain A Debris-Free Pool. Because This Task Can Be Boring And Time-Consuming But You Can Easily Save Time And Effort With An Automatic Pool Vacuum Available At Amazon. A Click Of A Button Can Ensure That Your Pool Is Kept Clean Every Day. Regular Usage Can Also Prevent Any Stain Buildup On Your Pool Tiles.

How To Remove Calcium Deposits From Pool Tiles:

If There Are Calcium Deposits In Your Pool Tiles, You Can Remove Them Through Different Methods Of Cleaning Such As Chemical Cleaning, Natural Cleaning, Or Mechanical Cleaning Methods.

Chemical Cleaning Solutions:

Chemical Cleaning Solutions At Amazon Are A Popular Choice. These Solutions Are Non-Toxic Agents That Effectively Break Down The Calcium Deposits, Without Damaging Pool Tiles And The PH Level Of Water. To Use These Solutions:

  • Firstly, Lower The Water In Your Pool
  • Remove The Thickest Crust By Gently Cracking
  • Apply The Solution To The Affected Tile And Weight For A Few Minutes.
  • Use The Scrubbing Brush Or Pad To Remove The Layer Of Calcium Deposits.
  • Repeat This Process Until All Deposits Are Removed.
  • Finally, Apply A Sealer To Protect From Future Buildup Of Calcium.

Always Follow The Manufacturer’s Instructions Carefully For Safety Purposes.

Natural Cleaning Methods:

To Remove Calcium Deposits From Pool Tiles, You Can Use A Mixture Of Water And White Vinegar Or Lemon Juice. Gently Spray This Solution On Affected Areas And Scrub With A Cleaning Brush.

These Natural Items Contain Acidic Properties That Can Dissolve The Deposits, But Remember That They Do Not Work For Intensive Calcium Buildup.

Mechanical Cleaning Technique:

If You Are Dealing With Heavy Calcium Buildups Such As Calcium Sulfate, There Are Few Mechanical Methods To Remove Them. You Can Use A Pumice Stone/Pool Stone Or Pressure Washing.

Here Are Guidelines About The Use Of Pumice Stone:

  • Wet The Affected Area Of The Pool Tile.
  • Wet Pumice Stone Gently Rubs Against The Calcium Deposits In Circular Motions.
  • After Rinsing The Tile, Remove The Loose Debris With The Use Of A Pool Brush.
  • Repeat This Process Until The Calcium Deposits Are Removed.
  • Finally, Rinse The Tile Thoroughly With Water And Let It Dry.

Preventing Future Calcium Buildup

To Avoid The Formation Of Calcium Buildup On Pool Tiles, It’s Essential To Monitor And Maintain The Pool’s Chemistry Regularly. Well-Balanced Water Chemistry Minimized The Calcium Precipitation. However, Regular Brushing And Cleaning Of The Pool Tiles Will Prevent Any Deposits From Accumulating Over Time.

It’s Also Essential To Maintain Water Hardness And PH Levels To Prevent From Influence The Formation Of Calcium Deposits.

When Do You Need To Hire A Professional?

If The Above-Listed Methods Do Not Work For Removing The Pool Scale, It’s Likely That You Have A Severe Case That Needs Professional Attention. We Suggest That You Can Hire A Professional Pool Company To Come And Remove The Calcium Using A Process Called Bead Blasting (Sometimes Called Pressure Washing).

This Process Is Different From Washing A Car. In This Process, Professional Companies Use A Compressor To Blast Sand, Beads, Or Other Materials At High Speed To Remove Calcium Deposits From Pool Tiles.

This Method Quickly Scrapes Away Calcium Buildup Without Wasting Your Time And Effort. Most Professional Companies Use Magnesium Sulfate To Remove The Calcium From Your Pool Tiles.

Remember, This Method Can Be Quite Expensive, So The Best Way To Remove Calcium Buildup Is On Your Own And Maintain Your Pool To Prevent Future Scaling.

Additional Tips For Pool Tile Maintenance

After Cleaning Of Calcium Buildup, Some Preventive Measures Are Necessary To Keep Clean Pool Tiles.

  • Use A Pool Cover To Reduce Water Evaporation, When Water Evaporates, Calcium Become Concentrated.
  • Try To Drain Pool Water, Which Reduces The PH Level Of The New Water. This Is Important If Your Pool Is Directly Exposed To Sunlight.
  • Removing And Preventing Calcium Buildup Is Important For Both The Appearance And Functionality Of Your Pool.
  • Maintenance Of Your Pool Regularly Will Help You To Keep The Water Clean And Sparkling.

Conclusion

Maintaining The Beauty And Durability Of Your Pool Requires Regular Removal Of The Calcium Deposits From Pool Tiles. This Can Be A Difficult Or Daunting Task For Pool Owners, But The Advice And Methods Provided In This Guide, Help You To Remove And Prevent Calcium Buildups.

The Removal And Maintenance Of Calcium Buildups Highly Improve The Appearance Of The Pool And Extend Its Lifespan.

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Amber Sohail
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Professional Social Media Manager || content writer || Facebook Ads Professional and graphic designer at (ambersohail.com)