- [Narrator] A few bubbles here and there
in your pool are totally fine.
But when all of those bubbles stay on the water
and start to accumulate,
well, you've got a problem, pool foam.
Don't worry, pool foam is actually really easy
to get rid of and even easier to prevent, check it out.
(upbeat music)
So what causes pool foam?
Well, pool foam bubbles are made up of more than just air.
Foam in your pool usually means
there's a high organic load in the water.
In other words, you've got more organic material
than can be dissolved by your sanitizer
and this causes the water to quote unquote, thicken.
As the pool water is agitated by swimmers
or your pool filter system, bubbles form.
The surface of those bubbles is made
from that thick organic buildup,
so instead of popping, they just stay on the surface
and become foam.
Pool foam is either caused by,
one, people using your pool, or two, your pool chemicals.
So let's start with the human side of what causes pool foam
and how to prevent it.
Number one, hair care products and other toiletries.
Things like deodorant, lotion, makeup, perfume,
fancy cologne, and yes, even Axe body spray
will leave organic contaminants behind in your pool water.
Even residue in your hair from shampoo and conditioner
can build up enough to become pool foam problem.
You can prevent that buildup by rinsing off
before you swim, even after shampooing.
Now, if you have a lot of product in your hair,
like hairspray, gel,
or mousse if you're stuck in the eighties--
- [Deep voice] Cool.
- [Narrator] Wash and rinse before diving in.
If you've already got a pool foam problem,
you can fix it by shocking your pool
preferably with chlorine shock.
This eliminates contaminants and brings your pool water
back to it's normal clear state.
Number two, soap and laundry detergent.
You know how your clothes still smell fresh
after they've been washed?
Well, there's detergent residue on there
and that residue can get on your body and then in your pool.
Again, rinsing off before swimming helps,
but you can also try switching
to a fragrance-free laundry detergent.
And if you've already got foam,
yup, you'll want to shock that pool.
Number three, lots of swimmers.
So think of all that residue
that you can leave behind in the water.
Now multiply that by the number of people using your pool,
then add other contaminants, like bodily fluids.
You can prevent it by making a rule
that anyone using your pool has to rinse off first.
And if you've already got a foam problem
form all those people, guess what?
Time to shock that pool.
Real quick before we continue,
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Okay, so what if it's not the people in your pool
that's causing the foam problem?
Let's talk about pool chemicals and water chemistry.
First things first, test and balance your pool water,
test the water using test strips or a liquid test kit.
Then balance the alkalinity first.
It should be between a hundred parts per million
and 150 parts per million
with 125 parts per million being ideal.
Then balance the pH level if needed.
It should be between 7.4 and 7.6 with 7.5 being ideal.
Next balance, the calcium hardness level,
it should be between 175 and 225 parts per million
for a vinyl and fiberglass pool.
And between 200 and 275 parts per million
for concrete and plaster pools.
Finally, balance the sanitizer level
based on whatever sanitizer you use
according to the manufacturer's directions.
Once the water is balanced,
wait a few hours to see whether the pool foam dissipates.
If it doesn't you'll need to, your guessed it,
shock that pool.
Now, you can prevent pool foam
by testing your water frequently and keeping it balanced.
Cheap chemicals can throw off your pool chemistry
so buy pool chemicals from reputable brands.
Speaking of balancing your pool water,
keep an eye specifically on calcium hardness levels.
Low calcium hardness levels can cause pool foam.
When the calcium level drops too low,
the water becomes too soft and that leads to pool foam.
You can fix this by adding calcium hardness increaser
or calcium chloride to your pool.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the right dosage.
And now, another pool foam chemical culprit, algaecide.
If you add algaecide to your pool
and there's no algae for it to kill,
it will thicken the water and create foam.
Also, if you use too much algaecide
even if there is algae in your pool to kill,
it can cause foaming.
The type of algaecide matters too.
Look for Polyquat 60 algaecide,
it's less likely to produce pool foam than other algaecides.
And luckily, algaecide pool foam is an easy fix.
If you just wait,
it should dissipate on it's own after a few days.
And while you're waiting, skim the foam
from the surface of your water to speed up the process.
Okay, so now you know how to treat and prevent pool foam,
but what do you do if you need a fast remedy?
Well, if you're in a pinch,
like say you're having guests coming over,
you can use an anti-foam chemical also called a defoamer.
It's a quick cure for pool foam, but remember,
it only treats the symptom, not the cause.
You still need to address
the underlying problem eventually.
And that's it, that's everything you need to know
about getting rid of pool foam.
Keep your water balanced,
use quality chemicals in the proper amounts
and rinse off before diving in
and you should be able to avoid any pool foam problems.
If you missed anything or have any questions,
please leave a comment to let us know
and to help your fellow pool owners,
and hit the like button if you found this video helpful.
If you want to learn more
about pool maintenance and troubleshooting,
subscribe to our channel for more videos like this one
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at swimminguniversity.com/pool.
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That's it, thanks again and happy swimming.