ServicesAcid Washes
Acid Washes in Gold Canyon
An acid wash removes a thin layer of tired plaster, taking stains, scale and embedded algae with it. We check your finish first, tell you plainly whether it can take a wash, and schedule the work for cooler weather when the plaster is safest.
What an acid wash does for your pool
Plaster is porous. Over the years, minerals from fill water, tannins from leaves, metals from older equipment and stubborn algae settle into the surface, and brushing stops reaching them. An acid wash applies a diluted muriatic acid solution to the drained shell, dissolving a thin layer of the finish so the stains go with it.
It is not the right call for every pool. Each wash takes away material, so a finish that is already thin, rough or pulling loose may need a different conversation. Pebble and quartz finishes also behave differently than white plaster, and we adjust the mix and how long it sits to suit the material in front of us.
Timing matters as much as technique. An empty shell sitting in summer sun can dry out and craze, so we plan washes for late winter, early spring or fall. Your pool comes back bright and balanced before the swimming months instead of in the middle of them.
What the work includes
A finish check before draining
We look at plaster thickness, listen for hollow spots and identify the kind of staining. Organic stains and metal stains need different treatment. If a wash will not help, you hear that before any water leaves the pool.
Draining the pool
We pump the pool down and watch the shell as the water drops. If you only need water replaced, our Pool Drain and Refill page covers that on its own.
Washing section by section
We work one wall or area at a time, applying the solution, scrubbing and rinsing before it etches further than it should. Dwell time is short and watched closely, which keeps the finish even.
Neutralizing and cleanup
The spent acid collects in the deep end, where we neutralize it with soda ash before pumping it out. Hoses, pumps and buckets leave with us, and the deck is rinsed.
Protecting fittings and tile
Lights, returns and the tile band are treated with care during the wash. Heavy scale on the waterline tile is its own job, handled through our calcium removal and tile cleaning service.
Refill and start-up chemistry
A freshly exposed surface is vulnerable to aggressive water. Once the pool is full, we bring pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness into line so the new surface is protected from the first day.
Signs your plaster is ready for an acid wash
Stains brushing will not move
Brown, green or purple marks that stay put after a hard brushing and a good chemical balance usually sit inside the plaster, not on it.
An overall gray or dingy look
White plaster slowly dulls as minerals and dirt build up. A wash can bring back much of the original color.
Black spot algae that keeps returning
Black algae roots into the pores of the plaster. Removing the top layer takes the roots with it, which chlorine alone often cannot do.
White scale across the walls
Hard fill water, common across the area, leaves calcium deposits that feel rough and look chalky. Light scale often comes off with a wash.
Staining left after a green pool
When a pool has been cleared through Green to Clean Recovery, faint shadows of the algae can remain in the finish. A wash is often the final step.
How an acid wash runs
- 1
A phone call and a look in person
Tell us what you are seeing and how old the finish is. We then look at the pool in person, confirm it can take a wash and give you a free quote with each part listed.
- 2
Draining on a cool day
We pick a stretch of mild weather and drain the pool. The shell is never left empty longer than the job needs.
- 3
The wash itself
We wash, scrub and rinse each section, then neutralize the acid at the deep end and pump it out. You will see the difference in the finish before we leave.
- 4
Refill and balance
The pool refills from your hose, which can take most of a day or longer. We return to balance the water and start the equipment.
- 5
The first few weeks
New surface sheds a little fine dust as it settles. Regular brushing and steady chemistry keep it looking the way it did on refill day.
What moves the price of an acid wash
We quote each acid wash after seeing the pool, because two pools of the same size can need very different work. The quote lists draining, washing and refill chemistry separately, so you can see where the cost comes from.
- Pool size and depth
- More surface means more solution, more scrubbing and more water to replace.
- Finish type and condition
- Plaster, quartz and pebble each take a different approach. Older or thinner finishes need a gentler, slower wash.
- How deep the staining goes
- Light dulling may clear in one pass. Metal stains or heavy scale can need extra passes or a targeted treatment.
- Refill chemistry
- Very hard fill water takes more work to balance once the pool is full, especially on a freshly exposed surface.
Acid wash questions
Something not covered here? (480) 405-3084
How many times can plaster be acid washed?
Not many. Each wash removes a thin layer, so most finishes handle only a few over their life, spaced years apart. We look at thickness before recommending one.
Will an acid wash fix rough or peeling plaster?
No. A wash cleans the surface, it does not rebuild it. If your finish is rough, hollow or flaking, we will tell you that and talk through options such as pool repair.
When is the best time of year to do it?
Late winter, early spring or fall. Cooler days keep the empty shell from drying out and crazing, and a spring wash means the pool is ready before swimming season.
Is the acid safe for my yard and plants?
The acid is neutralized with soda ash in the pool before anything is pumped out. We also keep runoff away from plants and rinse the deck when we finish.
How long will we be without the pool?
Plan for a few days from drain to swimming. The wash itself is usually done in a day, and the refill depends on your water pressure.
How do we keep it looking clean afterward?
Steady chemistry and brushing matter most. Our weekly pool cleaning includes chemicals in the monthly price, comes with no contract, and the first month of weekly service is free.
Plan your acid wash before the heat
Tell us how your plaster looks and how old it is. We will give you an honest read on whether a wash makes sense and the best time to schedule it.