Acid Wash

[kingbud]

I'm interested in this subject. I would say that the procedure is sound, and I should be able to DIY (assuming I can be careful enough with the acid -- muriatic fumes are bad news, plus if you are down in the pool you are in a confined space and I would expect the fumes to hang around in the pool's tank or depression).

But riddle me this: before I can attempt an acid wash I have a whole lot of leaves to get out - the pool has been completely neglected for at least a couple of years before we bought the property -- will a diaphragm pump take out leaves with the water? It seems to me that one should be capable of doing so as long as we can keep the hoses open and flowing.

Please mark this URGENT! (I have received great help and wise counsel from this forum in the past, I hope you can come through again. Thanks)

[waste]

I just want to make sure anyone acidwashing their pool remembers the possibility of the pool floating while its empty!! If you've recently had torrential rains or had a lot of snow this winter that's just recently melted away... wait to drain the pool until the ground has had a chance to absorb all the water (your hydrostatic valve may or may not let enough ground water through to keep the pool in the ground!)

[waterbear]

The baking soda is not going to be as effective as soda ash in neutralizing the acid. I would not recommend it. You can use borax at about twice the amount of soda ash needed if you want but the soda ash should be less expensive (if you buy a 50 lb bag from the pool supply. It should be around $25-$35 in most areas.) Trying to save a few pennies here could cost you a replaster job in the end!