ServicesAcid Washes
Acid Washes in Coolidge
An acid wash takes off a thin layer of your pool's finish, and the stains and scale go with it. We look at your surface first, tell you if a wash will help and how much finish you have left, then do the work in one planned visit.
What an Acid Wash Does to Your Pool
Plaster and pebble finishes soak up stains over time. Leaves, metals in the fill water and years of scale leave marks that brushing and chemicals will not lift. An acid wash fixes that by dissolving a very thin skin of the surface, so fresh, clean finish shows underneath.
The trade-off is simple. Every wash removes material. A plaster pool has a set thickness, and each wash uses some of it up. Do it too often or too strong and the plaster gets rough, thin and ready for a replaster. So we treat it as a tool you use a few times over a pool's life, not a yearly habit.
It is the right call when the pool is clean and balanced but still looks dingy, gray or blotchy. If the water is green, start with Green to Clean Recovery. If the problem is only white crust at the waterline, Calcium Removal and Tile Cleaning may be all you need.
What's Included in Our Acid Wash
Surface check before we start
We look at the finish type, how thick and smooth it still is, and what kind of stains you have. Metal stains, organic stains and scale each react differently to acid.
Full drain
The pool has to be empty for an acid wash. We handle the draining as part of the job and take care where the water goes.
Diluted acid wash and scrub
We mix muriatic acid with water to a strength that fits your finish, pour it down the walls in sections and scrub. Each section gets rinsed before the acid can bite too deep.
Neutralizing the acid
The used acid and rinse water collect in the deep end. We neutralize it with soda ash before pumping it out, so it does not harm your yard.
Refill and start-up chemistry
Fresh plaster surface needs careful balancing the first few days. We bring the water into range after the refill so the finish does not etch or scale right away.
Signs Your Pool Needs an Acid Wash
Stains that won't brush out
Brown, green or dark blotches that stay put after brushing and shocking are often set into the plaster. A wash can take them off.
Whole surface looks gray
White plaster fades to a dull gray over years. If the water is clear but the pool still looks dirty, the finish itself is stained.
Scale across the floor and walls
Hard water leaves a rough, chalky film, not just at the waterline. When it covers the whole surface, acid is the practical way to take it down.
After a long green spell
Algae that sat for weeks can leave a shadow behind even once the water is clear again.
Pebble finish looks dull
Pebble and quartz finishes can get a film over the stones. A light wash brings the color back, though we go easier than on plaster.
How the Job Day Runs
- 1
Look and decide
On the quote visit we check the finish and tell you straight if a wash will work. If your plaster is already thin or rough, we will say so instead of selling you a wash that makes it worse.
- 2
Drain the pool
We pump the water out. In the hot months we plan around the heat, since an empty pool baking in the Arizona sun can dry out and crack, so we move fast once it's empty.
- 3
Wash, scrub and rinse
We work in sections from top to bottom. Acid goes on, gets scrubbed and gets rinsed. Tougher spots may need a second pass.
- 4
Neutralize and clean out
We neutralize the acid water in the deep end, pump it out and rinse the pool clean.
- 5
Refill and balance
We refill and get the chemistry right for the new surface. Weekly Pool Cleaning after that keeps the finish from staining up again.
What Moves the Price of an Acid Wash
We price each acid wash after seeing the pool. Most of the cost comes from labor time and the water. You get the number by phone or at the visit before any work starts.
- Pool size
- More surface means more acid, more scrubbing and more water to drain and refill.
- Finish type
- Plaster takes a standard wash. Pebble and quartz need a weaker mix and more care, which can change the time on site.
- How bad the stains are
- Light graying may take one pass. Deep metal stains or heavy scale can need repeat passes in some spots.
- Water for the refill
- Refilling a full pool is a real amount of water, and that is part of the overall job cost to plan for.
Acid Wash Questions
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How often can I acid wash my pool?
Not often. Each wash removes a thin layer of plaster, so most pools only get a few over the life of the finish. We usually tell people to wait several years between washes unless something unusual stained the pool.
Can you acid wash a pebble or quartz finish?
Yes, but gently. We use a weaker mix and keep it on for less time. Too strong a wash can loosen the stones or etch the quartz, so we go slow and check as we work.
Will an acid wash make old plaster look new?
It makes it cleaner and brighter, but it cannot fix plaster that is cracked, rough or worn thin. If your finish is near the end of its life, we will tell you a wash will not get you much.
Do you acid wash vinyl or fiberglass pools?
No. Acid damages vinyl liners and fiberglass gel coat. Those surfaces need different cleaning, and we can talk through options on the phone.
How long is the pool out of use?
Plan on the drain, wash and refill taking a few days start to finish, depending on pool size and how fast your water fills. We give you the timeline when we quote the job.
Find Out if Your Finish Can Take a Wash
Tell us about your pool and what the stains look like. We'll set up a look at the finish and give you a straight answer on whether an acid wash is worth it. We work in Coolidge and nearby towns like Florence and Casa Grande.