Nothing is worse than having your friends over for a braai and not being able to jump into a stained pool.

But before you turn away, dry, and embarrassed, rest assured you can fix this unsightly problem.

Let’s look at what causes stains in the first place.

• • Brown algae is present.
  • Iron concentration in your water is too high.

The first potential cause is easy to solve.

Organic stains are best addressed by super chlorinating the water, then brushing. Remember to always shock at night for best results. Once the pool water has been shocked, thoroughly brush the stains, then let the pool circulate for at least eight hours.

However, the most common cause of brown stains in your pool is over-concentration of iron. This concentration needs to be under 0.2 mg/L, otherwise iron oxides build up due to air oxidation.

You’ll want to act quickly. Take a sample of your pool water to your local Pool Xpert to determine what kinds and levels of metals are plaguing your pool. After that, the professional can recommend a special additive designed to remove metal stains.

Add the chemicals and brush the stains to help the process along.

If this method does not work, you’ll probably need to have your pool drained by a pool professional, and have the stains dealt with directly.

So be sure to stay on top of the problem, before it gets to this last resort.