22 Jul Pool With Film On Top: Simple Solution Guide

How to Get Rid of Surface Film In Your Pool

Swimming pools are a great refresher for a hot day; nothing is more inviting the crystal blue waters! However, if your pool has developed a surface film over the water, this can deter people from wanting to jump in and enjoy. Nothing can turn people off from a swimming pool like signs that the pool water may be contaminated. If your pool is suffering from this problem, you may be wondering what you need to do to make your pool clean and enjoyable again.

So, how can you get rid of the surface film in your pool? Here are some simple solutions that can be effective at removing a film from the surface of the pool water:

• Showering before getting in the pool to remove any oils, lotions, or dirt that may be on your body
• Run the filter for 12 – 24 hrs to remove contaminates and circulate the water
• Unclog drains to ensure water circulation
• Test and balance chemicals in the pool water
• “Shock” your pool to avoid algae infestation

When it comes to ensuring that your pool is staying clean and functioning properly, the best thing to do is to schedule routine maintenance for your pool. Pick a day each week where you or your Jenks pool service company is checking fixtures, equipment, and chemistry levels.

This can help you avoid contaminated pool water and save you from a larger expense repair later in the future. To learn more about surface film solutions for your pool, keep reading!

Shower Before Getting in the Pool to Remove Contaminants

If your pool water looks crystal clean except for a thin oily-looking film on the surface of the water, then this may be an issue caused by those getting in the pool rather than a problem with the pool itself. If the swimming pool is heavily used by many people, it can collect oils, sunscreen, tanning lotion, hair products, and any other dirt or debris your body may carry. These substances will naturally settle on the surface of the water.

Whenever you go swimming in a public pool, you may see signs requesting that visitors shower off before getting in the pool. This may seem somewhat pointless, because why should you shower if you’re about to get in the water? The reason for this is so that any contaminants you carry on your body may be washed away before you get in the water. So many people visit and swim in public swimming pools each day that the water could easily become filled with contaminants carried in by the swimmers.

While the pool’s filtration system should help to remove these contaminants from the water, if the pool is heavily used, then these substances may settle on the surface of the pool. The best thing to do is to take preventative measures that keep your pool from getting dirty. Shower or hose off before getting in the pool.

Run the Pool Filter 12-24 hrs a Day to Remove Pool Debris and to Circulate Water

A pool filter will remove debris from the pool and work to circulate the water. If you notice that your pool is starting to develop a film over the surface of the water, the first thing should check is to see if the pool filter is still functioning properly. Other signs that there may be a problem with the pool filter is that debris will remain in the pool, the water may become foggy-looking, and the water may appear stagnant.

If the pool filter does appear to be in good working order, it is recommended that you run the filter for 12-24 hours to remove the film from the surface of the water. By this time, the water should be circulated enough and contaminants removed that the pool looks good as new.

If your pool has been heavily used, you should run the filter to help clear out any contaminants that the swimmers may have brought in. This will help your pool stay clean between each use as well as maintain a safe swimming environment for all of those who enjoy the pool.

Unclog Pool Drains to Ensure Water Circulation

Does your pool look as if it has a film of stagnant water sitting on the surface? Stagnant water is a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects.  One reason that your pool water could become stagnant is that the filtration system is not working properly.

Pools have several different fixtures that are part of the filtration system. The filtration system helps to keep the pool clean by circulating the water. There will usually be a filter at the surface level to clear debris from the surface of the water. At the bottom of the pool, drains will work to filter old and dirty water out.

If it appears that your filtration system isn’t doing its job properly, one issue may be that the drains at the bottom of the pool are clogged. This would cause dirty water to stay in the pool and wouldn’t allow for water circulation, which could result in stagnant water.

Test and Balance Chemicals in the Water to Keep the Pool Clean

Another reason your pool may be developing a film over the surface of the water is that the pH levels of your pool are too high. A high pH means that the water in your pool is too alkaline. This can change how effective chlorine will be at keeping your pool clean. It can also cause scaling and films to form over the surface of the water and on pool equipment.

In order to maintain a pool that is healthy and safe to swim in, the pH levels must be balanced. pH levels can usually be thrown off by the amount of chlorine you use. The perfect amount of chlorine in your pool will work to kill bacteria and stabilize the water; however too much or too little chlorine can have the opposite effect.

You can run chemistry tests on your pool to determine where the pH levels are. This will help you understand how to stabilize the pool.

“Shock” the Pool to Avoid Algae Infestation

The beginning signs of an algae infestation in your pool can look like a green film throughout your pool. Algae is a plant that lives in water, and you will find it in many natural water sources. In order to get algae in your pool, the algae would have to somehow be transported there, as it cannot randomly sprout up in any body of water.

Algae spores can travel by wind and water to come and rest in your pool. If your kids are out playing in a creek and then come running home to jump in the pool, they can transport the spores into your pool. Once you have algae in your pool, you want to act fast before it turns into an infestation.

One way to get rid of algae in your pool is by “shocking” it. This doesn’t mean that you electrocute the water in your pool. Simply put, shocking your pool refers to adding certain chemicals so that algae and bacteria will be killed. As a pool owner, you should shock your pool regularly to ensure it is staying clean. Shocking requires careful instruction-following to ensure that you will not be endangering future swimmers with the chemicals you add to the pool.

I hope this article was helpful in answering your questions about having a film over the surface of your pool. It’s important to maintain your pool for the health of your swimmers. I have more tips on how to keep your pool clean and maintained! Check out this article, Why Does My Pool Keep Turning Green? Complete Guide.