How to Learn to Acid Wash a Pool

Pay close attention to safety precautions that need to be taken when acid washing a pool. Acid can be dangerous. Technicians must wear a respirator, goggles and protective clothing covering all skin while handling acid.

Drain the swimming pool. The first step in the acid wash process is to get rid of the old, contaminated pool water. The water should be pumped out into a safe location, such as a storm drain.

Scrub out the plaster surface of the pool. Plaster pools are the type that can be acid washed because the acid will remove the top layer of plaster. New technicians can participate in this aspect of the process because it doesn't involve acid.

Watch as experienced technicians add equal parts of acid to water. Note that pouring water into acid can be hazardous, so acid should always be added to water.

Wet the plaster inside the swimming pool, using a hose. For now, are likely to be controlling the hose while you watch a more experienced technician pour the water and acid solution over the wall. After 30 seconds, the technician will scrub the plaster with an acid brush.

Rinse the wall with the hose after the technician gives you the go-ahead. Do not use a spray nozzle to rinse. This will splash acid around unnecessarily.

Add soda ash to the acid-and-water mixture that will be at the bottom of the plaster pool once the process is complete. The ratio is 2 lbs. of soda ash per gallon of acid in the mix. The acid must be neutralized. Pump it out and dispose of it properly. Once you watch this process a few times, you'll be ready to head a team acid washing a pool.