Foam in your pool?  What's up with that! As strange as it sounds, some pool owners walk into their backyard to find foam in their pool. It’s a puzzling problem that is due to a thickness in the water caused by bubbles and ‘fluffed’ by the environmental wind or blowing jets in your pool. Foam certainly doesn’t make for a great time in your pool, so it is important to understand what causes this problem, how you can treat it and how you can prevent it from happening again in the future.

What Are the Common Causes of Pool Foam?

Pool foam can generate from a number of different sources. Problems with algaecide, the overuse of chemicals in your pool, and even the use of less-than-quality chemicals can cause foam to develop in a pool.  Additionally, many pool owners don’t realize that the use of certain soaps, laundry detergents, lotions, makeup and hair care products can also affect the quality of their pool. These products can certainly cause the water in your pool to thicken, and eventually turn into foam.

How Can I Treat My Pool Foam?

Typically, when foam is caused by algaecide, you will notice that it starts to dissipate on its own after a few days and a little bit of skimming. However, if you still notice the foam, and have not been using algaecide, you can try some of the following measure to treat the problem. Properly balance all chemicals in your pool and ensure the levels are correct. Your pool pH should safely be between 7.4 and 7.6, and the alkalinity of your pool should be between 100-150 ppm). Should balancing your chemicals fail to remove the foam, you can shock the pool with chlorine based or non-chlorine based shock. Typically your pool supply professional will recommend using 1 pound of shock per every 10,000 gallons of water in the evening while your pool runs at night. As a last option, you can add an anti-foam chemical for your pool water, though this should be used as a last option.

How Can I Prevent My Pool from Getting Foam Again?

There are two common means to help eliminate the foam in your pool. 1. Take a look at the way that you use algaecide and the type of algaecide that you use Be sure that you purchase an algaecide that specifically states that it is ‘non-foaming’, as some products can cause the foam to develop when used. Additionally, you want to be sure that you are only using a few ounces of the ‘non-foaming’ product per week and that you are following the specific directions on the product. The best place to get your pool products and information as to how they should be used is from a pool supply company, not big box or discount stores. Remember that if your pool chemistry is correct and it is clean, you don’t necessarily even have to use algaecide. 2. Take a look at the conditions the swimmers in your pool are creating Ask that those who enter into your pool rinse off before they get in it. Though this might seem like a chore, and can be hard to enforce with kids, it can help to eliminate the products that your pool is exposed to. It can get rid of some of the soaps, shampoos and even makeup that can cause pool foam. While these two measures will usually prevent any further cases of pool foam, in some cases pool foam can be caused by devious pranksters who dump soap or detergent in a pool to purposely cause this problem. Pool foam can cause plenty of headaches for pool owners, so it is important to learn how you can prevent it, and how you can quickly treat it to get back to enjoying your pool.