Green-to-clean cost at a glance
The price comes down to how far the water has gone. A pool that's slightly green after a hot weekend is a quick chemical recovery; a black, swampy pool that sat through a Burbank summer is a multi-day job that may need a drain. These are realistic 2026 ranges for the Burbank area:
| Severity | What you're looking at | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Light green | Slight tint, water still clear-ish | $250 – $350 |
| Deep green / cloudy | Can't see the bottom; heavy algae | $350 – $500 |
| Black / swamp | Opaque, organic, often full of leaf debris | $500 – $900+ |
| Drain & acid wash | Beyond chemical recovery | $700 – $1,400+ |
Rule of thumb: if you can still see the bottom, it's usually a chemical recovery in the $250–$500 range. Once the water is opaque and the main drain disappears, plan on the higher tiers — and possibly a drain-and-refill.
What drives the cost
Five things move the number:
- Severity. The biggest factor by far — a slight tint versus a true swamp can be a 4x difference.
- Pool size. More gallons means more chemicals and more filter run time; larger pools and those with attached spas cost more to clear.
- Filter condition. A clogged cartridge or DE filter has to be cleaned or replaced mid-recovery or the water never clears — common in Burbank where jacaranda and sycamore litter loads the filter fast.
- Whether a drain is needed. If algae is too far gone, or the hard BWP water has stacked up calcium, cyanuric acid, and TDS, a partial or full drain can be cheaper than dumping chemicals at it.
- Heat-island summer. Burbank's heat-island effect speeds algae regrowth — a slipped pool can re-green in under 48 hours — so a recovery started in summer needs aggressive sanitizer and tight follow-up.
Process & timeline
A typical Burbank green-to-clean runs two to five days. We test and balance, then shock with a heavy chlorine dose; the pump and filter run continuously to pull dead algae out of suspension; we brush and vacuum to waste; and we clean or backwash the filter as it loads — often more than once where tree litter is in the water. The pool generally moves from green to cloudy white to clear as the algae dies and filters out. Swamp or drained pools take longer, especially on Burbank's many older pools where the original plaster needs an acid wash.
Preventing the next one
Nearly every green pool in Burbank traces to a lapse — a skipped service stretch, a failed pump, or a vacation with no coverage during a heat wave or jacaranda bloom. Consistent weekly service at $145–$235/month is far cheaper than one or two recoveries a season. Keeping free chlorine in range, phosphates down (the jacaranda and sycamore litter drives them up), and the pump running 8–10 hours in summer is what keeps a clear pool clear.
The bottom line for Burbank
Budget $250–$500 for a typical green-to-clean, more if the pool is a true swamp or needs draining. The fastest way to get your number is a quick look — in person or from a couple of photos — for a firm, written quote before any work begins.
Burbank Pool Service FAQs
Why is my Burbank pool green?
Almost always low free chlorine that let algae take hold — usually after a skipped service, a pump or filter failure, or a vacation with no coverage. Burbank's heat-island summers make it fast: a pool can turn green in under 48 hours once sanitizer bottoms out, and phosphates from jacaranda and sycamore litter feed the bloom.
Can a green pool be cleaned without draining it?
Usually, yes. Most green pools recover chemically — shock, filter, brush, and vacuum over a few days. We only recommend a drain when the algae is too severe to clear economically, or when the hard Burbank Water and Power supply has stacked up calcium, cyanuric acid, and TDS to the point chlorine can't hold. We'll tell you which applies before starting.
How long does a green-to-clean take in Burbank?
Typically two to five days. Light green can clear in a day or two; deep-green or cloudy water needs continuous filtration and repeated filter cleaning, which takes longer — especially with jacaranda and sycamore litter loading the filter. Black or swamp pools take longest, particularly on older pools needing a drain and acid wash. The heat-island summer can speed regrowth, so we keep sanitizer aggressive until the water holds.
Does Burbank's hard water make a drain-and-refill the better option?
Sometimes. Burbank Water and Power's water arrives hard (often 300–400 ppm calcium) and concentrates further as it evaporates, so if calcium, cyanuric acid, and TDS have all stacked up alongside the algae, a drain-and-refill ($700–$1,400+ with an acid wash) can be the cheaper, faster fix. For most green pools, a chemical recovery in the $250–$500 range is still less expensive.
How do I keep my pool from turning green again?
Consistent weekly service is the real fix. Keeping free chlorine in range, staying ahead of the phosphate load from jacaranda and sycamore litter, and running the pump 8–10 hours in summer keeps algae from getting a foothold. Most repeat green pools in Burbank are ones that paused service or cut pump runtime during the hottest weeks or peak jacaranda bloom.
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