Maintaining the right pH level in your pool is one of the most important aspects of pool care. pH plays a crucial role in ensuring that your pool water is safe, comfortable, and free of harmful bacteria. If your pool’s pH is too high or too low, it can lead to a range of issues, including skin and eye irritation, cloudy water, and ineffective sanitizer use. So, how can you achieve the perfect pH balance? Let’s dive into the process of testing, adjusting, and maintaining the pH in your pool water.

What Is pH, and Why Is It Important?

pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline your pool water is, with a scale ranging from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, while anything below 7 is acidic and anything above 7 is alkaline. In terms of pool water, the ideal pH range is between 7.4 and 7.6. Keeping your pool’s pH within this range ensures that your pool chemicals (like chlorine) work effectively, the water is comfortable for swimmers, and the pool surfaces and equipment stay in good condition.

Why it matters:

• Skin and eye comfort: If the pH is too high or too low, swimmers may experience irritation, especially in their eyes and skin.
• Chlorine efficiency: If the pH is off, chlorine becomes less effective at killing bacteria and algae, making it harder to keep the pool water clean.
• Equipment protection: Water that is too acidic (low pH) can corrode pool equipment, while water that is too alkaline (high pH) can lead to scaling and mineral deposits on pool surfaces and pipes.

Step 1: Test the pH of Your Pool Water

Before making any adjustments, you need to know the current pH balance of your pool water. Testing your pool water is simple and can be done using a few different methods:

1. Test Strips: These are a quick and easy way to check the pH level. Simply dip the strip in your pool water and compare the color to the chart provided with the strips.
2. Liquid Test Kits: These kits are more accurate than test strips. You add a few drops of liquid reagent to a sample of pool water and compare the color change to a chart.
3. Electronic Testers: For the most accurate readings, you can use an electronic pH tester, which gives you an exact pH reading on a digital display.

Testing your water regularly—at least once a week—is essential to maintaining proper pH levels and overall pool health.

Step 2: Adjust the pH Level

If your pH level is outside the ideal range of 7.4 to 7.6, you’ll need to adjust it accordingly. The two most common chemicals used to raise or lower pH are sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and muriatic acid.

How to raise pH:

• If the pH is too low (below 7.2), you need to raise it. The most common chemical used to increase pH is sodium carbonate (also called soda ash).
• Add soda ash to the pool by dissolving it in a bucket of water and pouring it around the perimeter of the pool. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the correct amount to use based on your pool size.

How to lower pH:

• If the pH is too high (above 7.8), you need to lower it. The most effective chemical for lowering pH is muriatic acid, a diluted form of hydrochloric acid.
• When using muriatic acid, always wear protective gloves and eyewear. Pour the acid into a bucket of water first (never add water to acid, as this can cause a violent reaction), then distribute it around the pool, preferably near the deep end.

Tip: Always make adjustments in small amounts, testing the water again after a few hours to ensure the pH moves closer to the desired range. You can always add more, but it’s much harder to raise the pH if you add too much acid at once.

Step 3: Let the Pool Circulate

After adding chemicals to adjust the pH, allow the pool’s pump to run for several hours to help the chemicals circulate throughout the water. This ensures that the pH adjustment is evenly distributed and effective. It’s also a good idea to wait 24 hours before re-testing the pH to give the water time to stabilize.

Step 4: Maintain the Proper pH

Once you’ve achieved the ideal pH level, the goal is to maintain it consistently. Here are a few tips to help keep your pool’s pH in check:

1. Monitor regularly: Test the pH at least once a week, especially during peak swimming season or if the pool is used frequently. If you notice changes, adjust as needed.
2. Keep an eye on other chemicals: pH can be affected by other pool chemicals like chlorine, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Maintaining proper levels of these chemicals can help keep your pH balanced.
3. Avoid extreme weather: Heavy rain or high heat can affect your pool’s pH. After heavy rain, check the pH and adjust if necessary.
4. Use a pool cover: Using a pool cover can help reduce debris buildup and keep your water chemistry stable.

Step 5: Consider Alkalinity and Calcium Levels

While focusing on pH is crucial, other factors like total alkalinity (TA) and calcium hardness also play a role in maintaining the proper pH balance. Alkalinity acts as a buffer for pH, helping to stabilize it and prevent drastic fluctuations. If your alkalinity is too low, the pH can become unstable, and if it’s too high, it can cause scaling.

For most pools, the ideal alkalinity range is 80-120 ppm (parts per million). Calcium hardness should generally fall between 200-400 ppm to avoid damage to the pool surfaces and equipment.

Conclusion

Balancing the pH of your pool water is essential to ensuring that your pool remains safe, comfortable, and enjoyable for everyone. By regularly testing your water, adjusting the pH as needed, and maintaining proper chemical levels, you can keep your pool water clear and healthy. While it may seem like a lot of work, the rewards—clean, sparkling water that’s easy on the skin and eyes—are well worth the effort.

If you’re ever unsure about how to adjust your pool’s pH or maintain proper water chemistry, don’t hesitate to contact our team of experts for guidance and assistance. Proper pH balance is key to a successful swimming season!