The acceptable range for pool water pH is 7.2-7.8, and the ideal pool pH is between 7.4 and 7.6. Water below a pH of 7.2 is too acidic, stinging your eyes, damaging pool liners and corroding equipment. Water above 7.8 is too alkaline and can cause skin irritation, cloudy water, and scale buildup.
Aim for a pH level of between 7 and 7.6. If the water pH is higher than 8, anyone who swims in the pool is at risk of skin rashes, while a pH of lower than 7 can sting swimmers' eyes. Some of the many factors that can affect your pool's pH level include heavy rain, the number of swimmers in the pool and chemicals.
A rule of thumb is 1.5 lbs. of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water will raise alkalinity by about 10 ppm. If your pool's pH tested below 7.2, add 3-4 pounds of baking soda. If you're new to adding pool chemicals, start by adding only one-half or three-fourths of the recommended amount.
The most immediate effect is felt by swimmers as the water will sting their eyes, nasal passages and will dry out skin and hair, causing itching. Acidic, low pH water corrodes metal surfaces and pool accessories such as ladders, railings, light fixtures, and any metals in your pumps, filters or heaters.
Too low a pH has a significant influence on the effect of the chlorine. If the pH level is too low, you will have to add a large amount of chlorine to ensure proper disinfection of the water. A good pH level will therefore also benefit your wallet.
Most Algae Grows in High-pH Environments
Most types of algae typically enjoy higher pH levels, ranging from 8.2 to 8.7. Once algae starts growing, it can further raise the pH level in your pool and cause more algae growth.
When chlorine levels are too high, the water's pH will start to decrease, which can eventually lead to corrosion. However, liquid chlorine has a pH of 13 and can cause the water's pH to increase.
pH Down comes in two forms: liquid acid or dry acid. Changes in the pH of pool water can be caused by many factors but one of the most significant causes is the sanitizer used. Since the sanitizer is the most frequently added chemical in pools, it can have a powerful impact on pH and overall water quality.
Likewise, a low pH can also cause cloudy water due to increased bacteria and algae. In this case you'll want to use a pH increaser to raise the level to at least 7.4. It's also important to keep an eye on total alkalinity.
A: pH enhancers and increasers often start working within 20 minutes. Add a tiny quantity of the increaser into your pool, leave the cover off, activate the pumps, and let the water circulate. Test the pH level after 20 minutes.
Shocking the pool will lower the pH, whether you use chlorine-based shock (calcium hypochlorite), or the non-chlorine kind (potassium peroxymonosulfate). Rain picks up impurities in the air, raising the rainwater acidity and lowers the pH.
Mixing in 1 tsp (4 g) of baking soda with 250 ml of water will raise its pH, making it more alkaline. Milk of Magnesia Milk of magnesia is an alkaline suspension, which means it causes neutralization when it encounters anything acidic. This makes this substance great for water on the more acidic side.
The fluctuation of the pH of the pool water can have many causes, including: Sunlight accelerates the dissolution of chlorine, increasing the pH. Wind favours the evaporation of the water, which also increases the pH.
Most pool experts recommend a pool pH between 7.2 and 7.8. To raise or lower pH, a pool custodian simply adds acids or alkalis into the water. For example, adding sodium carbonate (soda ash) or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will generally raise the pH, and adding muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate will lower the pH.
Rain is initially neutral in pH, a perfect 7.0 – but very quickly absorbs low pH contaminants as it falls through the sky. The effect of low pH rain on your pool pH level is usually small, except for heavy rains over a period of days, which can require a need to raise your pH.
If your pool is cloudy but the chemical levels are balanced, it could be caused by a number of things. If the chemicals are fine, you should try checking the skimmer baskets and pump strainer, plus you need to check the pressure gauge on the filter of your swimming pool.
If you shock your pool but the water is still cloudy, and the free chlorine level soon drops too low, then it may have had high levels of contaminants. This might be after a storm and there has been run-off from the surrounding pool area, or when the pool has seen a high level of use, for example after a pool party.
For balanced pool water, keep the pH between pH of 7.4-7.6.
And there are two different chemicals you can use to raise the pH in your pool: Baking Soda aka sodium bicarbonate (sold as Alkalinity Increaser in pool stores). Soda Ash aka sodium carbonate (sold as pH Increaser in pool stores).
With a pH level of 6.0 your chlorine will be highly effective with 97% of your chlorine available to kill bacteria and algae. However, at 6.0 your pool water would be extremely acidic and unsafe to swim in. On the flip side, if you pH is at 8.5 only 9% of your chlorine will be available to kill bacteria and algae.
The pool aerator can't change the pH levels of the pool water on its own. However, if you add muriatic acid, a chemical that aims to lower the alkalinity of the water and turn on the aerator, the pH levels will increase.
The higher the pH gets, the less effective the chlorine becomes. Balancing the pH first will save you a lot of money on chlorine because you won't be dumping ineffective chemicals into your swimming pool over and over. A pH level of 7.8 or above is considered alkali.
The founder of Cleaning Green LLC, Alicia Johnson, explains that baking soda (or sodium bicarbonate) has a pH level of 8, meaning it is a natural alkaline. 'Adding baking soda to your pool will raise both the pH and alkaline level, which will help increase the pool's clarity and improve stability,' she says.
Just like your hair, your skin can end up dry and damaged with regular swimming. Chlorinated water removes your skin's natural oils and skin barrier, resulting in red, itchy, dry skin.
Pool Water Looks Green but is Clear
When a pool's pH is over 7.8, even high levels of chlorine destabilize and cannot sanitize, and metal in your water and pool components can oxidize, giving off a greenish hue.