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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
After adding pH increaser or decreaser you'll want to wait about two to four hours, although some chemical manufacturers suggest a full turnover cycle, before retesting. The smaller the increments you need to adjust for pH, the less time you'll need to wait for the results to become stable.
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.
No, shock does not raise pH. Shock refers to the process of adding a high concentration of chemicals, typically chlorine or non-chlorine shock, to a swimming pool or spa to destroy harmful bacteria, algae and other contaminants. This process is done to ensure that the water is clean, clear and safe for swimmers.
When the pH is too high, your pool's chlorine won't be able to clean the water as effectively. You'll need to use more chlorine to get the same effect as before, which can affect the rest of your pool's chemical balance. Without chlorine working effectively to kill microbes, you could end up with an algae bloom.
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.
Filling your swimming pool with water might raise the pH slightly. Water from your local water source is often slightly higher in alkalinity than your pool water should be. So, adding more water will bring your pH up slightly.
The best chemical to raise pH while minimally raising alkalinity is borax. Because borax is not a carbonate, the effect on alkalinity will be negligible.
Baking Soda is Sodium Bicarbonate
If your pool water alkalinity is lower than it should be, one way to increase it is to go to your local pool supply store and pick up a bottle of "alkalinity increaser." But did you know alkalinity increaser is just sodium bicarbonate?
Your pool water's pH changes constantly due to water and chemical evaporation, rain, and things added by your swimmers such as sunscreen and sweat. Use a pH test strip or your pool test kit to check the pH levels daily so you can make adjustments quickly and keep your pH within the ideal range.
Shock Your Pool:
Shocking your pool is a cleaning ritual that needs to be undertaken every 3-4 weeks. You may use calcium hypochlorite or any other chemical formula available on the market. Shocking your pool is done to sanitize the water, which ultimately helps to keep pH levels balanced.
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.
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 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.
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.
1) What is the difference between chlorine and shock? Do I need to use both? Chlorine is a sanitizer, and (unless you use Baquacil products) is necessary for maintaining a clear and healthy pool. Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly.
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.