Without the correct pH balance, your pool can become too acidic and damage your hair, trigger burns in the skin, sting your eyes, and become harmful to the health of everyone who tries to swim in it. Pool water requires constant maintenance to hold the pH balance at the correct level.
Poolsmith Technologies constantly monitors the pH balance during pool maintenance. Too much chlorine will irritate the skin and eyes, leading to inflammation and illness. Too little chlorine dilutes its effects, allowing bacteria and other contaminants to thrive in the water.
Not only do you have to clean your pool regularly, but you also have to test and treat it so the pH balance remains at a safe level. There are some critical steps to remember. Maintaining pool safety with chemicals is a delicate process—pool chemical injuries in the United States are well-documented by the CDC, so remember to exercise caution.
Crucial Tips in Maintaining the pH Balance of Pool Water
Run the pump
Before adding any chemicals to the pool water, you need to ensure the pump is running. It helps the water circulate, spreading any chemicals you put into the water more efficiently. It provides a more even distribution of the substances.
Always perform tests before adding any chemical
There are different chemicals to add to a pool, and each time, you have to test the water so you know how much to add for adjustment.
Total alkalinity
This is the total amount of alkaline in the water. During testing, the ideal total alkalinity of your pool should be around 120-150ppm. Low total alkalinity will make the pH balance fluctuate and bounce, which leads to harmful side effects and pool corrosion.
To increase total alkalinity, add sodium bicarbonate. Remember that the ratio calls for adding 25 pounds per 10,000 gallons of water. To decrease total alkalinity, you need muriatic acid or sodium bisulphate in the same ratio.
Calcium hardness
This is the total amount of dissolved calcium in the pool water. Indicators are white lines or scales forming along the waterline of your pool. This buildup can potentially damage your pool and pool equipment. Your water’s ideal calcium hardness level should be 200-400ppm during the testing.
To increase calcium hardness, add calcium chloride according to the product’s instructions on the label. To decrease it, you need to partially drain the pool and refill it again with fresh, untreated water. You can also use a pool vacuum to eliminate the white lines.
Chlorine level
Chlorine is the most common form of pool sanitizer. It’s crucial to sanitize your pool after the treatment. Chlorine comes in different forms, such as liquid, granular, and tablets. When testing your chlorine levels, test for both free and total chlorine. Free chlorine is the unused chlorine in the water, and total chlorine is the overall amount of chlorine in your pool. The ideal level should be 3 parts per meter.
Water temperature affects chemical effectiveness
While balancing your pool’s pH levels, remember that the temperature will affect how effective the chemicals will be. The water and chemicals are more effective if it’s warmer than usual. You may not need as much of it as you think. If it’s cooler than normal, you’ll need more to see the effects.
Consult with professionals when it comes to pH balance
You want to consult with pool treatment experts because of the many chemical tests, components, and factors needed to maintain the pool water’s pH balance. Professionals have more in-depth knowledge of correcting pool water’s pH balance and have long experience maintaining it in multiple pool types.
Consult with Poolsmith Technologies today for a pool water maintenance program for your pool so you can rest assured that your pool will always have safe and balanced pool water pH levels.
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