The natural world is all about balance, so it’s no surprise that the optimal acidity for a swimming pool is in the middle of the pH scale, from 7.0 to 7.6. But what does that mean? These terms can appear nebulous and vague to anyone not knowledgeable about pool hygiene and maintenance. However, when you have a pool, you must know the basics about your pool’s acidity.
CO2 has long shown its use when it comes to regulating a pool’s pH levels, but how is that accomplished? Can too much CO2 offset the balance in the other direction? In this blog, we will discuss how CO2 for pH control in pools works and the other basics you need to know, so ensure you read everything closely!
Understanding the pH Scale
A prominent term in chemistry, pH measures the acidity of a solution with water as its solvent. It is a scale on which the middle point is considered neutral (neither acidic nor basic), which is where drinking water, for example, stays. This means that substances other than water, which is considered neutral, can be divided into acids or bases. In lay terms, bases are the passive reagents, whereas acids are the active ones. Water is the neutralizer.
Swimming pools are one big solution whose solvent is water. Many different chemicals and living organisms reside in this big body of water, and they can all affect the pH balance and move it forward and backward on the pH scale. Chlorine is one of the chemicals responsible for the water quality of a pool, keeping it bacteria-free and healthy. Maintaining a grip on the pH value of a pool usually includes using chlorine.
Ideal Pool Acidity
The ideal pH value for swimming pools is 7.0 to 7.6, but this is not a fixed value. In practice, pH balance is challenging to keep at a constant level, and that is due to many factors – temperature, weather conditions, and foreign objects within the pool. However, it does need to be maintained at a certain level and kept from becoming a base or alkaline – because that increases the efficiency of the chlorine.
Chlorine keeps anyone who uses a pool from developing rashes or any bacterial infection after swimming. After all, pools are enclosed areas. If not disinfected, everyone’s germs and illnesses will mix. While maintaining the ideal acidity of a pool at all times is difficult, modern inventions have made it significantly more manageable.
Maintaining Pool Acidity
Maintaining a steady pH value is nearly impossible, so when someone talks about maintaining a pH value for their swimming pool, they mean control. There are many ways to control a pool’s pH value, starting with some organic acids that are regularly pumped into the water and dissolved. But these can create buildup on the pool floor and surfaces, making extra work for whoever has to clean it.
CO2 is a relatively newer method of accomplishing this. Carbon dioxide is pumped into the pool water where, due to the basic properties of the water, it turns into carbonic acid. The CO2 then lowers the pH value of the water, bringing it back from a basic to a neutral state.
One caution here is to apply the correct amount of CO2. If unbalanced, the pool water can turn acidic and cause skin irritation and rashes for people using the pool.
The Poolsmith Process – CO2 for pH Control in Pools
Poolsmith Technologies has pioneered the use of CO2 for pH control in pools for almost two decades. A patent of our making, we mastered the organic way of controlling the acidity of a pool and have been using it successfully ever since. It’s easy to install and maintain. If you want to check it out, contact us today!
Recent Comments