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. And you may also end up with calcium buildup, which can lead to cloudy water and damaged pool equipment. Irritates Eyes and Skin This math is just to explain the pH scale itself and illustrate what logarithmic means. Water (H 2O) splits Pool chlorine tablets help you avoid inconsistent chlorination, which is a common occurrence when using granular or liquid chlorine to sanitize a pool. Keeping your pH and alkalinity levels balanced helps with the effectiveness of pool chlorine in the water.

Need more help bringing your alkalinity into range? Here are some common questions and answers. How do I bring the alkalinity down in my pool? You should see a much lower pH and total alkalinity reading compared to your first result, hopefully in the ideal range for both:Method Two: Slowly pour the acid into the pool near your return jets and let the pump circulate it. For above ground pools, add the acid slowly by walking around your pool so it doesn’t get concentrated in a single spot. However, it is a very strong acid that can be dangerous if not handled or stored properly, so extra care is required. This isn’t unlike many other chemicals you use for regular maintenance, but it’s worth highlighting.

Alkalinity, acidity levels … there’s no need to get hung up on terms. The most important reason you should lower your pool's pH is that chlorine, the main chemical in your pool, won't work as well in high pH water. The second main reason the textbooks say we need to maintain a pH between 7.2 and 7.8 is due to bather comfort. Supposedly the pH of our eyes matters enough that the pH of the water has to be compatible with them, or else swimmers' eyes will hurt. But we believe this is a myth, and we can fairly easily debunk it.Thinking the pH in your pool might be too high? The only way to know for sure is to test, but there are some telltale signs to look out for. Another way to visualize pH is an H 2O molecule of water. When a Hydrogen ion (H +) dissociates or breaks away, it leaves behind a Hydroxide ion (OH -). The H + is the acid, and the OH - is the base. So when you see substances that have an (OH) in them, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH) 2), you know it will have a high pH. The roles of pH in water chemistry When the pH is too high in your pool, your chlorine won’t sanitize the water as effectively. Swimmers may experience eye redness and irritation. Bathing suits and goggles may fade and wear faster than normal. Can you swim in a pool with high pH?

Alkalinity ( or total alkalinity) is a pH buffer with the sole purpose of absorbing changes in the water and stabilizing your pH level. So because it’s an acid, always wear the appropriate safety equipment (including a mask to protect yourself from fumes) and follow the manufacturer’s directions on adding the acid to your pool. Even though muriatic acid is somewhat diluted, certain brands require you to dilute it further before adding it to your pool. Another pH lowering product, muriatic acid, is sometimes used for pools with a high pH. Muriatic acid needs to be handled with caution, as it's a powerful corrosive that could plummet your pool's pH if you add too much. 5. RetestA test strip will be accurate enough to get your readings, but a liquid test kit will give you the most precise results if you have one handy. 2. Calculate Your Pool Volume There’s a lot of “stuff” dissolved in your pool water. Some of that stuff absorbs acids like a sponge, and those substances make up your total alkalinity.