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Understand pH for a Trouble-Free Pool Season
June 2010
by Stacey Akins, Arch Customer Care Center
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Whether you use POOLIFE®, POOL Breeze® or BAQUACIL® products for your day-to-day pool care, a water balance factor that needs regular attention is the pool water’s pH. Short for potential Hydrogen, pH is a measure of how acidic or basic the water is. Keeping it within a range of 7.2 to 7.8 is crucial to bather comfort, water clarity and the prevention of damage to the pool and its operating equipment. If you’re unsure of how the pH works in a swimming pool, controlling it can be a challenge. Here are some tips that can help you manage your pH factor throughout the summer.
- Don’t Assume the pH is OK Without Testing: Even a freshly-filled, sparkling clear, brand new pool is no guarantee that the pH is within the proper range. Every water source is unique; even from your neighbor down the street. This especially true in rural areas where the water may be drawn from a well. Until you actually test the pH, you can’t be sure. When testing pool water: draw the water sample 12” to 18” deep, away from an inlet and make sure you have fresh reagents and/or test strips. You local BAQUACIL® or POOLIFE® Clear Care Dealer can supply these and even test the water for you.
- Every Aqueous Solution has a pH: This includes some of the maintenance products you’re adding to your pool. Rainwater is one environmental factor that strongly influences the pH. So does swimmer waste, fill water, various sanitizers, windblown debris and other materials that can get washed into the water. It’s a good idea to test your pool water’s chemical balance prior to use or after a severe weather event.
- Test Your Total Alkalinity Too: The Total Alkalinity (TA) acts as a buffer for the pH. The TA should be kept in a range of 80 to 120 ppm. For example, if the TA is too high – over 120 ppm – the pH will tend to rise even though no additional products were added to the water. If the TA is allowed to drop below 80 ppm, the pH will tend to “bounce”, that is rise or fall with the slightest addition of product or bather use. While this can be frustrating, it’s important make the required corrections before serious, permanent damage to your pool can occur.
- If Your pH is too High—Above 7.8: The pool water may appear cloudy, dull and increase its potential to form scale. Scale has a rough sandpaper-like feel that’s difficult and costly to remove. Lower pH with POOLIFE® Minus, BAQUACIL® or POOL Breeze® pH Decreasers.
- If Your pH is too Low—Below 7.2: With too low of a pH the water will be corrosive. Adjusting a low pH value should be a top priority because it will damage your pool and operating equipment. Raise the pH by adding POOLIFE® pH Plus, POOL Breeze® or BAQUACIL® pH Increaser. Never add pH increasers or decreasers with first testing the water. Also, always add these products directly into the pool with the pump in operation. Never pre-mix these products prior to addition.
- Be Vigilant: The pH can fluctuate daily for a variety of reasons. Testing the pH of your pool water three to four times weekly will keep the water looking great, your equipment in top operating condition and most important of all, the swimmers comfortable and healthy.
- Use Your Local Clear Care Dealer: As a trained professional, they are great resource for those questions that may occasionally arise about your pH, Total Alkalinity, or for that matter, any pool or spa maintenance issue you may have.
