In 2018, 17.12% of Americans aged 18-29 owned a pool, hot tub, or spa. Swimming pool owners know that the water is maintained clean and healthy due to the delicate chemical balance. This is where the pH level in the pool is important – if it’s off balance, it can cause some serious damage.
Irritation, sickness, and damage to the pool’s surface are just a few situations that can be encountered due imbalance in the pH. Adjusting swimming pool pH in Phoenix can be done by a professional, but there are still some things you need to know before you turn to them.
This post below gives you everything you need to know about pH balance in pools.
What Does pH Represent in the Pool?
The pH level in a pool measures the acidity of the pool water. The hydrogen ions present in the pool water are measured by the pH scale from 0 to 14. The basic solution is represented by 14 and the acidic by 0. The perfect pH balance in pool water is seven – the perfect neutral. However, the optimal pH level in your pool is 7.4 due to the chemical it contains.
Why Is pH Important?
Disinfecting and oxidizing the pool water is done with chemicals, most often chlorine. Used to kill contaminants in the water, chlorine is also used to neutralize or oxidize debris and dirt particles. Not maintaining the pH level can impact chlorine effectiveness and lead to irritated and itchy eyes and skin.
The pH balance also protects the pool equipment and facilities. If the pool water is highly acidic, it may cause corrosion and breakdown of pumps, ladders, and diving boards and damage the pool liner.
Raising Low pH Levels
The first thing you should do is make sure that the pH levels are low. This means doing a regular test and even repeating it to be certain it is correct. Once you are sure of the result, you can do several things to correct and raise the pH level.
Add some soda ash, a strongly alkaline material, to reduce acidity. Check the alkalinity after adding the soda ash; if the pH levels are still low, you can add baking soda. If none of this works, then aerating the water will. It’s a long but effective process.
Lowering High pH Levels
Once again, first, be sure that the test on the pH level you have done is correct. If the results point to high levels of pH, there are two products you can use to lower it. One is sodium bisulfate or better known as dry acid. Dissolve the chemical in the water and wait for at least six hours; then, you can retest.
The other product used to lower high pH levels is muriatic acid, a powerful corrosive. Protect yourself with gloves and goggles when using them. One way to add it to water is by pouring it over return jets and letting the pump do the work. The other is by turning off the pump, pouring it at the end, and allowing the chemical to settle at the pool bottom before the pump is turned on.
Reach Out to Experts to Adjust Swimming Pool pH in Phoenix
Taking care of your pool’s pH level is not an easy task. Poolsmith Technologies offers the best carbon dioxide-based pH control systems to help keep the pH balance in every pool. Adjust swimming pool pH in Phoenix without using chemicals with our organic pH control system.
To find out more about other services we provide, get in touch with us today.