What is Alkalinity and Why is it Important in Pools?
Alkalinity in pools refers to the measure of specific minerals in your water, including:
- Carbonates
- Bicarbonates
- Hydroxides
It essentially acts as a buffer that protects against sudden shifts in your pool’s pH levels — simply put, it’s your pool water’s ability to neutralize acid. Correct alkalinity levels are crucial for keeping your pool’s pH levels stable, ensuring a safe and enjoyable swimming experience.
The Detrimental Effects of High Alkalinity
High alkalinity levels are a cause for concern in pool chemistry maintenance as it can lead to various issues, such as:
- Cloudy water
- Scaling on your pool surface
- Clogging of your pool equipment
- Irritated skin and eyes for swimmers
- Balance disruptions in pool’s pH level that can severely affect the water chemistry
The Process to Lower Pool Alkalinity
Adjusting pool alkalinity involves the addition of specific acids, such as muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate, to your pool. However, before jumping into the adjustment process, knowing your pool’s current alkalinity is key. Continual testing and monitoring are necessary to ensure your pool water remains within the ideal range.
Step-by-Step Guide to Lower Pool Alkalinity
Before attempting to lower the pool’s alkalinity make sure you test the levels of the pool chemicals and know the ideal alkalinity range. Then choose the acid that is right for your pool before carefully adding it to the water. Finally, retest your pool to ensure the levels are correct. Follow these detailed steps to ensure the safety of those in your pool, the longevity of your pool equipment, and the beauty of your pool water.
1. Ideal Alkalinity Range
Swimming pools typically should have an alkalinity level between 80 and 120 parts per million (ppm). This range aids in maintaining a stable pH level, resulting in crystal-clear water and promoting the longevity of your pool equipment. The first step to lowering your pool’s alkalinity involves testing the water to understand its current state. This is done using a reliable pool testing kit or test strip, both of which can pinpoint your pool’s alkalinity level, pH level, and calcium hardness.
2. Choosing the Right Acid
The next step is selecting the right acid with which to lower the pool’s alkalinity. Typically, two types of acids are used for the task:
- Muriatic Acid: A potent, fast-acting acid used in reducing high alkalinity. However, it requires careful handling due to its corrosive nature. As a general rule, you should add one gallon of acid for every 10,000 gallons of water in your pool.
- Sodium Bisulfate: Often termed as ‘Dry Acid,’ it is safer and easier to handle than Muriatic acid. The dry acid reduces both the pH levels and alkalinity but at a slower pace than Muriatic acid. Similar to Muriatic acid, add one pound of Sodium Bisulfate for every 10,000 gallons of pool water.
3. Adding the Acid to the Pool
Once you’ve picked your acid, it’s time to get to work – but do use caution! Acids should be added slowly and in smaller quantities to maintain pH balance. They should also be directly poured into the deepest section of your pool while the pump is ON to ensure they’re distributed evenly.
4. Retesting the Pool Water
Finally, after the acid treatment, allow the pool water to circulate for a few hours, preferably 24 hours, before retesting the levels. This wait ensures that the water chemistry stabilizes, and you get an accurate retest.
Avoiding Common Mistakes in Lowering Pool Alkalinity
Damage to your pool or the creation of an unsafe swimming environment can happen without the proper chemical knowledge. It’s essential to avoid common mistakes when working with chemicals for your pool. Here’s what to avoid:
Misusing Muriatic Acid and Sodium Bisulfate
Whether you choose muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate to lower your pool’s alkalinity, both need to be handled with care. Remember to always add the acid to water—not the other way around—to lower the risk of any chemical reaction. When using muriatic acid, make sure to wear appropriate protective gear, use a proper dilution process, and never add it directly into your pool skimmers.
Rushing the Process
It is common to want to quickly solve your pool issues, but rushing the process won’t help. If you add too much acid too quickly, you may end up with a high pH which could lead to cloudiness or scaling. Instead, add acid slowly and in portions to be safe and effective.
Skipping Retesting
This is a common misstep made by many pool owners. It’s not enough to test the pool’s pH and total alkalinity levels before starting the process of lowering the alkalinity. It’s vital to retest the water after a few hours of adding the acid and allowing the water to circulate. This will give you a clear and accurate picture of your pool’s current state.
Your pool water’s pH and alkalinity levels require regular maintenance and attention. Avoiding these common mistakes ensures your efforts to lower pool alkalinity are effective and safe. By handling chemicals properly, taking your time, and retesting the water, you can maintain a balanced pool environment and avoid unnecessary complications. Attention to detail and care in each step make all the difference.
Hassle-Free, Clear Waters: Net Positive Pool Services
Maintaining a pool can be a complex task, requiring constant monitoring and adjustments to keep the water chemistry in balance. While you could spend your time navigating through pool test strips, alkalinity levels, and handling potentially hazardous chemicals, there’s a more efficient way to ensure your pool remains in prime condition – professional pool maintenance services.
At Net Positive Pools, we understand the intricacies of pool care. We provide a hassle-free solution through our weekly maintenance services. Our qualified team can handle each aspect of pool care, allowing you to enjoy your pool without the constant worry of maintenance.
Our weekly maintenance package is an all-inclusive service designed to keep your swimming pool in top-notch condition throughout the year. Here’s what it includes:
Regular Monitoring: Staying ahead of any potential problems is key to keeping your pool clean and safe. Through our routine checks of your pool’s chemistry, we can detect and address any issues early.
Water Chemistry Balance: We carry out regular testing and make necessary adjustments to your pool’s pH, total alkalinity, and other levels. Our team ensures these remain within the ideal parameters.
Cleaning: Our service includes thorough pool cleaning, eliminating any dirt, debris, and algae.
Providing Pool Solutions Near You
Our commitment to preserving the health of your pool extends to various parts of North and South Carolina. Our team is only a short distance away and ready to meet your pool needs.
Whether you are busy, find pool maintenance complicated, or simply want to enjoy your pool instead of caring for it, Net Positive Pools’ weekly maintenance services are your solution. We take pride in delivering professional service to lift the burden of pool maintenance off your shoulders. Connect with us today, learn more about our services, and take the first step towards a worry-free pool experience with Net Positive Pools.
