Chemical balance is a crying need for your pool water. You definitely should be anxious when there is a chemical imbalance in the water.
In this article, we are going to answer you on how to lower the pH in the pool. It’s not hard to meet the right level of pH, you just need to know a few factors.
Leave it on us, we have stored for you what is needed.
What is pH?
It’s important to know the basic, pH is the measure of total acid-alkalinity balance.
pH level decides whether your pool water is acidic or alkaline. An important note is, pH can measure from 1 to 14, more importantly, the pool’s ideal ranges are 7.2-7.6.
So, what is acidic and alkaline water? Simply put, the higher the pH level is, the more alkaline your water is. On the other hand, the lower the pH is, the more acidic your water is.
If your water is acidic, it can corrode your equipment and irritate your skin and eyes. Too alkaline water is the reason for scaling and cloudy water.
The door is open for you to know how to clear cloudy pool water.
Why will you lower the pH in your pool?
When your pool’s chemical balance is getting a little bit high, you will start noticing some pool problems. It can be dangerous for swimmers as it poses some serious health issues. You may face:
- Skin and eye irritation
- Cloudy water
- Scaling
- High chlorine demand
- Clogged filters and pipes
You may think that clogged filters and scaling are not the issues but when you know it can affect circulation and also put a strain on your pool equipment, you can see dollar signs.
For example, You may get some severe scaling in your pipe that doesn’t allow your water to move through it at the same speed.
What is actually happening? Your pool pump is still pushing the water through the pipes like the earlier, but your system can’t handle it anymore.
It costs bursting your pipes or burning out your motor, both of them will demand a pretty expensive repair bill.
What’s the reason for being your pool’s pH balance high?
The ideal pH range for your pool water is 7.4, and normally should be from 7.2-7.6. But, it’s tough to keep it on point all the time.
A sudden climbing of the pH balance is nothing to be worried about, but if you’re constantly facing the struggle keeping it in range, you can face a bigger problem.
Actually, the pH level is affected by almost everything that enters the water. This is why it’s very unstable in water and really hard to keep it under control. Have a look over some of the reasons:
1. Pool shock: Using cal hypo (calcium hypochlorite) to shock your pool can raise the pH levels of your pool. So, will you stop shocking?
Never, just test all the chemical levels constantly and definitely after shocking your pool.
2. High alkalinity: If the total alkalinity is high, your pool’s pH level will rise for sure. Because these two factors are very interlinked.
3. Incorrectly measured chemical: While adding something in your pool water just for raising the pH level, avoid adding it too much and send the pH totally to the other side of the scale.
What products will you offer to lower the pH level?
Sodium bisulfate and muriatic acid are normally used for lowering the pH levels in the pool water.
Here’s a safety caution, use the protective outfit while using these chemicals, both of them can damage your pool surface and your skin.
Sodium bisulfate
This is also called dry acid. Avoid windy days for using this, because it comes in a fine powder form.
It’s safer to use and store, that’s why some people appreciate using this one. But you need to remember, this a much milder chemical than muriatic acid. So, you need to be careful with it.
Muriatic acid
It also termed hydraulic acid that comes in a liquid form. It also is a very strong chemical you have to use with caution.
What are the steps of lowering the pH with these products?
Now, see the steps about how to lower the pH. Both of the chemicals demand almost the same instruction.
1. Test first the pH and alkalinity
The alkalinity should be 80-120 ppm and the pH range should be 7.2-7.6. If you can see the levels are higher than the standard, you need to work for it.
2. Measure the chemicals:
Now, read carefully the manufacturer’s instruction to know how much product you need to add based on how much you need to raise the level.
3. Add the chemical:
For sodium bisulfate, pour the powder into your return jets, where the water enters your pool, but don’t add it to the skimmer.
For muriatic acid, Turn off the pump and pour it at the deep end of the water, it will allow the liquid to mix with the water properly. Now, turn on the pump and let it circulate.
4. Let the chemical dissolve properly:
Your pool’s filtration system will circulate the chemical. For sodium bisulfate, it will take nearly 15 minutes to dissolve and the muriatic acid will take a few hours.
5. Re-test and repeat if needed:
Retest the chemicals within 24 hours. If the pH and alkalinity levels are normal, then your job is done. But you need to repeat the process if they are still high.
So, these steps should be followed.
Conclusion
We are in the end, hope you are satisfied with the information. If you are struggling a lot to stabilize your pool’s pH level, do test your complete pool chemistry.
Take it the most important to keep the pool neat and clean for avoiding future sufferings.
After all this, you should be clear about how to lower the pH in the pool and if you are clear, go for it!