There’s always a learning curve when you take on a new project — and that’s true even with an incredible new pool. What chemicals do you need? How can you keep your water clean and clear? Fortunately, we’re here to help! Here’s everything you need to know about pH balance.
What is pH?
Simply put, pH is how basic or acidic the water in your pool is. The pH scale is measured from 0 to 14. A measurement closer to 0 is acidic. A measurement closer to 14 is basic. Your goal is to maintain a pretty neutral balance between the two with a measurement landing somewhere between 7.2 and 7.6. Why this number? This pH balance closely mimics the pH of human eyes, making your pool a more comfortable environment for you. But that’s not all! Your pool water is cleanest when your pH level is balanced.
What if my pH is too high?
A pH measurement of 8 or above indicates that your pool water is basic. When your water is too basic you start to experience some problems. One of the biggest issues with basic, or alkaline, water is that chlorine works best at disinfecting in neutral water. The chlorine just doesn’t work as well in a higher pH environment. More chlorine costs more money when you could more easily maintain the proper pH levels.
Higher pH levels can also cause cloudy water and build up on your pool equipment. This build up causes your equipment to work harder and break down more quickly. This costs you more money in the long run.
You can lower your pH levels by using our poolife® pH Minus balancer. This particular product contains the active ingredient of sodium bisulfate which will lower the pH level of your water. The poolife® pH Minus balancer comes with easy-to-follow instructions on how to lower your pool’s pH and get you swimming in clear, comfortable water again.
What if my pH is too low?
If your pH levels are too low, or below 7.2, then your water is acidic. When your water is too acidic you can experience a similar set of issues. Acidic water is hard on your pool and your body. Swimmers can experience dry skin and irritated eyes, which of course is terribly uncomfortable.
Acidic water can also cause corrosion of your pool equipment and accessories. Any metal that comes in contact with acidic pool water can begin to corrode and break down if the contact persists. These conditions can also cause vinyl, grout, tile, and other common pool materials to prematurely deteriorate.
You can raise your pool’s pH level by using our poolife® pH Plus balancer. The pH Plus balancer contains the active ingredient sodium carbonate which will raise the pH level of your water. Once again, this product has easy-to-follow instructions to help you properly maintain your pool’s pH levels for healthy, comfortable water.
pH Success
The bottom line is this: unbalanced pH is hard on your body and hard on your pool. It’s best to test your pH levels often in order to make sure that your pool is functioning optimally. If you’re busy or feel like it’s too overwhelming to maintain the chemical balance of your pool, please know that the certified technicians at A-Quality Pools are more than happy to help! We know everything you need to know about pH balance. Let’s get your pool added to our route for weekly service and maintenance. Just contact us today to get started!
