Being a pool owner comes with a lot of responsibility regarding its maintenance and keeping the pool’s chemistry properly balanced. Pool chemistry can be difficult to master, but with the right sources, wrapping your head around how to balance your pool’s chemicals can become so much easier.
If your pool water appears cloudy, the plumbing has begun to erode or swimmers feel itchy skin or burning eyes after being in the pool, these are some signs that you may have improper chemical levels, which greatly affect the measure of acidity, also known as the pH level, of your pool.
What is Alkalinity and How is it Related to pH?
The first step to understanding how to keep your pool’s pH levels under control is by understanding the factors that affect the pH. One important concept to understand in this regard is alkalinity. Alkalinity refers to the pool’s total alkalinity or TA, which is the total concentration of hydroxides, cyanurates, dissolved carbonates and bicarbonates in the pool’s water.
Considered alkaline substances, each of these is high on the pH scale, meaning they are extremely alkaline or basic, as opposed to substances low on the pH scale that are extremely acidic. The ideal pH for a swimming pool is between 7.4 and 7.8 to ensure the water is neutral, not too acidic or basic, and suitable for human use.
It is easy to confuse pH and alkalinity because of how closely they relate, but the two aspects of your pool are not the same. While pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of the water, alkaline is a measurement of all alkaline substances present in the water, as measured by parts per million (PPM). The alkaline substances in your pool water act as a buffer against fluctuations in the pH of your pool’s water.
Because of this, your pH levels usually will correlate with the alkaline substance measurements of your pool. If your pH is low, your alkalinity is likely low as well. If your pH is high, it is likely that your alkalinity is high as well.
More on the Relationship Between pH and Alkalinity
What Happens If pH and Alkalinity Are Too High?
The pH levels of any pool are extremely sensitive, making it very easy for your water to become too acidic or alkaline.
Some common causes of high alkalinity include sunscreen lotions, sweat, changes in temperature, too much pool shock and high-alkaline water sources.
High pH
If your pool's pH levels are too high, you will likely see noticeable changes in the appearance and feel of your pool’s water. Some effects of high pH include:
1. Water appearing cloudy or dull
2. Algae blooms
3. Scaling from calcium deposits on the pool surface, waterline and pool lining
4. Chlorine that is less effective at killing pathogens
5. Skin rashes after spending time in the pool
High Alkalinity
Because of the relationship between pH and alkalinity, the signs of high alkalinity are often similar to those of high pH levels. Some signs that your pool is high in alkalinity are:
1. Decrease in chlorine effectiveness
2. Cloudy water
3. Clogged filters
4. Staining on pool liner
5. Scaling on the pool’s surface
6. Difficulty in adjusting pH levels
How to Lower Pool Alkalinity
Acceptable Range of pH and Alkalinity
To keep your pool clean and your swimmers safe, it’s vital to keep your pH and alkalinity levels within an acceptable range. From being exposed to the everyday elements, it is natural for your pool water to collect bacteria that alter the pH of your pool, making the water unsafe. This is why it is important for you to monitor the pH levels of your pool, ensuring the water remains within the recommended range of a pH level between 7.4 and 7.8.
There are a number of reasons the alkalinity of your pool may change, including natural causes and chemical effects. When testing the alkalinity levels of your pool, the proper range of total alkalinity falls between 80 and 120 PPM. This will help protect the water against changes in pH and prevent the reduced effectiveness of chlorine.
Because pH and alkalinity adjustments affect one another, you should always correct the total alkalinity before pH. This is because proper total alkalinity will act as a buffer for pH, helping to prevent fluctuations in pH levels. Sometimes reaching the proper alkalinity will naturally bring your pool’s pH levels into the proper range without you needing to make any further pH adjustments.
How to Raise Alkalinity
If you test the alkalinity of your pool water and find that you experience low alkaline levels, there are a few safe and effective products that can help regulate and increase your pool’s alkalinity and return your water to safe swimming conditions. Here are the steps you should take to help regulate your pool’s alkalinity if you find it to be too low:
1. Choose a product made of sodium bicarbonate.
One of the most useful compounds in the pool industry is sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda. Any substance like alkaline, alkalinity increaser or soda ash are options you can use to raise alkalinity levels. One perk of purchasing these sodium carbonate and bicarbonate products instead of regular baking soda is that they come with instructions and measurements describing how to use them. On the other hand, baking soda from any retail store is one of the best substances to raise alkalinity, but it may not come with instructions on how to use it to raise alkalinity levels.
2. Know the quantity of sodium bicarbonate you need to add.
Although too low levels of alkalinity can cause problems for your pool, so can high alkalinity. To avoid creating further problems in your pool, you want to make sure your pool’s alkalinity falls between 80 and 120 PPM. Depending on how low your levels are, you may need to use more product. A general rule is that it takes between one and one and a half pounds of sodium bicarbonate to raise alkalinity by 10 PPM in a 10,000-gallon pool. If you are unsure of the amount to use, use a smaller amount, wait to recheck the alkalinity levels and adjust accordingly.
3. Add it to the pool.
When you pour the sodium bicarbonate into the pool, avoid dumping it all in one spot. Instead, sprinkle it over the entire surface of the pool or pour it into a skimmer using a circular motion. This allows the substance to dissolve more quickly, keeps water moving and prevents the pool from appearing cloudy.
4. Retest the pool’s alkalinity.
After treating your pool for low levels of alkalinity, you want to wait at least six hours before retesting the water. This gives the substance time to disperse and dissolve throughout the entire pool. Ideally between six and eight hours after adding sodium bicarbonate, you can retest your pool water and see where the alkalinity levels are. If they fall within the ideal range of between 80 and 120 PPM, then you are done.
5. Repeat if necessary.
If your alkalinity is still low, go back and repeat the previous steps. It is better to start by adding smaller amounts of the substance and having the levels remain low than it is to add too much sodium bicarbonate in your first attempt.
How to Maintain Acceptable Alkalinity and pH Levels with WaterGuru
One of the most effective and hassle-free ways to monitor and regulate the alkalinity and pH levels of your pool are with devices and supplies from WaterGuru. WaterGuru products can give you many noticeable positive results, including safer swimming, longer pool life, a better visual appeal and extended equipment life.
WaterGuru SENSE
To get started maintaining acceptable alkalinity and pH levels in your pool, consider using Waterguru SENSE. SENSE is a pool monitor that sits inside of your pool’s skimmer and tracks the chlorine and pH levels, water flow and temperature of your pool. It measures the entire pool chemistry, instead of just the surface water like other chemical testing kits. SENSE also utilizes patented technology with an optical sensor that detects the slightest changes in measurements that are unnoticeable to the naked eye, giving it added accuracy.
This smart device pairs with your smartphone to provide you with convenient daily electronic testing results and gives you step-by-step instructions on the adjustments you need to make to properly care for your pool. With free in-app dosing advice, SENSE gives you a real-time reading of the chemical components of your pool with precise accuracy, which means that you can analyze any adjustments that may need to be made at any time of day with the click of a button.
Other WaterGuru Products
Aside from the smart devices designed to test the chemical balance of your pool automatically, WaterGuru also has additional supplies that can help keep your pool’s pH and alkaline levels within their proper ranges.
If you find the pH levels in your swimming pool to be too low, pH Increaserincreases the pH level in your water. The amount of product you use depends on how low your pH levels are. If your pool has a pH below 6.6 PPM, add one pound of product per 10,000 gallons of water. If the pH ranges between 6.6 and seven PPM, add ¾ pound per 10,000 gallons of water. To prevent costly damage and corrosion to your pool and its equipment that comes with low pH levels, keep your pH levels balanced by adding the proper amount of HTH pH Up to get your pH levels back within the 7.2 to 7.8 range.
When you find the pH levels in your pool are too high, WaterGuru also has products to help lower your pool’s pH levels. A similar product to HTH pH Up, pH Decreaserworks in the same way but produces the opposite effect. With this product, you simply add 4 ounces for every 10,0000 gallons of water, allow six to eight hours for distribution, then recheck the pH and repeat this process until your pool has achieved the ideal levels.
If pH is not a problem in your pool, but you notice the alkalinity levels of your pool are low, you may need Alkalinity Increaser. If your pool has low alkalinity levels, add one and a half pounds of product per 10,000 gallons of water to raise alkalinity by ten PPM, then wait at least eight hours before checking the alkalinity again. Maintaining proper alkalinity helps prevent pH levels from changing, preserving pool equipment and keeping water safe for swimmers.
Get Started with WaterGuru Today
At WaterGuru, we offer a variety of products that will make maintaining your pool much less of a hassle. Between our SENSE smart device that alerts you to changes in chlorine and pH levels and our TREAT smart device that monitors and dispenses chemicals automatically, you can get rid of your old ways of checking the chemical levels of your pool. Our devices paired with your smartphone and or app allow you to check pool levels from anywhere, giving you step-by-step advice on what treatment your pool needs to achieve proper chemistry.
If you experience common pool problems or if you want an easier solution to maintain to your pool, make pool care hassle-free with WaterGuru. Give us a call at 1-844-989-GURU (4878) or send us an email through our online support page to get started with us today!
WaterGuru Case Studies
- How Justin Saved 90% on Pool Energy Costs
- How Cathy Stopped Her Pool From Hurting Her Skin
- How Justin Cleared his Green Pool
FAQs
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.
What is the best way to raise pH and alkalinity in pool? ›
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.
Will shocking pool raise pH and alkalinity? ›
While it's important to shock your pool on a regular basis, chlorine-based pool shocks are highly alkaline and will raise pH and therefore alkalinity. So you may notice higher pH and total alkalinity after shocking your water.
Does WaterGuru measure alkalinity? ›
WaterGuru TEST analyzes your pool water for the following parameters: Total Alkalinity (TA) Cyanuric Acid (CYA) Calcium Hardness (CH)
What happens if pool pH and alkalinity are low? ›
With a proper alkalinity range, we recommend 80 ppm to 150 ppm, total alkalinity keeps the pH level stable. If your alkalinity level is too low, then your pool pH can fluctuate at the slightest addition of an acid or base. pH can drop randomly, which causes damages to pool walls, metal, and to swimmers.
Should I raise pool pH or alkalinity first? ›
We always recommend adjusting alkalinity first as it's so important to the pH. Alkalinity is, after all, a measure of how much acid the water can neutralize.
How do you raise alkalinity and lower pH at the same time? ›
Soda Ash Vs Baking Soda
Both are great choices to raise pH and alkalinity, however, if you are aiming to make large pH and alkalinity adjustments at the same time, then soda ash is better. But, if you want to raise the alkalinity level without overly affecting the pH level, we recommend using baking soda.
Should you raise pH or shock first? ›
Balance pH to the low end of the ideal pH range (around 7.2–7.4) before shocking. This will give your shock the most powerful effect. Add pool shock on its own, as it can destroy or disrupt other treatment chemicals.
What causes pool alkalinity to drop? ›
There is a perfectly natural reason for this: evaporation and agitation of your water leads to a drop in the total alkalinity. If you consider the composition of the total alkalinity in detail, it constitutes the water's carbonate and bicarbonate content.
Does high chlorine affect pH and alkalinity? ›
Granulated or liquid chlorine is alkaline and, therefore, tends to raise the pH level. Bromine is more neutral and has a minimal effect on pH, while chlorine gas is acidic and lowers pH.
FC- Range: 1ppm-10ppm with an accuracy of between +/- 0.5ppm. pH - Range: 7.0 - 8.0 units with an accuracy of between +/- 0.2 units.
How long does WaterGuru cartridge last? ›
The WaterGuru SENSE S1 Cassette is designed to last 2 months based on daily water measurements over a 2-month period. Note: Performing additional water measurements will reduce the life of the cassette.
Is it safe to swim in a pool with low alkalinity? ›
Asides its effects on your pool, a low alkalinity swimming pool is unsafe for swimmers as the acidic water can cause nasal, eye, and skin irritations.
Can you swim with low pH and alkalinity? ›
A pH level of 7 means that water is neutral; above 7 means the water is alkaline, while below 7 indicates acidity. Aim for a pH level of between 7 and 7.6. If the water pH is higher than 8, anyone who swims in the pool is at risk of skin rashes, while a pH of lower than 7 can sting swimmers' eyes.
Does pool algae like high or low pH? ›
Most Algae Grows in High-pH Environments
Most types of algae typically enjoy higher pH levels, ranging from 8.2 to 8.7. Once algae starts growing, it can further raise the pH level in your pool and cause more algae growth. Algae feeds off of CO2, which your pool needs in order to maintain a healthy chemical balance.
What are the symptoms of low alkalinity in a pool? ›
When alkalinity is too low, your pool finish can become etched and stain, metals corrode, the water can turn green, swimmers' eyes tend to burn, and pH can rapidly rise up or fall, seemingly at random.
Can I add alkalinity and pH at the same time? ›
To raise pH and Alkalinity at the same time, start with Alkalinity, and add enough Increaser to raise Alkalinity to 100 ppm. Add 1 lb Alkalinity Increaser per 10,000 gals, to raise Alkalinity 10 ppm. The pool pH level may rise and follow, without added pH Increaser.
How quickly can you raise alkalinity pool? ›
Ideally between six and eight hours after adding sodium bicarbonate, you can retest your pool water and see where the alkalinity levels are. If they fall within the ideal range of between 80 and 120 PPM, then you are done.
How long after adding pH and alkalinity can you swim? ›
8) How long after adding chemicals can I swim? Alkalinity Balance, pH up, pH down, Calcium Balance, Water Stabilizer, and clarifier are all swim-safe chemicals. Wait about 20 minutes, and you are free to swim.
Does higher pH mean more alkalinity? ›
However, the higher the alkalinity of the water source, the higher the pH of the growing medium.
No, shock does not raise pH. Shock refers to the process of adding a high concentration of chemicals, typically chlorine or non-chlorine shock, to a swimming pool or spa to destroy harmful bacteria, algae and other contaminants. This process is done to ensure that the water is clean, clear and safe for swimmers.
Is alkalinity increaser the same as pH increaser? ›
pH & Alkalinity Increaser is sodium bicarbonate (also called sodium hydrogen carbonate). It raises Total Alkalinity, and pH which is too low. Since it has a pH of only 8.3, it will generally have a lesser effect on pH. Diluted in water, Alkalinity Increaser will not raise pH above its normal range.
How long after shock can you add pH down? ›
A good rule of thumb is to never mix pool chemicals with each other. After adding Calcium Hypochlorite a user should always wait 24 hours before adding chemicals that would alter their pH.
How long does it take for pH to rise? ›
After adding pH increaser or decreaser you'll want to wait about two to four hours, although some chemical manufacturers suggest a full turnover cycle, before retesting. The smaller the increments you need to adjust for pH, the less time you'll need to wait for the results to become stable.
Does baking soda raise pH in a pool? ›
Depending on what PH you wish to achieve, adding a little baking soda will simply not affect the PH level of your pool, thereby causing it to remain almost the same way (acidic). However, adding too much baking soda might also raise the PH level of your pool to an undesired stage (alkaline).
What to do if pool total alkalinity is low? ›
There are two ways to increase your swimming pools alkalinity level: sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or any type of alkalinity increaser product. If you choose to purchase an alkalinity increaser product be sure the product is made from sodium bicarbonate, which is the main substance used to raise pH.
Does rain lower alkalinity in pool? ›
It is a fact that rain will decrease your Total Alkalinity level in the pool over time, requiring a pool owner to raise the alkalinity. Rainwater has a Total Alkalinity near zero. Heavy rains will dilute your pool alkalinity level, causing it to fall by 5-10 ppm a day.
What happens if water pH is too low? ›
Low pH water is slightly acidic. That means it's more likely to cause corrosion and leach metals from pipes and plumbing fixtures. Health wise, the biggest concern with low pH water comes from homes with copper pipes. Acidic water can pull copper from the pipes, carrying those metals into your drinking water.
What happens if pH is too low? ›
The glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinase is pH dependent,[3] as its activity decreases with decreasing pH, and thus glucose utilization in brain cells is impaired. [4] Therefore, the clinical consequences of decreasing blood pH are drowsiness, stupor, coma, and death in coma.
Will chlorine work if pH is too low? ›
With a pH level of 6.0 your chlorine will be highly effective with 97% of your chlorine available to kill bacteria and algae. However, at 6.0 your pool water would be extremely acidic and unsafe to swim in. On the flip side, if you pH is at 8.5 only 9% of your chlorine will be available to kill bacteria and algae.
How does it work? The SENSE Series 2 is a fully automated system. The device sits undetected by swimmers in the pool's skimmer, and using sensors analyzes the chemical parameters of the pool or hot tub's water. It then sends that data to the WaterGuru cloud, which produces a digital twin of the water.
What is the most reliable way to test pool water? ›
Pool test strips provide accurate readings of your pool's chemistry. In fact, pool test strips are a more reliable method of testing your pool water than a liquid test kit. Pool test strips eliminate the risk of human error.
Why is my WaterGuru SENSE not checking in? ›
If your WaterGuru Sense device is not providing you with all readings, it is usually because there is debris in the skimmer or not enough water flow. Lift the SENSE out of the skimmer and remove the debris from the skimmer.
How do I reset my WaterGuru? ›
Take the batteries out of your WaterGuru device and wait 30 seconds. Put the batteries back in and you will notice a set of lights next to the batteries that will blink indicating the device is turning on. The lights will stop blinking and the broadcast of BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) will begin.
How often do you need to replace a mineral cartridge in a pool? ›
Cleaning your cartridge every six months and replacing it every two years will ensure: Less water loss. Enhanced filtering for things like lotions, sunscreens, and makeup.
Can WaterGuru be used with above ground pool? ›
The previous model of the SENSE, the WaterGuru SENSE S1 does not work in above ground pools.
Does high chlorine cause low alkalinity? ›
Sweat and even urine may cause alkalinity levels to lower. If you happen to shock your pool with chlorine tablets, it's important to understand that these tablets have low pH levels, which means that using too many chlorine tablets can lower alkalinity levels.
Can you swim in a pool with alkalinity at 180? ›
The ideal range for a swimming pool's total alkalinity is between 80 ppm and 120 ppm, though the acceptable range is between 60 ppm and 180 ppm.
Is baking soda or alkalinity increaser better for pools? ›
Soda Ash or Baking Soda? If you want to raise your pH and alkalinity together, use soda ash (sodium carbonate). If your goal is to raise alkalinity only, use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
Is it bad to swim in chlorine everyday? ›
The more time spent in contact with it, the more irritating it can be. Add to that the fact that chlorinated water opens the pores, hypochlorous acid in essence strips the natural oils from the skin, causing dry, itchy, and irritated skin. This drying effect may even be a contributing factor to premature aging.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.
Does adding chlorine raise pH? ›
Using liquid chlorine raises the pH of the water.
When added to water, liquid chlorine (which has a pH of 13) makes HOCl (hypochlorous acid – the killing form of chlorine) and NaOH (sodium hydroxide), which raises pH.
Will low alkalinity make pool green? ›
Your pool water is green because your PH is out of balance making your chlorine ineffective; therefore your filtering system is not working correctly. Algae is certainly the cause of the green, but an imbalance of pH and/or alkalinity is why you have algae in the first place (while there is adequate chlorine).
What should be adjusted first alkalinity or pH? ›
We always recommend adjusting alkalinity first as it's so important to the pH. Alkalinity is, after all, a measure of how much acid the water can neutralize. Properly balanced alkalinity leads to a properly balanced pool.
Does pool shock raise or lower alkalinity? ›
While it's important to shock your pool on a regular basis, chlorine-based pool shocks are highly alkaline and will raise pH and therefore alkalinity. So you may notice higher pH and total alkalinity after shocking your water.
What is the easiest way to raise pH in a pool? ›
Baking soda and soda ash are two solutions you can add to water to raise a pool's pH. You can add either one directly to the pool. For the best results, walk around the edge while you dump the chemicals to distribute them evenly. Add 1.5 pounds of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water.
Is pH increaser the same as baking soda? ›
Some brands of alkalinity increaser have just one active ingredient: sodium bicarbonate. Well, guess what? Sodium bicarbonate is baking soda. Baking soda raises alkalinity levels in your pool.
Does pool shock raise pH? ›
It will slightly raise your pH, so make sure you adjust pH while using it. As the name implies, it will also raise your calcium hardness levels in your pool slightly.
What causes pool pH to be too low? ›
The most common cause of a consistently low pH level in pools is using chlorine tablets or stabilized forms of chlorine. These have a pH level of around 3. Acidic rainfall, heavy leaf debris, and dirt/mulch in the pool can also lower the pH level.
Why is alkalinity low in pool? ›
Causes of Falling Alkalinity
A high amount of rainwater entering the pool, which leads to the water being diluted. Acid rain can cause alkalinity levels and pH levels to drop. Sweat and even urine may cause alkalinity levels to lower.
You will need to wait 6 hours to let the baking soda thoroughly dissolve into the pool water. However, you can often speed up the process by turning on the pool's circulation system.
Does chlorine raise or lower pH? ›
When chlorine levels are too high, the water's pH will start to decrease, which can eventually lead to corrosion. However, liquid chlorine has a pH of 13 and can cause the water's pH to increase.
Is it bad to swim in a pool with high alkalinity? ›
A pH level of 7 means that water is neutral; above 7 means the water is alkaline, while below 7 indicates acidity. Aim for a pH level of between 7 and 7.6. If the water pH is higher than 8, anyone who swims in the pool is at risk of skin rashes, while a pH of lower than 7 can sting swimmers' eyes.
How long to wait after adding pH increaser to pool? ›
8) How long after adding chemicals can I swim? Alkalinity Balance, pH up, pH down, Calcium Balance, Water Stabilizer, and clarifier are all swim-safe chemicals. Wait about 20 minutes, and you are free to swim.
How long does it take for pH increaser to work in pool? ›
A: pH enhancers and increasers often start working within 20 minutes. Add a tiny quantity of the increaser into your pool, leave the cover off, activate the pumps, and let the water circulate. Test the pH level after 20 minutes.
What can I use instead of pH increaser? ›
You'll need plenty on hand. But if you just want to raise your pH level, then you should use soda ash. This is the main chemical used to increase your pool's pH. So instead of using a branded version of pH Increaser, you can just use soda ash.
How much baking soda to raise pool alkalinity? ›
As a rule, you don't add more than 2.5 pounds of baking soda in a day. Instead, start off adding the required amount (e.g., 1.25 for 10,000 gallons of water) of baking soda that can raise the alkalinity of your pool to 10ppm. You can sprinkle your baking soda over the surface of the pool, or you pour into a skimmer.
What chemical raises alkalinity? ›
Common chemicals used to increase alkalinity and pH include: Calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide (as lime slurry) Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) Sodium carbonate (soda ash) or sodium bicarbonate.
