Tips on Adjusting Swimming Pool pH

pH in a swimming pool is extremely important and should be monitored and adjusted as necessary in order to keep it in an acceptable range and to keep the swimming pool water balanced. Acceptable levels for pH in a swimming pool are between 7.2 and 7.8 with the ideal range being between 7.4 and 7.6.

Why adjust the pH? Ignoring the pH in a swimming pool can cause many different problems. If the pH is allowed to get too low (acidic) the water can become corrosive and dissolve any metal that is part of the swimming pool or pool equipment. If the pH is allowed to get too high (alkaline), calcium deposits can form on the pool walls, pool tile, and the pool plumbing and equipment. pH can also determine the effectiveness of the sanitizer being used in the swimming pool. Allowing the pH to fall outside of the acceptable range can be costly by reducing the effectiveness of chlorine requiring more sanitizer and can also lead to other pool water problems including an increase in algae.

How to adjust the pH?
pH is adjusted by adding muriatic acid to adjust down and soda ash to adjust up. These chemicals can be found at the local pool supply store. Be sure to carefully read the instructions on the packages and ask the pool supply store for recommendations on adding these chemicals to the pool. Below are some general tips on adjusting a pool’s pH.

Tips on Adjusting the pH

1. Probably the most important tip to adjusting the pH in a swimming pool is to do so slowly and gradually. Making the adjustments slowly will reduce the chances of making a mistake while allowing you to slowly bring the pH to the desired level for any given swimming pool.
2. When adding liquid muriatic acid, take extra time and be very careful because it can be very dangerous and cause severe burns. Wear goggles or glasses and be extra careful to avoid contact with the eyes or skin. If acid contacts the skin, wash it off immediately with water in order to avoid being burned. It might not burn at first, but it will start burning the skin shortly and will surely be felt. Seek immediate medical attention upon heavy exposure or if the acid gets in the eyes.
3. When adding muriatic acid, make sure the pool equipment is running. Add the acid slowly and pour close to the surface of the water in order to avoid acid splashing on the deck, on clothes, or anywhere else it might do damage. Distribute the acid as much as possible by walking it around the pool or adding it slowly near a strong return outlet. The idea is to get the acid diluted as soon as possible. Don’t add the acid near the skimmer or any other suction inlet in order to avoid having undiluted acid circulated directly into the pool equipment and possibly damaging it.
4. When adding soda ash, make sure the pool equipment is running. Dissolve the soda ash in a bucket of water before adding it to the swimming pool. Add the soda ash to the water, not the other way around, and make sure the soda ash is totally dissolved before adding it to the swimming pool. Make sure to read and follow the instructions on the product before using it.
5. After making any adjustments to the pH of a swimming pool, allow a day for the pH to stabilize before re-testing. If you test immediately after making an adjustment, you will most likely get a false reading. Make daily or weekly adjustments until you reach the targeted pH reading that brings the swimming pool water into balance.

Monitoring and adjusting the pH in a swimming pool on a routine basis is extremely important to the health of the swimming pool. Avoid damage to swimming pool or pool equipment by testing for the pH weekly and adjusting as necessary to keep the pH in the ideal range. A proper pH value and balanced water is a crucial step to a healthy swimming pool.