Maintaining the pH levels of your pool water is a crucial part of keeping your pool clean and healthy. However, it’s not an easy task for most people. It takes constant cleaning, proper chemical levels, and the right equipment to create a beautiful and safe pool environment.
This article explores what pH is, why it’s important to maintain it, and ways to keep your pH levels at a desirable level.
What is pH?
The acronym pH stands for “potential of hydrogen.” It is a measurement of how acidic or how basic the water in your pool is. With pH, 7 is neutral. Anything higher than 7 is alkaline, and anything below 7 is acidic.
Can pH levels become too low or too high?
For your pool to work well, it needs to be maintained at a pH level of between 7.2 and 7.8. If the pH level drops below 7.2, the chlorine in your pool can’t do its job properly — it can’t kill bacteria, algae, and other contaminants as effectively as when the pH level is higher. In addition, if the pH is too low, your pool water will become unstable and corrosive, which could damage the pool walls, deck, and equipment. If the pH level goes above 7.8, it can cause calcium scaling on your tiles and equipment.
Why is it important to maintain the pH in your pool?
Swimming in water with a low pH (less than 7) can irritate your skin and eyes and cause serious damage to your pool equipment. On the flip side, water with a high pH (greater than 7) may not be harmful to humans, but it can lead to scale buildup on your equipment, making it less efficient. It also results in cloudy water that takes more chemicals to clear up.
What causes pH levels to change in your pool?
One reason is the natural presence of carbon dioxide in the air, which turns into carbonic acid when it mixes with water. Other reasons include
- Rainwater
- Organic chemicals like bird droppings
- Fertilizer
- Runoff from nearby trees
- Cleaning solutions used for equipment maintenance
Finally, chlorine reacts with waste in the water and becomes chloramine, which lowers pH levels over time as well.
How can you maintain pH levels in your pool?
Our pool service experts at Alan Jackson Pools recommend that residential pool owners have their water professionally inspected and treated at least once a month. This is important because professionals have the knowledge to measure the exact amount of pool chemicals needed based on the specific water conditions. They will also be able to tell you if there are any other issues with your pool water that need attention, such as algae or bacteria pollution, which causes problems beyond affecting pH levels.
Contact us for a free estimate to get started!