How to Raise the pH Level in Your Pool: The Easy Guide from AQUASTRONG

When it comes to pool care, maintaining the right pH level is essential to keeping your pool water safe, clear, and comfortable for swimming. A low pH level, below 7, can cause various issues, such as damaging your pool’s surface, corrosion of equipment, and reduced effectiveness of chlorine. Thankfully, raising the pH in your pool is simple with the right chemicals and proper technique.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of raising your pool’s pH using easy-to-find chemicals, such as soda ash, baking soda, and pool-specific pH increasers.

How to Test Your Pool’s pH Level

Before adding any chemicals, you need to test your pool’s pH level to know how much to adjust it. There are several methods to test your pool water:

1. Test Strips: These are the most convenient and affordable option. They can test multiple chemicals, including pH, alkalinity, chlorine, and more.
2. Liquid Test Kits: A more accurate option, liquid test kits require adding a few drops of reagent to a water sample and matching the resulting color to a pH chart.
3. Digital pH Meters: For pool owners looking for precision, a digital pH meter provides instant readings. Just make sure to calibrate the device before use.

After testing, you can determine if your pH falls below the ideal range of 7.4 to 7.6. If it’s lower, it’s time to raise it!

How to Raise Your Pool’s pH Level with the Right Chemicals

To increase the pH of your pool water, you’ll need to use either baking soda, soda ash, or a pH increaser. Each of these chemicals serves a slightly different purpose, so it’s important to choose the right one for your specific needs.

1. Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)

   • Use this if you also need to increase your pool’s alkalinity.
   • Dosage: For a 10,000-gallon pool, add 1.5 pounds of baking soda to raise the pH by 10 PPM.
   • Effect: This will both raise the pH and the total alkalinity, helping to stabilize the water’s overall balance.

2. Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate)

   • Use this if you only need to raise the pH without affecting alkalinity.
   • Dosage: For a 10,000-gallon pool, add 6 ounces of soda ash to raise the pH by 0.2.
   • Effect: This will raise the pH directly without altering the alkalinity, making it the best choice when only the pH needs adjustment.

3. pH Increaser

   • This is a pre-measured chemical designed specifically for raising pH. If you don’t want to use soda ash or baking soda, a pool-specific pH increaser is a great alternative.

How to Add the Chemicals to Your Pool

Once you’ve decided on the chemical to use, it’s important to follow these steps to ensure the best results:

1. Run Your Pool Pump and Filter: Make sure the pump and filter are running so that the chemicals can circulate and dissolve evenly throughout the water.
2. Add the Chemical Slowly: Avoid dumping the entire amount at once. Instead, add the chemical gradually, spreading it around the pool.
3. Broadcasting: Broadcasting is the process of sprinkling the chemical evenly across the pool’s surface. This ensures even distribution.
4. Wait and Retest: After adding the chemicals, wait at least 20 minutes before retesting the water. If necessary, add more chemicals in small amounts to gradually bring your pH to the ideal range.

Why pH Balance Matters for Your Pool

Maintaining the proper pH level isn’t just about keeping your water clear—it also has several important benefits for both your pool and your health:

• Prevent Damage to Pool Surfaces: Low pH can cause corrosion of pool surfaces, including metal fittings and concrete, leading to expensive repairs.
• Boost Chlorine Efficiency: When pH levels are balanced, chlorine works more effectively to sanitize the water, keeping bacteria and algae at bay.
• Comfortable Swimming Experience: Low pH can irritate your skin and eyes. By maintaining a balanced pH, you ensure a more comfortable swimming experience for you and your family.

What Causes Low pH in Your Pool?

There are several reasons your pool’s pH may drop below the ideal range:

• Rain: Rainwater has a naturally low pH, so heavy rain can cause your pool’s pH to drop. Test and rebalance the pool water after each rainstorm.
• Pool Usage: High pool usage, especially with a lot of people in the water, can lower pH due to the introduction of body oils, sweat, and other contaminants.
• Chemicals: The chemicals used to treat your pool, such as chlorine, can also cause pH levels to fluctuate. Always test your water after adding any chemicals to ensure the pH is within the ideal range.

What Happens If Your pH is Too Low?

If your pool’s pH is too low, it can lead to:

• Corrosion: The acidic water can corrode your pool’s equipment, surfaces, and even the pool liner.
• Reduced Chlorine Effectiveness: Low pH makes chlorine less effective, which can lead to cloudy water and even algae growth.
• Irritated Eyes and Skin: Swimming in water with low pH can cause eye irritation and dry skin, making your pool less enjoyable.

How to Maintain Balanced Pool Water

To keep your pool water crystal clear, it’s crucial to regularly test your pH and other chemical levels (such as alkalinity, chlorine, and calcium hardness). Follow these basic tips:

• Test Regularly: Test your pool water at least once a week to ensure all chemical levels are balanced.
• Adjust as Needed: If your pH is off, make the necessary adjustments to bring it back to the ideal range.
• Keep Your Pool Clean: Regularly clean your pool’s filter and skimmer baskets to ensure efficient filtration.