How to Reduce Alkalinity in Pools Using Muriatic Acid

Swimming pools are treated with chemicals to kill bacteria and maintain a pleasant appearance. In order to keep your swimming pool at a stable pH level, the total alkalinity (TA)--the level of bicarbonate alkalines that are in the water--needs to be in the range of 80 to 120 ppm (parts per million). When the TA is too high, your pool water will look cloudy. To reduce the alkalinity of a swimming pool, you can use muriatic acid, otherwise known as hydrochloric acid.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pool test kit Tape measure Pool calculator Bucket Rubber gloves Muriatic acid

1. Use a pool test kit, available at places that sell swimming pools and home improvement stores, to test the pH of your swimming pool. The reading will tell you both the alkalinity and the acidity so you can determine if the alkalinity is too high. A normal reading for a swimming pool ranges between 7.0 and 7.6 pH.

2. Measure the length, width and depth of your swimming pool with a tape measure. You will need to know the depth of both the deep and shallow ends of the pool.

3. Enter your pool's measurements into a calculator, such as the Pool Wizard's pool calculator (see Resources). Based on the shape of your pool and its measurements, the calculator will tell you how much muriatic acid you need to use to reduce the alkalinity.

4. Put on rubber gloves to protect yourself from the muriatic acid.

5. Fill a bucket about 3/4 of the way with water from the swimming pool. Add the specified amount of acid to the bucket to dilute it.

6. Empty the acid and water mixture from the bucket into the deep end of the pool. Be sure the pool's pump is running at this time. The pump will help distribute the acid evenly.

7. Wait for at least four hours for the acid to work its way around the entire pool. Test the acid levels again at this point. Swimmers can return to the water after four hours if the pH level tests at the normal range of 7.0 to 7.6 ppm.

Tips & Warnings

• Muriatic acid is extremely potent and can cause serious burns if it comes in contact with your skin. Make sure you add the acid to the water when the swimming pool is empty.
• Always introduce the acid mixture to water, and not the other way around (water into acid). This method must be followed to avoid splashing of the acid and in turn, serious injury.

Resources

• Pool Calculator from Pool Wizard

[rmsandegs]

on 9/10/2009 When you lower your total alkalinity (TA) be sure the pump motor is off, not on. Running the motor will distribute the acid evenly, but this is not what you want. The above method is used to lower the pH. Keep your pump motor off and stand in one spot in the deep end to add the acid. After 2 hours, turn the pump back on and allow the pool one full turnover, then re-test your TA.