How to Adjust the pH & Alkalinity in a Pool
A swimming pool's large body of water contains numerous water levels vital to the healthy operation of the pool system. Two commonly adjusted levels in the pool are the pH and total alkalinity levels. Both the pH and alkalinity levels indicate how acidic or base a pool's body of water is. Adjusting the pH and alkalinity in a pool involves testing for the initial chemical level and applying chemical treatments to raise or lower the level. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Fill a bottle or other medium-size container with water from 1 to 2 feet below the surface of the pool. Test the pH and total alkalinity levels of the water sample with a home test kit or take the sample to a pool supplier for testing. Keep a record of the test results. Optimal pH levels are between 7.2 and 7.4. Optimal total alkalinity levels are between 225 and 250 parts per million.
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Add 1/4 gallon of muriatic acid per 10,000 gallons of pool water to the pool every day for three consecutive days. Muriatic acid lowers both the pH and alkalinity levels of the pool water. Expanding the treatment to a partial application every three days prevents the acid from damaging the liner or other pool components. Test the pH and total alkalinity and record the results. Repeat out the desired levels are achieved.
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Add 1 pound of a pH increaser such as soda ash to the pool for every 10,000 gallons in the pool. Test the pH level after application and record the results. Repeat the treatment until the desired pH is reached.
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Add 1 pound of an alkalinity inscreaser such as sodium bicarbonate to the pool for every 10,000 gallons in the pool. Test the alkalinity level and write down the results. Reapply the chemical treatment until the correct level is reached.
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Tips & Warnings
Test the pool's pH and total alkalinity levels weekly to keep the water in balance.
References
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