Is your pool's pH level too high? You may feel irritated eyes and skin, hazy water, algae growth, and even damaged pool components if the levels remain high for an extended period. To lower your pH to normal levels, you must immediately add some pool chemicals. Muriatic acid or a pH decrease (sodium bisulfate) can be used to lower the pH in a pool.
For a fast chemistry review, The pH scale determines how basic or acidic a substance is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, anything below 7 being acidic, and anything above 7 being basic. Your pool's pH should be between 7.4 and 7.6 when properly balanced (1).
Even the swimmers themselves have the power to change the pH level of the water. Things might become out of balance due to factors like rain, dirt, and debris in your water. Further more, systems using salt water produce inherently high pH levels. Because pH is so unstable, it's crucial to regularly test the pH levels in your pool as part of your routine pool maintenance.
For a detailed explanation of what impacts pH and how to use muriatic acid or a pH decrease to lower the pH in a pool, continue reading.
How Do Total Alkalinity and pH Relate to One Another?
Your total alkalinity and pH levels are interconnected. Your alkalinity also contributes to the stability of your pH level. Without it, the pH would change widely. The pH is unstable when your total alkalinity is too low. Additionally, if it rises too high, your pH levels may as well.
Because it can assist bring your pH into range, changing your alkalinity before adjusting your pH is crucial. You should have a total alkalinity of 100 to 150 parts per million (ppm). Use an alkalinity increase if you discover that your total alkalinity is too low but your pH is higher than 6.8. Using a pH decreaser or pH reducer, such as sodium bisulfate, will lower both your alkalinity and pH if your total alkalinity is too high.
What Occurs If the pH in Your Pool Is Too High?
High pH is defined as your pH level being 7.8 or higher. And if your high pool water pH is neglected for too long, it can cause a variety of problems, such as eroding pool components and having an impact on swimmers.
Reduces the effectiveness of chlorine
The chlorine in your pool won't be able to clean the water as well if the pH is too high. To achieve the same result as before, you'll need to apply more chlorine, which may disrupt the chemical balance of the pool's other components. You might have an algae bloom if chlorine isn't effective at killing bacteria. Additionally, you can get calcium buildup, which can result in hazy water and broken pool equipment.
Irritates Skin and Eyes
Swimmers may experience itchy, red eyes due to high pH. They might also develop skin irritability. So, contrary to popular belief, extremely high pH levels are what actually irritate the eyes and skin, not excessive chlorine levels.
Erodes Swimwear and Swimmer Equipment
Goggles and swimwear should not be exposed to the high pH. Your swimsuit may eventually fade or lose its ability to keep you warm to the point where the chemical imbalance makes it unwearable. Goggles could deteriorate and crack earlier than you anticipate.
Damages Pool Equipment
The high pH will cause calcium scales to accumulate on your pool's walls as well as on the pool equipment. The accumulation may clog machinery and obstruct water movement into and out of the pool. The pool pump can malfunction as a result of this and possibly become ineffective.
Lower pH with pH Decreaser (Sodium Bisulfate)
Sodium bisulfate, sometimes referred to as dry acid, is used to make the majority of commercial pH decreasers, including pH Down and pH negative. They are more expensive than muriatic acid but safer and less corrosive to use.
Photo: Amazon.com View on Amazon
On windy days, avoid putting it to your pool because utilizing it will be more likely to have the powder blow back into your face.
1. Check Your Water
Test your pH and alkalinity first so you can determine how much to lower everything. Don't worry if your total alkalinity is also too high; the pH decreaser will also lower it.
2. Measure Out the pH Decreaser
To determine how much ph decreaser to use, read and adhere to the manufacturer's instructions.
Using less and adding more afterwards is acceptable. Keep in mind that if you add too much, it's quicker to add more to restore your water balance than it is to change the chemistry of the pool.
3. Fill Your Pool With The pH Decreaser
In the deepest part of your pool and close to the return jets, directly pour the chemical into the water. Run the pump continuously. Never include it in the skimmer. If you have an above-ground pool, you might need to use a pool brush to help stir the water.
4. Let the pH Decreaser Dissolve
Allow the chemical to dissolve and circulate throughout the water of your pool via the filtration system. Undissolved clumps should be brushed from the surfaces of your pool since they can harm the walls and bottom of the pool.
5. Check Pool Water Again, Repeat as Necessary
It is not required to test your water again right away, but you must do so within 24 hours. Congratulations if your pH and total alkalinity are within the usual range. If you discover they are still high, try it again.
Lower pH with Muriatic Acid
Muriatic acid, also known as hydrochloric acid, is a chemical that is extremely caustic and dangerous. You must therefore take additional measures if you choose to lower your pH in this way. Wear clothes that completely enclose your body. Additionally, put on thick gloves, safety goggles, and a mask to prevent inhaling chemicals. Even if it isn't powder, windy days should be avoided due to blowback and splashback.
Photo: Amazon.com View on Amazon
1. Check the Water
So that you can determine how much to lower both levels, test your pH and total alkalinity. Muriatic acid will reduce alkalinity and pH simultaneously. However, they might diminish at various rates.
2. Calculate the Muriatic Acid
Calculate how much muriatic acid you'll need to add to get your pH leveled off. Start by adding 1 quart (1/4 gallon) of muriatic acid to a 15,000-gallon pool if your pH value is higher than 7.8. Then retest your levels an hour after letting the acid circulate. Start by introducing one cup of muriatic acid at a time if your pool is smaller. After one hour, add more as necessary.
3. Add Muriatic Acid to Your Pool Water
This is an acid, so if it begins to gather in one spot, it could harm your pool's liner. Consequently, to keep your water flowing, always run your filter (ideally on the circulate setting). Start out slowly because you can always add more acid later.
If you first dilute muriatic acid in a bucket of water, handling it is safer and simpler. The best water to muriatic acid ratio is 10:1, however you should always adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations. To prevent splashback, add the water first, then the muriatic acid.
- Method 1: Switch off the pool pump, then pour a little trickle of muriatic acid into the pool's deep end. This guarantees that the acid will sink to the bottom and not float around at the pool's surface. Then start your pump and let the water and acid mix together.
- Method 2: Let the pump circulate the acid as you slowly pour it into the pool close to your return jets. Add the acid gradually while circling the pool for above-ground pools to prevent concentration in one area.
4. Let Muriatic Acid to Dissolve
Let the chemical dissipate while keeping your pool's filtration running (preferably on circulate). In an hour, it ought to disintegrate. However, if you have to add a huge amount, it might take longer.
5. Test the Water Once More
After an hour or so, check the pH and alkalinity once more. Repeat the process, this time adding muriatic acid a small bit at a time if the levels are still high.
If you've added a small amount of muriatic acid, swimming should be safe after an hour of pool circulation. If you've added more, wait 24 hours before retesting your water and swimming.
FAQs
Do you need help reducing the pH in your pool? Here are a few typical queries and their responses.
How can I naturally lower the pH in my pool?
There are four ways to naturally lower the pH of a pool: establishing a distilled water system to pump in water, regularly cleaning your pool, letting it sit and let the pH level gradually decrease as minerals build up, or installing a pool heater. More effectively than colder water, hot water can dissolve natural materials. No matter what, you still need to check levels frequently using test strips or a testing kit to keep them from dropping too low.
What happens if the pH in a pool is too high?
The chlorine in your pool won't sanitize the water as well if the pH is too high. Swimmers' eyes could become irritated and inflamed. Goggles and bathing suits may fade and wear out more quickly than usual.
Can you swim in a high pH pool?
In a pool with a high pH, swimming is not advised. When the pH of your pool is high, the chlorine's ability to destroy microorganisms is diminished. Additionally, high pH values might irritate swimmers' skin and eyes.
Will shocking a pool reduce the pH?
Your pH levels can really rise by adding shock. A calcium hypochlorite (cal-hypo) shock can momentarily elevate your pH levels. Therefore, periodically check your chemical levels, especially after stunning.
Does vinegar affect the pH of pools?
Acetic acids, which are present in vinegar, help to reduce pH. The trouble with this strategy is that you would need a lot of vinegar—several gallons—to fix your pool's pH problems. Additionally, vinegar may leave behind sugars and other contaminants when used in large quantities. The contaminants may change the chemistry of your pool, and the sugars serve as food for the aquatic bacteria.
Will a pool's pH be lowered by baking soda?
In fact, adding baking soda to your pool will increase its pH and alkalinity. Baking soda, also referred to as sodium bicarbonate, has a high pH of 8 and is naturally alkaline.
