Are you the proud owner of a glistening, blue oasis right in your backyard? To keep your swimming pool healthy, safe, and enticing, understanding and maintaining pool water chemistry is crucial. Don't worry - you don't need to be a chemist! In this blog post, we'll demystify pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness, breaking it down into simple terms to help you keep those levels in check. And if chemistry was never your strong suit or you simply prefer lounging by the pool instead of maintaining it, our expert team at Sea Breeze Pools is always ready to step in.
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The Wonderful World of pH
In the realm of pool chemistry, pH is the superstar. Measured on a scale from 0 to 14, pH is the gauge of how acidic or basic your pool water is. A pH of 7 is neutral. If the number dips below 7, your water is acidic. Above 7, and it's basic or alkaline.
Why is this important? Too much acidity can cause skin and eye irritation for swimmers, corrode pool equipment, and decrease the effectiveness of chlorine. If it's too alkaline, you may find yourself dealing with cloudy water, scaling, and less effective chlorine.
The sweet spot for your pool's pH level is between 7.2 and 7.6. To maintain this, you can use pH increasers (bases) or decreasers (acids) available at any pool supply store. Regular testing with a pool pH test kit will help you keep track of the pH levels.
Algae's Enemy: Alkalinity
Think of alkalinity as pH's bodyguard. It's the measure of your pool's ability to neutralize acids and keep pH levels stable, also known as "buffering capacity". The right level of Total Alkalinity (TA) prevents drastic pH swings and helps keep your pool's chemistry balanced. Aim for TA levels between 80 and 120 parts per million (ppm).
You can increase alkalinity using a product typically referred to as a "TA increaser", which is essentially sodium bicarbonate (yes, baking soda!). To decrease alkalinity, you can add muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate. Remember to follow the instructions on these products carefully.
Calcium Hardness: A Balancing Act
Next up, we have Calcium Hardness (CH), a measure of the amount of dissolved calcium in the pool water. Why should you care about this? Too little calcium (under 200 ppm), and your water may become corrosive, causing damage to your pool's surfaces and equipment. On the flip side, too much calcium (over 400 ppm), and you risk developing calcium deposits or scaling on your pool surfaces and in your filtration system.
Increase CH by adding calcium chloride, and decrease it by diluting the pool water (drain and refill with water of lower hardness). It's that simple!
Monitoring and Maintaining Levels
Testing your pool water is a critical part of maintaining a healthy pool. You can use at-home test kits or digital testers, which you can buy from a pool supply store. The frequency of testing may vary with usage, but as a rule of thumb, test at least once a week. If you're adjusting chemicals, test more frequently until your levels are balanced again.
Sea Breeze Pools: Your Pool Chemistry Experts
If all this talk about pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness is giving you more of a headache than a sense of pool pride, it may be time to call in the experts. At Sea Breeze Pools, we know pool chemistry inside and out. Our team offers comprehensive maintenance services that take the guesswork and effort out of keeping your pool in perfect balance.
We'll ensure your pool water is healthy, clean, and ready for enjoyment, giving you more time to work on your backstroke or relax with a good book by the pool. Let us handle the test strips and chemicals – your job is simply to enjoy the fruits of our labor!
Got a Pool Problem? We Can Help.
Sea Breeze Pools services the following locations in Greater Central Florida:
Apopka, Lake Mary, Metro West, Mt. Dora, Oakland, Orlando, Sorrento, Longwood, Ocoee, Windermere, and Winter Garden.
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