Correct water balance and pH level in your swimming pool are essential to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and long-lasting swimming experience and protect your pool’s integrity. Learning how to manage these aspects of pool maintenance can make a significant difference in the quality and longevity of your pool. This blog will explore the importance of pool water balance and pH control, the key components involved, and practical tips for maintaining optimal water conditions.
Why Pool Water Balance and pH Control Matter
Ensuring Swimmer Comfort and Safety
Balanced pool water improves the comfort and safety of your swimmers. The pH level directly affects the skin and eyes of swimmers, particularly for young children or those with sensitive skin. An imbalanced pH can cause skin irritation, red eyes, and discomfort, making for an unpleasant swimming experience. Maintaining the pH within the ideal range of 7.4 to 7.6 keeps the water at a level that is gentle on the skin and eyes.
Protecting Pool Surfaces and Equipment
The pH level and overall water balance also play a critical role in protecting your pool surfaces and equipment. Like with your kitchen and bathroom taps, high pH levels can lead to scaling, which causes calcium deposits to form. Calcium build-up on pool surfaces and equipment can lead to structural damage and reduced efficiency.
Lower isn’t always better, however. Low pH levels can cause corrosion, damage metal components, and erode pool surfaces. In the long term, the correct pH and water balance can extend the lifespan of your pool and its equipment.
Enhancing Water Clarity and Quality
Proper water balance is vital for maintaining clear and clean pool water. Murky water doesn’t just look unappealing; Imbalanced water can lead to cloudy water, algae growth, and reduced effectiveness of sanitizing agents.
We offer free water testing in our showroom and recommend regular testing of pH and other chemical levels to ensure your pool water remains crystal clear and free from harmful contaminants.
Related content: Why Clean, Clear Water is Essential for Your Safety and Enjoyment
What Causes High pH in Your Pool?
Water pH changes organically. Using your pool breaks up the CO2 and causes the pH to rise. Your pH level can also increase when chemicals are introduced into your pool, intentionally or through exposure. Finally, a sudden temperature rise can cause fluctuating pH levels.
What Causes Low pH in Your Pool?
Just as swimming can raise the pH in your pool, not using your pool can cause low pH. When the water is stagnant for long enough, the pH will deteriorate, making it essential to test your water if you are reopening it after the winter.
Key Components of Pool Water Balance
So, what should you look out for when you test your water? Here’s what we test when we test your water in our showroom.
pH Level
The pH level measures the acidity or alkalinity of the pool water, with a scale ranging from 0 to 14. A pH level of 7 is neutral, while levels below 7 are acidic and above 7 are alkaline. For pool water, the ideal pH range is between 7.4 and 7.6. Water in this range means your chlorine or salt-water treatment will disinfect effectively.
Total Alkalinity
Total Alkalinity (TA) measures the concentration of alkaline substances in the water, which helps stabilize the pH level and prevent drastic changes. The recommended TA level is between 80 and 120 parts per million (ppm). Proper alkalinity levels ensure the pH remains stable, reducing the risk of corrosion or scaling.
Calcium Hardness
Calcium hardness refers to the concentration of calcium ions in the pool water. Maintaining calcium hardness between 200 and 400 ppm prevents corrosion of pool equipment and surfaces. Low calcium hardness can lead to the leaching of calcium from plaster, damaging pool surfaces, while high levels can cause scaling.
Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid
Chlorine is the primary sanitizer used in pool water to kill bacteria and algae. The recommended chlorine level for effective sanitation is between 2.0 and 4.0 ppm. Cyanuric acid, a stabilizer, helps protect chlorine from being degraded by sunlight, ensuring its effectiveness. The ideal cyanuric acid level is around 40 ppm.
Practical Tips for Maintaining Pool Water Balance
While it’s not the most glamorous aspect of owning a pool, maintaining your pool’s water balance is essential. You’ll find it easy to manage by keeping on top of it.
- Regular Testing and Monitoring: With our free testing service, there’s no excuse for not testing your water regularly! Test your pool water regularly and track trends to avoid issues before they happen.
- Adjusting Chemical Levels: Once you know your water test results, adjust your pool chemical levels accordingly. It's essential to adhere to product label instructions to ensure safe and effective results. We can advise you on the right products to use for your pool.
Prioritize Water Balance for Your Pool
Maintaining the balance of your pool water is as simple as testing regularly and adjusting where needed. If you would like your water tested for free, bring a sample to our showroom for testing and expert advice to maintain your pool.
Bring your pool water for testing to:
194 Killam Drive, Moncton. Monday-Friday, 10 am - 5:00 pm or Saturday, 10 am – 2 pm.
Waterworks Pools & Spas.
Complete bespoke solutions for backyards across Atlantic Canada.