What Is an Ideal Alkalinity for Pools?

Having a pool in your backyard is a dream come true! Still, endless hours of swimming and fun come with certain responsibilities. If you are a pool owner, then maintaining the chemical levels of your pool is one of the most important tasks to keep your pool crystal clear and healthy. One of the key components of pool chemistry is alkalinity. 

If you’re not familiar with alkalinity, you may not know how to decrease alkalinity in the pool or how you can maintain the correct levels. To understand the importance of alkalinity, let’s take a look at some basics about pool chemicals. 

Pool Chemical Basics

Chemicals are necessary to maintain the clarity and safety of the pool. Chlorine is the most commonly used chemical to sanitize pools. If chlorine is not balanced with other chemicals, it may become ineffective or harmful and your pool could turn hazy and green. 

pH and alkalinity play key roles in pool health, too. pH is the measurement of acidity or basicity of a liquid including pool water. Alkalinity refers to the measurement of your pool’s ability to neutralize acids. In other words, alkalinity is the water’s resistance to pH changes. 

A pool with high alkalinity will be able to maintain a stable pH level, while a pool with low alkalinity will be more susceptible to fluctuations in pH. Therefore, pH and alkalinity work together to ensure that the chlorine in the pool is effective in killing the bacteria and harmful microorganisms. 

Wondering what to do if pH and alkalinity are low? You can measure alkalinity using a test kit or ask a professional like Pool Care Guy to do the testing. 

Alkalinity in Your Pool

Ideally, the range of alkalinity should be between eighty parts per million (PPM) and 120 PPM. If the alkalinity is higher than this, it could lead to cloudy water and make it difficult to adjust the pH of the pool. On the other hand, if the alkalinity is too low, then the water will become corrosive, which can cause damage to the pool’s equipment, such as the liner or the pump.

Keep in mind that this is just a general guideline, and the ideal alkalinity level for your specific pool may vary based on a number of factors, such as the type of pool you have, its size, and how often it is used.

How to Control Your Chemical Levels

Here are a few tips on how to manage the chemicals in your pool:

• Adjust pool chemicals based on test results.
• Add chemicals separately, allowing each to circulate before retesting.
• Test pool water at least once a week for ideal chemical levels.
• Follow product label instructions and monitor pH levels before and after adding chemicals.
• Adjust pH levels by adding acidic (muriatic acid) or alkaline (baking soda) substances.
• Be cautious not to overdo adjustments because this may cause imbalanced pH levels and more issues.
• Maintain optimal alkalinity with proper water circulation.
• Use an efficient pool pump and filter system for even chemical distribution.

Reasons Why Alkalinity Is Important

Maintaining the proper alkalinity level in your pool is critical for several reasons. First, it helps prevent corrosion of the pool’s surface and equipment that can happen with low pH levels. It also ensures that your sanitizer (whether it’s chlorine, bromine, or salt) is working effectively because proper alkalinity helps stabilize chlorine levels. Furthermore, high alkalinity can cause the calcium and other minerals in the water to scale, leading to stains on the pool surfaces. 

Now that you know what can happen to the pool itself, you’re probably wondering what happens if you swim in water with high alkalinity.  Proper alkalinity keeps your pool water comfortable for swimmers, as water with low alkalinity can be irritating to the eyes and skin.

Closing Thoughts

Maintaining proper alkalinity levels is essential for the health and safety of your pool and those who use it. Aim for a range of eighty PPM to 120 PPM, but remember that this number can vary from pool to pool. Regular testing and adjustments, along with proper water circulation and cleaning, will help ensure that your pool’s alkalinity stays in check. By using the right chemicals and regularly monitoring the pH and alkalinity levels, you can keep your pool crystal clear and enjoy many fun-filled summers for years to come!