How to Lower the pH Level in a Swimming Pool in Australia
A swimming pool is a great luxury, especially if you live in Australia. It is a good leisure activity which allows you to enjoy the swimming season at home. However, swimming pool ownership brings in various responsibilities to keep the pool and its equipment running smoothly and ensure that the pool water is always ready to dive.
Maintaining the PH levels is one of the main tasks you must carry out during your routine pool maintenance. In climatic conditions like Australia, having an eye on the PH levels is crucial for your pool’s health and the swimmer’s comfort. Failing to do so can result in cloudy water, reduced chlorine efficiency, and skin irritation. So, in this article, we will help you figure out how to lower pH in the pool and how to maintain them effectively.
In this blog, you will know:
- What is pH, & Why is it Important?
- What's the Ideal pH Level for a Pool?
- What Happens if the pH Is Too High in a Pool?
- How to Lower pH Levels in a Pool
- Causes of High pH in Australian Pools
- Conclusion
What is pH, & Why is it Important?
The pH level helps you identify how acidic or alkaline the swimming pool water is. It is an important factor in maintaining the swimming pool's water chemistry and keeping it safe and comfortable for swimmers. If the swimming pool water is too acidic or alkaline, it can irritate the swimmers and create an uncomfortable swimming experience. So, it's important to monitor and maintain the PH levels of the pool’s water at all times.
What's the Ideal pH Level for a Pool?
The ideal pH level range for a swimming pool is between 7.2 and 7.6. If the water's pH level is below or above this range, you must increase or decrease it using appropriate chemicals. The ideal pH level of swimming pool water helps prevent corrosion, maintains the chemical composition, and resists scaling on the pool surface and equipment.
What Happens if the pH Is Too High in a Pool?
If the pool’s pH level is too high, it will result in reduced chlorine efficiency, promoting algae growth. Furthermore, increased pH levels are responsible for cloudy water and scale buildup on the surface and equipment. A high pH in the pool is also adverse for human skin, as it irritates the swimmer’s eyes and skin.
How to Lower pH Levels in a Pool
If your pool water has high pH levels, there are various techniques to lower them. Here are the common chemicals used to lower the pool’s pH levels. They are also often referred to as pH reducers.
Using pH Reducers
Some of the common chemicals used as pH reducers are muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate (dry acid). Muriatic acid is a fast-acting chemical in swimming pools that swiftly reduces the water pH levels, but it requires careful handling by people proficient in using swimming pool chemicals. On the other hand, dry acid (sodium bisulfate) is suitable for beginners. It's safer but slower in effect. So, it depends on your experience and the time you are looking to spend to lower the pool water pH levels.
Step-by-Step Process
- Test the water using a pool test kit. You can also use pH indicator strips or digital pH measuring devices, which will show more accurate results. Make sure to take a water sample from a place far from the pool’s water inlet.
- Add the appropriate amount of acid based on your pool size.
- Let the pool water circulate for several hours.
- Retest the pH level and adjust it if necessary.
Apart from these steps, you can use other methods to reduce the water pH level. One of them is the aeration method. It involves bubbling the water through jets in areas with naturally high pH levels. It helps lower the pH gradually.
You can also go for a robotic pool cleaner. These automated devices can help maintain pool water circulation, ensuring that chemicals are evenly distributed, which can contribute to more consistent pH levels.
Causes of High pH in Australian Pools
There are many causes for high pH in the pool. One of the main reasons for this is the Australian hot climate, which causes evaporation. When the water evaporates from the pool, it leaves chemicals in swimming pools, raising the pH levels. Furthermore, some regions in Australia naturally have alkaline water. So, the pH levels already rise when they enter the pool. The pH levels also depend on the frequency of pool usage. Due to the hot climate in Australia, people tend to use swimming pools more often, causing fluctuations in their pH levels.
Conclusion
Maintaining the pool's pH levels is as important as any other swimming pool maintenance task. It ensures that your swimming pool is ready to use all the time and helps increase the lifespan of swimming pool equipment. The right water chemistry helps prevent algae growth and bacteria in the pool’s water, keeping it pleasant, safe, and healthier for the swimmers.