How to Lower Acidity In Your Pool in 3 Steps

Maintaining balanced pool chemistry is a sizable task. Family Pool Maintenance always recommends frequent testing and adjustment of your chemical levels. It’s much easier to maintain a pool over time than to fix an out-of-control algae bloom. That said, quite a bit can go wrong with your pool. In previous blog posts, we’ve covered calcium imbalances, metal contamination, and ideal overall chemical levels.In this blog post, we will cover how to lower acidity in your pool. High pool acidity is bad news for the pool structure and the people swimming in it. If you read through this article and have more questions about adjusting the acidity in your pool, contact Family Pool Maintenance. We are always available for questions.

What are the dangers of high pool acidity?

An acid is any substance that releases protons when submerged in water. Some people become aware of acidity when a doctor recommends a change in diet. Foods like soda, cheese, and coffee are all considered acidic. Since the body is over 70% water, small changes in acidity can negatively affect your health. Similar care must be taken with your pool.Acidity is measured in pH levels. Acidity and pH levels share an inverse relationship. The lower the pH number, the higher the acidity. For example, anything under 7 pH is considered acidic.So, what happens when you don’t lower acidity in your pool and pH dips below 7? The major consequence of high pool acidity is corrosion. Any metal parts (often the most expensive) will be slowly eaten away. These include pumps, filters, cleaners, and heaters. Acidic water can also attack the plaster of inground pools or cause liners to become brittle and crack.Acidic water also makes swimming uncomfortable. A common symptom of acid exposure is red, itchy eyes. You may also experience dry, rash-covered skin after swimming.

What causes high acidity in pools?

Any addition or change to a pool’s water chemistry will affect pH levels. After a noticeable change in weather, chemical routine, or pool usage, it’s a good idea to check the pH.

1. RainRainwater often has a different acidity from your pool. Since rain is naturally acidic, you might notice the pool’s acidity increases after a heavy storm. Large storms are known to hit Delaware and the Tristate area on occasion, so stay vigilant. 
2. Chemical imbalancesA highly acidic pool often occurs after you’ve just treated another issue related to pool chemicals. Everything you add to your pool will react with everything else. When we say “balance your chemicals,” we mean it. There are often a dozen different variables interacting at any given time. If you’re having trouble harmonizing your pool chemicals, call Family Pool Maintenance. 
3. Pool OveruseHuman bodies also affect the acidity of your pool. Sunscreen and sweat are often the main culprits. It’s recommended that you check the pH levels after large pool parties. For example, if you host a family reunion for a week and 20 people use the pool every day, you will likely need to rebalance the water.

Tips for Lowering Pool Acidity

1. Test the waterMake sure the issue is acidity before adding chemicals. Some symptoms of acidity can also apply to high chlorine or certain algae contaminations. Use test strips, test liquids, or electronic testers to determine your pool’s low acidity levels. 
2. Add soda ash or baking sodaIf you discover low pH levels, soda ash or soda bicarbonate (baking soda) are common ways to reduce acidity. Soda ash is a strongly alkaline material that dissolves well in water and leaves behind a minimal trace. Adding a strongly alkaline material will raise the pH level of the water and reduce acidity. When adding materials to the water to balance the pH, it is easy to overdo it and go from a low pH problem to a high pH problem. If you’re unsure of how much to add, chat with a professional at Family Pool Maintenance. 
3. Aerate the water to lower pool acidityA second, less-common method of lowering acidity is to aerate the water. Aeration involves exposing as much water as possible to open air. The process takes much longer than an hour, sometimes even days, but it does work. Aerating the water can be done by turning on water features, pointing jets towards the surface, or adding aeration pipes above the jets.

The ideal acidity for pool water ranges from 7.3 - 7.8 pH. Even small dips above or below these levels won’t do much harm. Just check the levels a few days after to ensure the change in acidity isn’t a chronic problem. Maintaining your pool isn’t rocket science. It will require a little chemistry knowledge, but a few charts and regular adjustments will keep headaches to a minimum. Call Family Pool Maintenance today for a pool maintenance consultation. We partner with customers to provide easy, convenient solutions. Let us help you get the most enjoyment out of your pool.