What is pH and how does it affect other pool chemicals?

Maintaining the proper pH level is crucial to keeping your pool clean and safe for swimmers. pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of your pool water, and it affects the effectiveness of other pool chemicals. In this blog post, we'll discuss what pH is and how it affects other pool chemicals.

What is pH?

pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution, on a scale of 0-14. A pH of 7 is neutral, while pH values below 7 are acidic and pH values above 7 are alkaline. In pool water, the ideal pH range is between 7.2 and 7.8, with 7.4 to 7.6 being the optimal range.

How does pH affect other pool chemicals?

Maintaining the proper pH level is essential because it affects the effectiveness of other pool chemicals. For example:

Chlorine: Chlorine is the most commonly used pool sanitizer, and it works best at a pH of 7.2 to 7.8. If the pH is too high or too low, the chlorine will not be as effective at killing bacteria and algae.

Alkalinity: Total alkalinity (TA) is a measure of the water's ability to resist changes in pH. The ideal TA range is 80-120 ppm. If the pH is too high, adding an alkalinity increaser can help raise the pH level and stabilize it. If the pH is too low, adding an alkalinity reducer can help lower the pH level and stabilize it.

Calcium hardness: Calcium hardness measures the amount of dissolved calcium in the water. The ideal range is 200-400 ppm. If the pH is too high, calcium can precipitate out of the water and form scale. If the pH is too low, the water can become corrosive and damage pool surfaces and equipment.

Stabilizer: Cyanuric acid, also known as stabilizer, helps protect chlorine from being broken down by sunlight. The ideal range is 30-50 ppm. If the pH is too low, the stabilizer will not be effective, and the chlorine will dissipate quickly.

In conclusion, pH is a crucial component of pool water chemistry, and it affects the effectiveness of other pool chemicals. Maintaining the proper pH level is essential for keeping your pool clean and safe for swimmers. It's recommended to test your pool water regularly, at least once a week, and adjust the pH level as needed.