What should swimming pool pH levels be?
Owning a backyard swimming pool is one of the greatest things about being a homeowner. You can exercise by taking laps whenever you’d like, enjoy time with your children, and even invite friends and family over for a fun celebration. You can’t just get a pool installed and then let it fend for itself. Pools must be taken care of to ensure both the quality of the pool itself is satisfactory and the safety of everyone who takes a dip. You may have heard people talking about pH levels from time to time, primarily the importance of maintaining a proper level in your own swimming pool. The truth is simple, not only are pool pH levels an important factor in owning a pool, but they are also critical to your pool’s quality and safety. So, what exactly does the pH level mean and how can you manage pool pH levels?
Explaining Pool pH Levels
The pH level of your pool is actually a very simple thing to understand. When the level is too low, it is acidic. When the level is too high, it is alkaline. Some professionals disagree on the range you should be shooting for, but you’re typically safe between 7 and 7.6. The optimal level that you should have every time is 7.4. Anything below or above this range can cause issues with both the pool itself and anyone who goes into the water.
Low Levels
When the water is too acidic, this can corrode the metal materials, the pool liner, and other parts of the pool. Plus, it will increase the level of sulfur in the water, which can give it a bad smell and cause additional problems. As for swimmers, an increase in acidity will cause the chlorine in your water to burn off at a higher rate than normal, which can negatively affect a swimmer’s experience in the pool. Plus, stinging eyes and even a sore throat can occur.
What High Levels Cause
Tiny calcium particles will accumulate due to the increased alkalinity and may end up in the inner workings of the pool’s system, leading to clogged pipes and sand in the sand filters. The bigger danger, however, is to anyone who takes a dip in the pool, as an increase in alkalinity will reduce the chlorine’s ability to kill viruses and bacteria. When the pool’s pH level is too high, such as an 8, swimmers are at risk of developing a skin rash.
How to Manage Pool pH Levels
The good news is that managing swimming pool pH levels isn’t a difficult task if you’re checking the water on a regular basis. What you need to do is pick up two specific products, a pH increaser, and pH reducer, that you can apply to the water whenever pool pH levels are too low or too high. These products begin working immediately, which means that you don’t have to wait to jump in the pool once you’ve put either the pH increaser or reducer into the water.
Contact Larsen’s Pool & Spa for More Information about Pool pH Levels
Larsen’s Pool & Spa has proven itself as the best pool builder in Tampa Bay. Our team knows everything there is to know about new pool construction, pool remodeling, and even pool pH levels. To get started on designing your very own dream swimming pool area, give us a call today at (727) 786-7665.
