Have you ever wondered what alkalinity is in a pool? In water chemistry, one of the primary things that should be measured is alkalinity. By knowing the alkalinity of water, you can know its ability to neutralize acids.
What is Alkalinity in a Pool
One of the things that affect alkalinity is the pH of the water. Alkalinity in water neutralizes acids which can make the pH more stable.
Why Is Alkalinity in Pools Important?
Once you know what alkalinity is in a pool, you might wonder why alkalinity so important in a pool. Since alkalinity shows water’s ability to neutralize acids, it can prevent the water’s pH from fluctuating. That is why you need to keep the alkalinity in a pool within the normal range.
When it comes to swimming pools, the normal total alkalinity is around 80 parts per million to 120 parts per million. You can know the alkalinity of a pool using a pool testing kit. You need to do this kind of testing often.
Problems That Might Happen Due to Imbalance of Alkalinity
You need to get the alkalinity in your pool right to avoid problems. There are bad effects of high alkalinity in pool water. But, if the alkalinity is too low, it might also cause you a problem. So, you need to get the alkalinity just right.
When the alkalinity is too low, the pH of water can fluctuate wildly, from too low to too high. There are some problems this can cause, such as corrosion in metal, stains in the pool, and chlorine inefficiency. If you want to raise the alkalinity in your pool, you can use sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda.
The amount of baking soda you need to put in depends on the size of your swimming pool. Per 10 thousand gallons of water, it is recommended to put 1.5 pounds of baking soda.
If the alkalinity of water gets too high, it can also cause a problem for you. One of the bad effects of high alkalinity in pool water is it makes the surface rough. Two other problems you might have to face is clogged filter and reduce pool circulation.
When your pool’s alkalinity gets too high, you need to get acid to make it normal. You can use muriatic or sodium bisulfate, which you can get from a swimming pool or spa store.
If you have a swimming pool, the alkalinity of water is important. You need to make sure that it stays within the right range. If it gets too high or too low, some problems will cause you a headache. If you do not do the pool maintenance well, it might cause a shift in the alkalinity.
Fortunately, taking care of your pool is not hard. Be careful when you ask for advice from professionals since they might tell you bad advice to make you buy their products.
This is why you need to know how to take care of your pool, starting from what alkalinity is in a pool.
