Why It’s Important to Balance Total Alkalinity in Your Swimming Pool
Maintaining a healthy swimming pool involves more than just keeping the water clear and free of debris. Achieving pool water balance is essential for a safe and enjoyable swimming experience. One crucial aspect of this is to balance total alkalinity.
Alkalinity refers to the water’s ability to resist changes in pH. It acts as a buffer, preventing drastic fluctuations in acidity or basicity. You want to balance total alkalinity to ensure pool pH control. This is important because if the pH level strays too far from the ideal range, it can lead to various problems such as skin and eye irritation, corrosion of pool equipment, and inefficient chlorine disinfection. Factors such as rainfall, bather load, and the use of certain chemicals can impact alkalinity levels.
The optimal alkalinity range for most swimming pools is between 80 and 120 parts per million (ppm). If the alkalinity falls below this range, the water becomes too acidic, causing corrosion and discomfort for swimmers. On the other hand, if the alkalinity is too high, the water becomes overly basic, resulting in cloudiness and scaling issues.
There are various ways to balance total alkalinity. If you want to increase alkalinity, you can add sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to the pool water. This acts as a buffer and helps raise the alkalinity level. If the alkalinity is too high, you can lower it by adding an acid, such as muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate, to the pool. However, adding too much acid can result in a muriatic acid swimming pool.
An easier way to balance total alkalinity is by using a CO2 pool system. Clearwater Pool Systems is proud to offer pH Pure™, a CO2 injection for pools that can helps balance total alkalinity and maintain pool water balance. pHPure™ is part of the comprehensive Clearwater Pool Systems which also includes MineralPURE®, a pool ionization system that effectively controls algae and bacteria and OzoneMAX™ , an ultraviolet ozone system that controls algae, bacteria, and viruses and oxidizes the water. When combined, MineralPURE and OzoneMAX lowers chlorine use by up to 95%, while pH Pure reduces the need for muriatic acid, thus preventing the negative effects of a muriatic acid swimming pool.
If you want to save money on the rising cost of chemicals while avoiding the health issues that can accompany pool chemicals, then Clearwater Pool Systems is the solution for you. Order residential Clearwater Pools Systems models online at Home Depot. Commercial pool operators can contact the nearest authorized dealer or e-mail us at sales@clearwaterenviro.com. Explore our website to learn more or try it for yourself and order it today!
