Your swimming pool’s pH level is one of the most important factors in ensuring healthy water. A pH that is too high or low can cause a variety of problems, ranging from a change in colour to eye irritation or skin rashes. If your pool is not adequately maintained and the pH levels are not balanced, the effects may not be immediately noticed but will manifest over time. Here are some helpful tips for keeping your pool’s pH levels perfect!

Monitor your pool’s pH levels regularly

When you own a swimming pool, checking the pH levels of your water regularly is one of the best ways to stay on top of things. Adjusting your pH and other chemicals properly will extend the life of your pool, keep it looking great, and also ensure the safety of those who go swimming in it. When we talk about the pH of a pool, we’re referring to the amount of acidity in the water. This is assessed on a pH scale ranging from 0 to 14, with 7.5 being the ideal pH.

To keep your pool water healthy and clear it’s necessary to regularly check the pH levels of the water in your swimming pool. This is done by using a test strip kit that you can buy at your local pool shop. If the chlorine level in your pool is too high or low the chlorine will harm beneficial bacteria in your pool and make it unreliable for swimming. By testing regularly, you can ensure that your pool is healthy and free from any harmful bacteria.

Adjust pH levels whenever necessary

Keeping your pool clean is a good practice, but it’s not enough to prevent problems. The key components that are crucial in keeping a balanced pool pH are alkalinity, calcium hardness and temperature. When there is a lack or excess of amounts of these elements, the pH level can rise or fall dramatically, so understanding what role each plays is a great start to understanding your pool’s chemistry.

Levels of Alkalinity

The ideal alkalinity level is between 100 and 150 parts per million.

Alkalinity is a water chemical that prevents the pH from rapidly changing up and down the scale by absorbing large changes in the water. Maintaining an alkaline level will help to prevent rapid pH fluctuations. When trying to maintain proper pH levels, it’s a good idea to have a lot of alkalinity increaser at your disposal.

Calcium Hardness

The ideal calcium hardness level is between 175 and 300 parts per million.

Calcification occurs when the water in your pool loses calcium, which it then attempts to replenish by consuming plaster and other sources of calcium on the walls and floor of the pool. Adding calcium hardness to your pool water will help safeguard your pool walls and equipment. Too much calcium, on the other hand, can lead to scaling and other problems.

Crucial Pool Supplies

A home test kit or test strips allow you to monitor your pH and alkalinity levels. It is very important to monitor your pH and alkalinity levels every week.

Some crucial pool supplies to keep on hand that will help you ensure you keep your pool balanced are:

  • Alkalinity Booster
  • Chemicals to increase pH
  • Chemicals to reduce pH (hydrochloric acid)

These sorts of supplies can usually be easily found at all good pool shops Perth.

Chlorine Levels

The ideal chlorine level is between 1 and 3 parts per million (ppm).

Chlorine is a cost-efficient and very efficient bacteria and algae killer.

You may add chlorine to the pool water in a variety of methods, including:

  • Chlorine tablets
  • Granular or powdered chlorine.
  • Salt Chlorine Generators: this device converts ordinary table salt into chlorine.

Sanitisation

Another key component to check regularly is the sanitisation of the pool. The most common form of pool sanitiser is chlorine, but if you are wary of pushing your pH levels out of balance, there are others you can use, including:

  • Salt
  • Stabilised Chlorine
  • Minerals

Get your pool serviced regularly

The process of maintaining a healthy pool is an art form filled with patience and care. There is a lot more that goes into it than just adding chlorine to a swimming pool and calling it a day. Improving water quality is an important part of any pool service. Improper amounts of pool chemicals can cause headaches, skin irritations and sore, red eyes.

One of the best things you can do to get the best value out of your pool is to hire a professional pool supplies specialist at least once a year. By keeping on top of small issues you can ensure your pool stays safe and can be enjoyed all year-round.