How To Raise The Alkalinity In A Pool Without Raising The PH

There is much more to owning a pool than enjoying a refreshing dip on hot summer days. To keep your pool water and equipment in tip-top shape you must properly treat your pool by balancing various chemical levels. More specifically, your pool should maintain a pH between 7.2 and 7.8 and an alkalinity level between 80 and 120 ppm.

A pool is considered low-alkaline when the total alkalinity measures below 80 ppm. However, if your pH levels are above 6.8, you will want to balance the alkalinity of your pool without causing a significant increase in your pH levels. So, how can you raise the alkalinity of a pool while keeping the pH in balance?

To raise the alkalinity in your pool without raising the pH, you need to introduce an alkalinity increaser or baking soda. If you want to raise your alkalinity by 10 ppm, try adding between 1 and 2 pounds of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) per 10,000 gallons of pool water. This will raise the alkalinity of your pool without significantly affecting your pool’s pH.

It can be very harmful for both your pool and those who swim in it if the water has a low alkalinity. Levels lower than 80 ppm can cause the walls of your pool to crack, delaminate, or become etched. Whereas, metal surfaces will deteriorate and melt when exposed to such corrosive water conditions. Aside from its effects on the pool itself, an acidic swimming pool is unsafe for swimmers and can cause skin, eye, and nasal irritations.

Even the smallest changes in chemical composition in your pool water can cause severe variations in the pH levels. When your pool’s pH level becomes unbalanced, this phenomenon is referred to as “pH bounce” and can also result in low alkalinity.

When you have low levels of alkalinity, the traditional amount of chlorine that is added to your pool will have no effect. In fact, you’ll have to buy significantly more than the usual amount of chlorine to achieve the same results.

When your pool water’s alkalinity is lower than the recommended range, one of the best ways to increase it is by using an “alkalinity increaser.” This product can be purchased from your local pool supply store and boasts the ability to lower total alkalinity (TA) and buffer pH. However, most are unaware of the fact that an alkalinity increaser is just sodium bicarbonate.

Sodium bicarbonate is more commonly known as baking soda. Yes, simple baking soda found in your kitchen can be used to raise your pool’s alkalinity. In fact, you’ll likely be able to save quite a bit of money when you use baking soda over alkalinity increaser. With baking soda, you can enjoy all of the same benefits of packaged alkalinity increaser at a reduced price.

One of the potential disadvantages of using baking soda instead of a commercial alkalinity increaser is that baking soda does not come with instructions for use on pools. However, that should not keep you from using it to increase your alkalinity levels.

To calculate the amount of baking soda you want to use, you should first determine how many gallons of water are in your pool. Then, add 1.5 pounds of baking soda for every 10,000 gallons of water. This will increase the pool’s total alkalinity by 10 ppm.

For example, if your pool houses 20,000 gallons of water and your test kit has indicated an alkalinity of 50 ppm, you need to raise your alkalinity by at least 30 ppm. With a pool of 20,000 gallons of water, every three pounds of baking soda will raise the water roughly 10 ppm. Therefore, you need to add about nine pounds of baking soda to a 20,000-gallon pool to increase the alkalinity by 30 ppm. This will put the water in the acceptable alkalinity range of 80 -120ppm.

Once you’ve calculated how much to use, add the baking soda directly into the water. Let it dissolve and allow enough time for it to fully distribute throughout the pool. This will usually take a minimum of twenty minimums with your pump on. Use your test kit to check the levels in the water and add more baking soda as needed.

When you add baking soda to increase alkalinity in your pool, the normal pH will not be affected. However, if your main goal is to increase the pH versus simply raising alkalinity, try using soda ash. Soda ash, or sodium carbonate, is available at most pool supply stores.

By adding six ounces of soda ash into 10,000 gallons of water, the pH of your pool will be raised roughly 0.2. If you were to use the same amount of baking soda, or sodium carbonate, it will have a negligible effect on your pH, while increasing the alkalinity. Though, it should be noted that soda ash will also raise alkalinity, in addition to pH. The same six ounces of soda ash will raise the alkalinity of your pool roughly 5 ppm.

Follow these rules of thumb:

It is not uncommon to have unusual variations in relation to the pH or total alkalinity in your swimming pool. With such a great diversity in water types from region to region, and even within individual communities, achieving a proper balance can be challenging. While it’s always better to have pH and alkalinity levels on the high end than the low end, there are steps you can take to achieve a better balance.

Here are some of the most common issues with pool pH and alkalinity and how to fix them: