As fun and relaxing as above-ground pools can be, they also require constant work and effort to keep them clean and sanitary. Using chlorine or bromine can help to keep bacteria out of the water, but using too much or too little chemical can lead to your pool’s pH level being altered. The pH level is the amount of acidity or basicity (the amount of alkaline) in a liquid. You may find yourself asking numerous questions in frustration- How did my pool’s pH level change? How am I supposed to change it back? Learning how may initially seem confusing and daunting, but with this guide, we hope to educate you on the procedure and allow you to have the safest possible time in your above-ground pool.
Before swimming in your pool and deciding whether or not to investigate the pH problem, find out what your pool’s pH level is supposed to be. The manual you receive with the pool should typically place the ph at about 7.2-7.6 (on a scale of 0-14, 0 being highly acidic, 14 being highly basic), with the exact level varying from pool to pool. Anytime you experience any form of discomfort after any swim period, have your pH level checked immediately. Do this by buying a pH testing kit, available at pool supply stores. The main component of these tests kits are the pH strips, small white pieces of paper that can detect pH in a liquid in an easily tracked manner. Dip one half of the strip into your pool for only a second or two. When you remove the pH strip from the water, it will have changed color. Match the shade on the strip to the corresponding color on the guide that came with the pH strips. It will tell you if your pH is too acidic (too close to lemon juice or gastric acid) or basic (too close to bleach). You want to hit that sweet spot at 7.2-7.6, slightly more basic than 7.0 (the pH level of drinking water).
When you have determined whether or not your pool is overly acidic or overly basic, then it is time to purchase either a pH increaser or decreaser kit to finally fix your pool’s chemical levels. The increasers/decreasers come in granule form, like chlorine granules (if you use that for your chlorine distribution), and ship in various sizes of either a pail or a bag, depending on the size of your pool. Add the appropriate amount of pH increaser or decreaser to one area of the above-ground pool; make sure the pool is running and the water is not standing still (if you are fixing the pH level on an in-ground pool, add the granules to the deep end of the pool while the water is circulating). Once you’ve poured in the increaser or decreaser, stir the granules that hit the bottom of the pool around with a pool pole or large brush. Test the pH level of the pool every six hours after the addition of the granules to check and see if it has returned to nominal levels. The pool’s pH level should be returned to normal after a few six-hour periods. The process rarely, if ever, takes longer than a day to complete.
The best way to make sure your pH levels are healthy and correct is to check the level every day. pH strips are very inexpensive, and the constant tests will allow you to keep a better understanding and knowledge of your pool, and how best to take care of it. Your safety is of paramount importance, and the steps you take to keep your above-ground pool clean and healthy, while numerous, can help to prevent serious accidents.
[...] Aquachek test strips round out the list of essential above-ground pool products. You should always keep pool strips handy to monitor your pool’s pH level and to make sure that the pool water is not overly acidic or basic (alkaline). If at any point your eyes or skin feel irritated from swimming in the pool, it is likely because the pH levels in your pool have become altered in either an acidic or basic direction. Having pool strips on hand will allow you to test the pool water to correctly determine the pool water’s pH level, and whether or not the pool’s ph should be increased or decreased with special granules. A more detailed description of how to fix this problem can be found in one of our earlier articles. [...]
pH INCREASER
Use as needed to raise the pH level to the ideal range of 7.2 to 7.6 ppm. Slows the rapid loss of chlorine caused by low pH, and slows chlorine dissipation, so your pool uses less chlorine. Stops eye irritation, etching and corrosion caused by low pH. Contains sodium carbonate “soda ash”.
Recommended dosage: 1 lb. per 10,000 gallons.