Swimming pool owners need to test their pH level, which is the acidity or alkalinity of the pool water, on a regular basis. If the level is too high or too low, then problems can result and interfere with your family's enjoyment of the pool. Occasionally, a test may show that the level is not appropriate and adjustments have to be made. Here's a look at some of the key issues concerning this important maintenance task. 

Optimal

Your pool's pH reading should be between 7.0 and 7.6. This optimal level ensures that swimmers are comfortable and other potential problems are kept in check. For example, if the water has a low pH reading, the chlorine in your pool may not work effectively. On the other hand, pool water with a high pH above the optimal level may become murky or cause scales to form at the waterline. 

Test

You will need a commercial testing kit to determine the pool's pH level. Various kinds of kits are available from swimming supply retailers. Two of the most popular are testing strips and kits that use testing solutions. With a testing strip kit, you simply place the strip in the water and its color will tell you the pH level. With the solution kits, you place a water sample into a plastic container and add a solution to the sample. The color of the sample after the solution has been added indicates the pH level. 

Raising pH

If the pH test shows a reading lower than 7.0, then you need to add a chemical to raise the pH level. The most common substance used for this purpose is sodium carbonate, also called soda ash. The amount you need to add depends on the size of your pool and the pH level you are hoping to achieve. Some rather complex calculations are involved, but various websites have pool chemical calculators that simplify the process. 

Lower pH

If the pH is too high, then you need to add chemicals such as muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate to the water. Sodium bisulfate is typically sold as a dry powder, making it reasonably easy and safe to use. Just as with raising the pH levels, determining how much sodium bisulfate you need to lower the pH level requires some calculation, which is made easier by the various online calculation tools. 

Adjusting your pool's pH level is a maintenance task that can be performed by the average swimming pool owner without much difficulty. For more information, talk with your swimming pool supplies merchant.

For more information, contact a business such as Pool Chlor Of Nevada Inc.