Pool Water Balance

Maintaining the correct water balance in your pool prolongs its finishes, exposed metal and equipment.

Left unbalanced, pool water may eventually dissolve your pool plumbing and equipment, and cause scale formation.The four factors that contribute to water balance are total alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness and temperature.

Total Pool Water Alkalinity

Total pool water alkalinity is the measurement of all the chemicals in your pool water that resist pH changes. Alkalinity can be added to your pool in the treatment of sodium bicarbonate. As the total alkalinity is affected every time the pH level is adjusted, it’s necessary to periodically monitor both of these factors to ensure your pool alkalinity is within a normal range.

Pool pH levels

pH levels refer to how acidic or alkaline your pool water is. Pools with unbalanced pH levels will cause skin and eye irritations, and reduce the effect of chemicals such as chlorine.

Calcium Hardness in Pool Water

Calcium or water hardness refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium in pool water. If your pool water’s hardness is too low, it will dissolve the calcium from your pool’s cement/render. If the hardness is too high, it will eventually cause calcium scaling.

Pool Water Temperature

Higher temperature pool water will speed up the chemical processes in your pool water, including chlorine decomposition and bacteria growth.