How to balance your pool water (Pool care 101)
Keeping your pool water balanced is one of the most important parts of pool maintenance. When your water chemistry is correct, your pool stays clear, chlorine works properly, and swimmers stay comfortable. When it’s out of balance, you’re more likely to see cloudy water, algae growth, eye irritation, and damaged equipment.
The good news? Pool water balance sounds complicated, but once you understand the basics, it’s easy to stay on top of.
The 4 Key Parts of Pool Water Balance
pH
pH measures how acidic or basic your pool water is. It directly affects swimmer comfort, equipment lifespan, and how effectively chlorine works.
The ideal pH range for a swimming pool is 7.2 to 7.6.
If the pH is too low, the water becomes acidic. This can corrode metal parts, damage surfaces, and cause eye and skin irritation. If the pH is too high, chlorine becomes less effective, the water may turn cloudy, and scale can begin forming on pool surfaces and equipment.
Maintaining proper pH is essential for both water clarity and overall pool protection.
Total Alkalinity
Total alkalinity acts as a stabilizer for your pH. It helps prevent sudden swings in acidity or alkalinity and keeps your water chemistry steady.
The ideal alkalinity range is 80 to 120 ppm.
If alkalinity is too low, the pH will fluctuate frequently and require constant adjustment. If alkalinity is too high, the pH becomes difficult to change and the water may appear dull or cloudy.
Because alkalinity controls pH stability, it should always be adjusted before making pH corrections.
Free Chlorine
Free chlorine is the active sanitiser available in water to kill bacteria, viruses, and contaminants
The ideal range for chlorine pools is 1-3ppm
When free chlorine is too low, the water is not properly sanitized, allowing bacteria and viruses to survive and algae to grow, which can turn the pool green or cloudy. It can also lead to a buildup of chloramines, causing a strong unpleasant smell and irritation to the eyes. On the other hand, if free chlorine is too high, the water can become harsh and uncomfortable, leading to red eyes, itchy skin, and a strong chemical odour.
Calcium Hardness
Calcium hardness measures the amount of dissolved calcium in your pool water.
The ideal range is 200 to 400 ppm.
If calcium levels are too low, the water can become aggressive and begin pulling minerals from pool surfaces, which may damage plaster or concrete. If calcium levels are too high, scale can form on tiles, walls, and equipment, and the water may appear cloudy.
Although calcium hardness doesn’t change as often as pH or alkalinity, it still needs regular monitoring.
Step-by-Step: How to Balance Your Pool Water
Step 1: Test Your Water
Always begin by testing your pool water. You can use test strips, liquid test kits, or digital testers. Test for pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and free chlorine.
It’s recommended to test your water at least once a week, and more often during summer or periods of heavy use.
Step 2: Adjust Total Alkalinity First
Alkalinity should always be corrected before pH.
To raise alkalinity, use pH buffer. To lower alkalinity, add small amounts of hydrochloric acid or pH decrease. After adding chemicals, run your pump for several hours and retest before making further adjustments.
Step 3: Adjust pH
Once alkalinity is within the proper range, adjust your pH if needed.
To raise pH, use pH increase. To lower pH, use hydrochloric acid or pH decrease. Add chemicals slowly and avoid adding large amounts at once to prevent overcorrection.
Step 4: Adjust Calcium Hardness (If Needed)
Check calcium hardness and correct it if necessary. To raise calcium levels, use calcium chloride. To lower calcium hardness, a partial water replacement is typically required.
Step 5: Check Chlorine Levels
Once your water is balanced, chlorine will work more effectively.
The ideal free chlorine level is 1 to 3 ppm, to ensure your water remains crystal clear.
Common Pool Balancing Mistakes to Avoid
1) One of the biggest mistakes is adding too many chemicals at once, which can create new imbalances.
2) Adjusting pH before alkalinity can make the process more difficult.
3) Guessing chemical amounts instead of measuring properly often causes overcorrection. to see how much chemical should be added see our product descriptions
AquaSolve sells a wide range of chemicals that can help your keep your pool water balanced. Shop now