Balancing your pool’s pH is quite important if you must enjoy swimming in your pool. Your pool’s pH should be at least around the ratio of 7.2 and about 7.8.
When your pool’s alkalinity is too low, and the pH level is also low, a host of other problems will emerge. Like itchy skin and stinging eyes, etc.
There has to be a balance in the pH level, the acidity, and the alkalinity of the pool. This article will reveal one of the cost-effective ways of raising the pH in your pool and its measurement.
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What Causes Low PH In A Pool?
Sometimes, low pH is caused by rainfall. When the swimming pool isn’t well covered, when it rains, the rain will cause a decline in pH in your pool.
Also, when the pool itself is not well maintained and cleaned at the appropriate time, then the pH level will drop. A mixture of chemicals and too much chlorine can cause your pool’s pH to fall.
But how do you treat a low pH problem in your pool without using expensive measures? One of the ways you can raise the pH in your pool is by using Baking soda. Popularly called Bicarbonate of soda.
How Much Baking Soda Can Be Used To Raise pH In A Pool?
Baking soda may sound absurd at first. But that simple ingredient that is used in your kitchen can also be used to handle some basic issues in your pool.
Baking soda generally is a natural alkaline product with a pH of 8. Most pool pH stabilizers make use of baking soda as the main product and this is because Baking soda is a natural alkaline.
Such that when it is added into your pool, it stabilizes the alkalinity of the pool, and also promotes clarity for swimming.
When you’re adding baking soda into your pool, you can add about 1.5Ibs to about 10Ibs. That is about, 1.5 pounds to about 10 pounds.
If your pool is 10,000 gallons of water, and the alkalinity test is below 7.2, then you can add about 4 pounds/4 Ibs of baking soda into the pool to get it stabilized.
Read: How To Lower Pool Alkalinity With Muriatic Acid?
How Do You Add Baking Soda Into Your Pool?
There are steps to take in adding baking soda to your pool.
Step 1: Test the pool using a water test strip or pool tester.
Test the pool to see if the pH of the pool is low. If it drops to about 6 or anything lower than 7.2, then you need to carry out your baking soda treatment.
Meanwhile, what is your pool size? Is it about 10,000 gallons or more? Whatever gallon size it is, just follow the steps below.
Step 2: Sprinkle about 3/4 of the baking soda into the pool generously and widely across the surface.
If you are new to this and you don’t want to hire a pool expert, then you may need to slow down on the measurement.
Simply sprinkle about 1/2 baking soda and test the pool to see if the pH has balanced up. If otherwise, keep adding in bits until the pH balances.
Step 3: Beware of sprinkling the baking soda into your pool on a windy day.
The windy weather may not be helpful at that point. So you can wait until it’s not too windy. Then sprinkle your baking soda.
Meanwhile, turn on your pool’s filtration system and allow the baking soda to settle entirely in the pool.
Step 4: Re-test your pool again after 6 hours.
If the pH is still 6, then redo the process.
Read: How To Raise The pH Level In Your Pool Easily
Can You Add The Baking Soda Through The Skimmer?
No. this is not advisable. In case you don’t know where the skimmer is located in your pool, the skimmer is usually located at the side of the pool.
It is a small opening that is usually built at the side of the pool to help suck in pool water, filter it, and then push out the filtered water into the pool.
Do not add baking soda through the skimmer part of your pool because it can be dangerous especially if you have a chlorinator.
It is much easier and better to add baking soda directly in your pool without the need for any third-party equipment.
How Long Does It Take Baking Soda To Raise The pH In A Pool?
It doesn’t take too long for the baking soda to effectively increase the pH of your pool. Some suggest waiting about 4 hours. The baking soda becomes effective after four hours.
However, for maximum results, it is best to wait for 6 hours maximum to get your desired result.
Meanwhile, if you want to swim in this pool, you may have to wait until after 6 hours that is if the circulation system has been turned on.
However, for health safety, it is better to swim in the pool 24 hours after the baking soda has been added.
Can You Put Too Much Baking Soda In A Pool?
If you aren’t careful, you might add too much baking soda to your pool and that might result in a high pH pool that is alkalinity in the pool. And this can harm the swimmers.
For instance, the water will turn cloudy and uncomfortable for swimmers to swim in, also, swimmers may develop itchy skin and stinging eyes.
Baking soda itself as said above is a natural alkaline product with about 8 or 8.2. So when this happens and the baking soda becomes too much in the pool, then you may need to dilute it with water.
So check to see if the pool is about 7.2 if it is, then you need to turn on the filtration system, and dilute the pool itself with water.
Are There Risks Involved In Adding Baking Soda To Your Pool?
Basically, baking soda as a natural ingredient used in the kitchen is not harmful to your health. However, adding too much baking soda to your pool can cause some damage.
For instance, adding too much baking soda to your pool, can cause corrosion of the pool ladders and even cause a scale build-up on the pool tiles, thereby causing cloudiness in the water.
Another risk involved in adding too much baking soda into your pool is that it will increase the alkalinity of your pool. Baking soda itself is an alkaline product. So when it is added too much into the pool, it causes an increase in alkaline.
Can You Use Baking Soda Ash Instead Of Baking Soda?
Yes, but before you use baking soda ash, you need to know a bit about it. Baking soda ash is also called sodium carbonate.
It is equally an alkaline product however, its alkalinity is quite high because it has a pH level of about 11.3. thus, making it an ideal product for raising your pool’s pH.
What the baking soda ash does is that it raises the alkalinity level of the pool to a minimal level. Therefore, if you notice that your pool’s alkalinity is low, then you should use baking soda ash.
Therefore, if you have a 10,000-gallon size pool, then you will need to use about 6 ounces of baking soda ash.
But the problem with baking soda ash is that, if you don’t measure it well, it will end up destabilizing your pool and turning the water to be cloudy.
Also, when you add too much soda ash into the pool, it will end up spiking the alkalinity. Adding the soda ash into the pool can be quite stressful you will need to mix it with a bucket, protective gloves, and google.
How Do You Add Baking Soda Ash To Your Pool?
To add baking soda ash into your pool, you will need a bucket, protective goggles, and gloves. After this has been set aside, fill up the bucket with pool water.
Then measure the right quantity of soda ash into the bucket and mix it with water. Stir the soda ash until it is completely dissolved.
You can use a plastic, or wooden spatula to mix well. Either way, you can use a stick to get the mixing done. Now walk around the pool, and pour the mixture gradually into the pool water.
Then turn on the filtration system to help dilute the soda mixture. Allow the pool to sit for 6 hours before testing the pool again.
Note: Do not add the soda ash mixture near the pool. It can be quite dangerous for the skimmer.
What’s The Difference Between Baking Soda and Baking soda ash?
Baking soda ash and Baking soda can both be used to adjust and stabilize the pool’s pH and total alkalinity of the pool. However, they both work in different ways.
The baking soda should be used when the pH level in the pool isn’t too low but the alkalinity is too low.
Use baking soda ash when the pH level of the pool is too low and the alkalinity of the pool is not too low. Baking soda ash will only help to raise the pH level of the pool and automatically raise the alkalinity of the pool minimally.
While the baking soda will only raise the alkalinity of the pool, and raise the pH level a bit.
So, determine the state of your pool by checking it with a pool tester. When you notice that the pool’s pH level is maximally low, and the alkalinity of the pool is not too low, then you can use the baking soda ash.
Can You Use Borax Instead Of Baking Soda?
You can use Borax but baking soda is cost-effective and much safer to use. Borax is another product that is used to raise the pH level of the pool.
However, it won’t raise the alkalinity level of your pool. However, when you use baking soda or soda ash, it raises the alkalinity of your pool along with the pH either maximally or minimally.
Borax also helps with the pool’s pH level. It also helps to stabilize the chlorinated pool by ensuring that the chlorine doesn’t drop. It also helps to protect your pool from future algae.
Borax has a durable lifespan such that it stays in the pool for a long time and keeps working, unlike baking soda which evaporates as soon as the pH level is balanced.
But the side effect of borax is that it has a pH level of 9.5 and this will raise the pH level of the pool fast and this may indirectly lead you into adding too much quantity.
What Work Does Baking Soda Do In A Pool Aside From Raising The Pool’s pH Level?
The baking soda does a variety of work in a pool aside from raising the pool’s pH level.
Clears Cloudy Water
The baking soda helps to clear cloudy water. If your pool water is not clear and doesn’t have that familiar bright sparkle, then it means that your pool water is low in pH level.
Therefore, it needs to be treated with baking soda. However, you need to check the pool to be sure if the pH level is low or not.
Because the pH level may not be low. Sprinkle the right quantity of baking soda in the pool. Let it sit until after 6 hours while the filtration system is on.
You will notice that the water in the pool is now crystal clear and sparkling clean. With this kind of pool water, it will be comfortable swimming in it without any side effects.
Treat Algae
Baking soda also helps to treat algae ahead of time. Whenever you see algae growing in your pool, then your pool’s pH or alkalinity level is low. Use algaecide to treat the algae growing in your pool.
After you must have used algaecide in your pool, then you can use the baking soda because the algaecide automatically reduces the pH level of the pool.
Prevents Corrosion
The treatment of baking soda in your pool helps to prevent corrosion and any kind of pool equipment. Please note that when you use too much baking soda in your pool, it might begin to cause scale buildup.
However, when you begin to notice corrosion and calcium buildups on your pool tile and ladder, then it means your pool’s pH is low. Applying the baking soda treatment will help to treat the corrosion.
Compliments Chlorine
The baking soda also helps to complement the chlorine in the pool. It aids the chlorine to be effective. When the pH level of the pool is stabilized, it will help the chlorine to work effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Brand Of Baking Soda Can You Use To Raise pH In The Pool?
There is no specific type of baking soda to use. There is a variety of baking soda available in local stores. You can simply get any of them and use them as long as it is labeled as baking soda.
However, you can still use; Earthborn Elements baking soda. It is not different from other baking soda, but if you prefer to use this brand then it is still perfect! Just ensure that you make use of a quality baking soda to do get this job done in no time.
What happens when the pool’s pH turns high after taking the baking soda test?
When this happens, then you can leave the filter system running. The filter system will help to eventually drop the alkalinity of the pool.
You can also decide to add some water to the pool to dilute the baking soda. In the process, it will dilute the other chemicals in the pool.
How Much Baking Soda Do You Need To Raise The pH In A 500-Gallon Pool?
If your pool is about 500 gallons in size, then the amount of baking soda you will use will not be too much.
Simply get a cup and measure about 1/3 of baking soda then sprinkle generously on the pool surface and allow the baking soda to settle properly on the water surface before turning on the filtration system.
Which product is more advisable to use in raising your pool’s pH level?
The best product to use is baking soda in your kitchen. This is because it is handy, affordable, easy to come by, and easy to add to your pool. However, you must avoid pouring too much quantity into your pool.
Final Thoughts
Finally, baking soda is a cost-effective way of raising your pool’s pH level and the alkalinity of the pool. It is handy and affordable and quite easy to apply to your pool.
You don’t need to call the attention of a pool expert to get the job done. Remember that if you have a 10,000-gallon size pool, then you can use about 3/4 cup of baking soda in the pool.
Also, baking soda ash and borax can be used in place of baking soda. However, it is more advisable to use baking soda to adjust and stabilize the pH of your pool.
