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Adjusting Your Swimming Pool pH Levels

Adjusting your swimming pool pH levels is easy once you understand proper pool water maintenance. Raising and lowering your levels takes only muriatic acid and sodium bicarbonate.

How To Lower & Raise ~ Questions Or Comments?

What Others Have Said



Keep on eye on your pool's total alkalinity. This means when you add Sodium Bicarbonate or pool acid, you're actually hitting both sides.

That's why these techniques are so important, to lessen the effect of the other side.


Lowering Your pH Level

Care must be taken when you lower the swimming pool pH by adding muriatic acid as it can cause severe burns. Prior to adding pool acid as a pH minus, be sure the pump is running and there are no swimmers in the pool. Your chlorine tablets will keep your cyanuric acid in check but it may also lower your pH level so keep an eye out for that.

Raise pH In Pool

To raise the pH in swimming pools, the most common and the safest chemical is Sodium Bicarbonate. You know, good ole’ fashion Arm and Hammer Baking Soda.

If you have a pool fountain or waterfall be sure to turn it on as it will help increase the pH level

Try to not add more than 2lbs. of Sodium Bicarbonate, or another kind of pH increaser, for every 10,000 gallons of water in a single application.

  • While your filtration system is running and the water is circulating, broadcast, (don’t dump the product or go too fast), the Sodium Bicarbonate or pH up into the pool starting in the deep end and working around the perimeter.

    • Using the proper swimming pool chemicals and techniques will allow for better pool water chemistry.

  • Allow the water to fully circulate, usually 4-6 hours, then re-test your pool's pH balance.

    • Please refer to the chart to see the amount your pool needs to raise your swimming pool pH level.

    Take care in using Sodium Bicarbonate as it tends to affect both the swimming pool pH and total alkalinity.


    A Normal 20,000 Gallon Pool

    Raise pH .1ppm 40oz. (2 ½ pounds) of Sodium Bicarbonate (pump motor on and water circulating)
    Lower pH .1ppm ¼-½ gallon of acid or 8oz. of dry acid along the perimeter of the deep end with the pump on (pump motor on and water circulating)

    or

    Chart- Lowering pH with Muriatic Acid

    IncreaseGALLONS IN POOL
    pH 1,000 5,000 10,000 15,00020,000 25,000 50,000
    7.6-7.8 1 1/2 oz.6 oz. 12 oz. 18 oz. 24 oz. 1 qt. 2 qts.
    7.8-8.0 1 1/2 oz. 8 oz. 16 oz. 24 oz.1 qt. 1 1/4 qts. 2 1/2 qts.
    8.0-8.4 2 1/2 oz.12 oz. 24 oz. 1 1/4 qts. 1 1/2 qts. 2 qts. 1 gal.
    Over 8.4 3 oz. 16 oz. 1 qt. 1 1/4 qts.2 qts. 2 1/2 qts. 1 1/4 gal.

    If you use too much pool acid or pH minus and the pH drops to 7.0 or 7.2, don’t worry. The pool's pH level should come up naturally. Use Sodium Bicarbonate, or another pH up, sparingly and only when needed.

    When filling a pool, first test the pH of the fill water so you may have a good starting point. You may realize no corrections are even needed.

    Great Pool Water Test Kit - Taylor Reagent FAS-DPD K-2006


    Let’s Recap

    1. What is swimming pool pH?
      2. pH is the comfort level of the water. It has a range from 0-14, 7.0 being neutral. You’ll want to keep your pH at 7.6-7.8.

    2. When do I test my pool pH balance?
      3. You’ll want to test your pH in late afternoon or early evening.

    3. Where do I test pH in my pool?
      4. The most accurate place in the pool would be either the deep end or the point furthest away from the filter.

    4. Why should the pool pH be tested?
      5. pH, like chlorine, alkalinity, and hardness is an integral part of your pool’s water balance. At a correct pH level, 7.6-7.8, the chlorine is most effective and bathers won’t get that itchy feeling from an unbalanced pool. Also, too high or too low pH is not good for your filtration system.

    5. How do I test my swimming pool pH level?
      6. If you’re using a dropper test kit, you’ll want to follow the instructions. Most dropper kits say to fill the larger vial with pool water.

      To do this you will hold the vial upside down over the pool and go straight into the water, about 1 foot deep. Flip the vial over to collect the sample water and come straight out of the water.

      Place 5 drops into the sample water, put the cap on the vial, mix the water by gently shaking up and down then compare the sample color to the chart color. If using the Test Strips, simply take a clean glass or cup, hold it over the pool and go straight down into the water.

      Flip the cup over to collect the sample water and come straight back up again. Then place your strip into the cup of pool water and compare your reading with that on the strip chart.

    Never place your hand over the vial when mixing the sample water, always use the cap.

    Happy Swimming


    Go To:


    Pool Chemistry From Swimming Pool pH
    Link To Top



    What Other Visitors Have Said

    Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

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    We are battling on a daily basis to keep our pH balance down to the right level and only once had it down to 7.2 it is more likely to be 8.1!!

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    Muratic Acid & Salt Water Swimming Pool..Lower pH Level  Not rated yet
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