For a pool owner, maintaining the maximum pH is very important to the health of the pool and the comfort of the athletes. One question that often comes up is whether chlorine raises or decreases the pool water pH. Knowing this can help you keep your pool’s chemistry in check, and ensure that your robot pool cleaner can do its job to the best of its ability. In this article, we will look at how chlorine works with pH and how pool cleaning robots such as Beatbot AquaSense Pro and other pool vacuum robots can keep your pool clean even with pH fluctuations.
Understanding pH and Chlorine
Before discussing how chlorine impacts pH levels, let’s first define what is pH and why it is important. pH is a measurement of the water’s acidity or alkalinity, on a scale of 0 — 14. 7 is considered neutral and values below that measure acidic water and values above alkaline.
The appropriate pH range for a pool is 7.4 to 7.6. If It’s Too High or Low: High or low pH can lead to a few issues, including swimmers experiencing skin and eye irritation, chlorine not as effective, and scaling in the swimming pool equipment.
How Does Chlorine Affect pH?
There are two issues here: Chlorine, after all, is a potent disinfectant that is used to kill all manner of bacteria, algae, and contaminants in pools. But chlorine relief does affect the pool’s pH. Well, the relationship will depend on which chlorine form you have.
Liquid Chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite): When liquid chlorine is added to pool water, it increases the pH level due to it being alkaline. Liquid chlorine has a high pH (about 13), so its overuse can cause the pool’s pH to climb over time.
Chlorine Tablets (Trichlor and Dichlor): Conversely, chlorine tablets (trichlor and dichlor) are acidic and will reduce the pH of the pool water. Trichlor tablets especially can cause slightly more acidic water as they dissolve because their pH is around 3. You might have to periodically check your pool’s pH level using these types of chlorine to make sure it doesn’t fall too low.
What Happens if Your Pool is High or Low pH
pH balances are critical for the wellness of your pool and the proper functionality of your pool cleaning whirlpool. As discussed above, when the pH is either too high or too low, you may experience issues such as:
High pH (Alkaline Water)
If your pool’s pH is too high, chlorine’s ability to sanitize the water is diminished. What this means is that even if you’re adding enough chlorine, it may not be effective, creating an environment where algae and bacteria can thrive. It can also lead to scaling on your pool walls, equipment, and filters.
Effect on Pool Equipment: Consistently elevated pH levels in your pool can also lead to debris forming in your pool equipment. For example, if there is scale accumulation in the filters and brushes, then pool vacuum robots and swimming pool robot cleaners such as Beatbot AquaSense may experience diminished efficiency.
Low pH (Acidic Water)
On the flip side, if your pH is too low, this means your water is acidic, which can cause damage to your pool surfaces such as plaster and stainless steel components. Swimmers may also suffer irritation of their skin and eyes. Low pH can lead to damage to the pool, and with a plaster or fiberglass pool finish, it will gradually – over time.
How it affects the Debriding Robots: acidic water can damage the internal elements of your robot pool cleaner like Beatbot iSkim Ultra and other pool cleaning robots. Over time, corrosion can take a toll on the lifespan of these cleaning machines.
How to Adjust pH Levels
Now that we know the link between chlorine and pH, here’s how to keep your pool’s pH level stable:
Test the Water: Regularly test the water with a pH testing kit. It is recommended to test every 2-3 days at the least, especially after adding chlorine or other chemicals to the water.
pH Up or pH Down: Adjust pH
To lower your pool’s pH if it’s too high, add a pH decrease, such as muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate.
PH Increaser — If your pH is too low, you add a pH increaser (usually sodium carbonate) to increase the pH.
Adjust the Chlorine: If you’re using chlorine tablets or liquid chlorine, you might need to modify the amount based on the pH level. Liquid chlorine (which raises pH) — if you use liquid chlorine, you may require a pH decrease to counteract the changes now and then.
Use a Pool Vacuum or Robot Cleaner: Regular cleaning with a robot pool cleaner like Beatbot AquaSense Pro or a pool vacuum robot helps to remove debris and prevents the buildup of organic material that can factor into your pool’s pH balance.
Check and Balance: You will need to check pH levels periodically, as they fluctuate depending on rain, usage of the pool, and the introduction of chemicals. Regular maintenance on your pool’s skimmer, vacuum cleaner for the pool, and robotic pool cleaner can minimize sudden imbalances.
Conclusion
The most important to know is that chlorine has an alkaline or acidic effect on your pool water, depending on the kind you use. Liquid chlorine can increase the pH, while chlorine tablets typically lower it. Test the pH levels of your pool regularly and adjust your use of chlorine accordingly to keep a healthy swimming pool. Not only do devices like the Beatbot AquaSense Pro help keep your pool tidy, but they also help you maintain appropriate water chemistry by allowing for proper circulation and filtration. When you service with us you’ll have a cleaner, healthier pool with ideal pH levels.
