How Do You Raise Total Alkalinity In Swimming Pools?
Total alkalinity is a reading of how basic or acidic you’re swimming pool water is. It is similar to the pH reading but it is different. Total alkalinity acts as a buffer to the pH and prevents a lot of the pH bounce you’re pool experiences when the alkalinity is low. When the total alkalinity in a swimming pool gets low, it allows the pH to get very low (acidic) also. This can be damaging to pool equipment and will cause eye and skin irritation to the bathers. The ideal range for alkalinity in pools that use chlorine tablets is 120-180 ppm and 80-120 ppm in pools with a salt system. To increase total alkalinity the product to use is sodium bicarbonate. This is just baking soda. I recommend spending a little extra and purchasing it from you’re local pool store and not standard baking soda from big box stores. The pool grade is much more refined and less likely to add metals to the swimming pool and cloud up the water. The average dosage is 15 lbs will increase the total alkalinity 100
