A bad pH level can take away all the joy your pool brings and replace it with frustration and confusion, especially when you’re new to pool maintenance and treatment. In this article, we shall be taking you through a step-by-step guide and giving valid answers to your questions as they pertain to pool hygiene and balance. Stay with us.
There is no particular time to add baking soda to your pool; baking soda can be added anytime as long as you’re familiar with the needed dosage or amount that needs to be added to your pool.
Also, it is necessary that you test your swimming pool water first before administering any treatment, to know the appropriate chemicals to use.
Do I add baking soda to the skimmer or pool?
Baking powder can be added directly to the pool without having to add it through the skimmer. Since it’s in powder form, for it to easily reach all around the pool, it is best advised to be sprinkled inside the pool.
Well, if administering through the skimmer is what works for you, you can still go ahead with it. Although this process is likely to make your pool cloudy initially, if you don’t want this, then it’s best to put it in a skimmer.
Let’s look at ways you can administer baking soda to your pool.
- Test your water’s alkalinity level with a filtration kit: Titration test skits help with testing your pool water for alkalinity accurately. They can easily be purchased in stores.
- Take a water sample from your pool: put the tube provided by the test kit into the pool water. Ensure you dip your hand to at least elbow level before bringing the water tube out. You only need about 25 milliliters to complete the test. Pour away any extra water from the test tube.
- Put two drops of sodium thiosulfate: gently squeeze the tube so you don’t mistakenly add too many drops. If the sodium thiosulfate becomes more than necessary, the result of the test will be altered. Now, ensure you swirl the mixture around so the water and sulfate will be mixed accurately.
- Add five drops of the alkalinity indicator and swirl the tube around. When you do this, you’ll notice the water changing colors from clear to green. Continue swirling the tube until the color changes completely to green.
- Put the sulfuric acid reagent 1 drop at a time until the liquid turns red: mix the water after each drop, ensure you count the number of drops added to the water. Once the solution eventually turns red, this is when you stop adding sulfuric acid. Also, remember to put on gloves as you handle the sulfuric acid in case it spills.
- Multiply the number of drops by 10: now, this will give the parts per million of Alkalinity consisting in your pool. The normal level of alkalinity level in a pool should be between 80-100 ppm. Anything less than this would drop the pH level of the pool, and anything higher will cause scaling problems.
- Begin to measure the volume of your pool: get a measuring tape, which you’ll use to determine the dimensions of your pool. Multiply the two numbers to find the total surface area.
- Run a tape measure down to the bottom of your bottom of your pool at both ends. Once you derive the answer, add the two depths together and divide by 2 to find the average depth of the pool. Take note that if your pool’s depth is the same throughout, there is no need to take any measurements.
- Multiply the surface area and depth to find the volume: Now, multiply the two figures together to find the actual volume of your pool.
- Multiply the volume by 7.5 for cubic feet or by 1,000 meters.
- Add baking soda: add at least 1.25 lb of the baking soda powder per 10,000 gallons of water.
- Pour the baking soda deep inside the pool: put the baking soda inside the pool, it has to to sink to bottom before it begins to mix. The baking soda might initially cause cloudiness in the pool after the first time you put it in, but it will clear eventually. If you don’t want it cloudy, put the baking powder in the skimmer.
- Finally, test the pool again after ten hours to ensure the pH level is finally balanced. Ensure your pool water is properly pumped and circulates through a full circle before testing again.
Can I put pool chemicals on in the morning?
Particular times during which chemicals can be administered have still not been fully settled by pool professionals, but there’s some vital information that can help you make the decision for yourself.
Baking soda (alkalinity) and borax (pH) can be added any time of the day you want. There’s not a single time that it is peculiar to add these chemicals.
However, chlorine is generally meant to be added after the sun has gone down, which might be in the late afternoon or evening. But it takes at least 20 hours for one to get back to using the pool after administering it. So it is necessary to also take that into consideration when thinking of the appropriate time to add the chemical.
Will baking soda clean a green pool?
Knowing the different chemicals to use in treating different pool problems is vital to proper pool maintenance.
The baking soda’s job in particular is to help you raise the alkalinity level and increase the pH level a bit. It really doesn’t have much to do with clearing your pool.
If your pool is green, then what your pool is suffering from is algae, not problems.
In order to properly treat algae problems in your pool, you must shock your pool and undergo all the necessary treatment measures for it to be clear.
After shocking, adding algaecide for prevention would be very important to stop the algae growth from generating again.
Is Alkalinity increaser the same as baking soda?
The two words are often misunderstood most times by pool owners as they both have a thing to do with alkalinity.
Well, the straight answer is No, alkalinity increaser is a chemical that helps to increase the Alkalinity level of a pool water, while baking soda is a type of leavening agent used in Baking but can also be used to increase alkalinity and pH level of your pool.
There are other frequently asked questions about baking soda that might be helpful to you.
Is it possible to use washing soda in my pool? Yes, there is nothing wrong with using washing soda to help keep your pool clean.
Where do I put baking soda in my pool?
Baking soda can be put in your pool by yourself or put in a skimmer. As long as it’s not dumped in a particular area of your pool and it reaches the bottom of your pool, you’re good to go.
Can cooking baking soda be used in my pool?
Yes, of course, baking soda can be used to balance your pH and alkalinity levels.
Let’s look at the major differences between baking soda and soda ash.
Baking soda and soda ash are often mistaken for the same thing, but the truth is, even though they are a bit similar in some ways, they are not the same thing. As we continue, you’ll get to know why.
Does baking soda raise or lower the pH level?
Baking soda does raise pH lower instead of lowering it, but in average amounts compared to soda ash.
It is also necessary to also take into consideration the amount of baking soda to be added to your swimming pool. Because this is what will determine if your pool’s pH level will be balanced or not.
You have to know the dosage to add to your pool to increase the pH level.
How much baking soda does it take to raise the pH?
A rule of thumb is 1.5 lbs. of baking soda powder per 10,000 gallons of water to raise your pool’s alkalinity to at least 10 ppm. If your pool’s pH level has been tested below 7.2, you should add 3–4 pounds of baking soda.
Another factor to consider to know the amount of baking soda needed to achieve the pH level in your pool is the size of your pool.
Use a tape to measure the height and width of your pool. Use a tape measure, put it straight and make sure it reaches the end of the pool to measure the height. To measure the width of your pool, start at one corner of the pool and measure to the other end.
If your pool is a rectangular pool, multiply the first measurement by the second to get the pool surface area. If your pool is round, multiply the diameter by the depth and then multiply it by 3.14.
