When observing the pH level in a pool, it’s critical to use a test kit for immediate results.
This will let you know what is causing the high alkalinity in the pool. If the pool’s pH is higher than 7, this means it has high alkalinity.
Is high alkalinity in a pool dangerous?
Yes, high alkalinity in a pool can be dangerous. It can lead to skin rashes and irritated eyes in swimmers along with causing scaling in the pool equipment. It is also going to reduce the water quality and make it unclean.
To reduce high alkalinity in a pool, start by adding muriatic acid to the swimming pool. This will help regulate the pH in the pool and stabilize it.
This guide is going to look at the reasons high alkalinity in a swimming pool is dangerous and how to reduce alkalinity in a pool quickly.
Table of Contents
Reasons High Alkalinity In A Pool Is Dangerous
1. Scaling
The reason you want to learn how to lower alkalinity in a pool without affecting pH levels has to do with scaling.
What is scaling in a pool?
Scaling in a pool happens when the alkalinity is too high and this causes deposits to settle on the pool equipment.
This will hamper the pool equipment’s performance whether it’s the pool filter or the pool pump. The best strategy is to lower the pH in the swimming pool to make sure this does not ruin the equipment for good.
Learning how to lower high pH in the pool is a must.
If you want to get rid of scaling in a pool, you will need to address this issue as soon as possible. Otherwise, the deposits are going to worsen and spread throughout the pool due to the water quality worsening.
2. Skin Rashes For Swimmers
It’s also important to think about those swimming in a pool with high alkalinity.
The pool is going to be unusable.
This is due to the impact it can have on a swimmer that spends a considerable amount of time in the pool with high alkalinity. It’s going to lead to irritation.
This is going to include the swimmer’s skin and eyes.
Most swimmers state they end up getting rashes when swimming in the pool, while others report irritation in their eyes.
3. Poor Water Quality
In general, the water quality is what you are going to want to consider.
The water quality will drop due to the high alkalinity and this is not good for a swimmer’s well-being when they are in the pool.
It’s essential to make sure the water is not going to have a detrimental impact on those who are in the pool or the pool equipment.
This is essential when it comes to managing the pool and ensuring the water is easy to swim in. The higher the pH goes, the worse it gets for swimmers.
4. Unclean
Along with the pool water not being safe to swim in, it is also going to be unclean.
This is due to the pH level.
The water is not going to be pure and that is a major concern due to the amount of damage it can do to the pool walls and anything associated with the pool.
This is a major concern when it comes to reducing alkalinity in the pool quickly. You do not want to deal with unclean pool water as it will worsen with time.
Keep things simple and make sure to handle the high alkalinity in the pool as soon as possible.
How To Treat High Alkalinity In Pool
To treat high alkalinity in a pool, start by using muriatic acid.
Muriatic acid is an efficient solution for reducing the pH level of a swimming pool. It will take approximately 24 hours for the muriatic acid to make a difference.
Look to maintain a safe ratio when adding the muriatic acid in the pool.
For the most part, you will want to add 20 ounces of acid per 10,000 gallons of water in the pool. This ratio will lead to good results. Let the acid settle and it will do the job as required.
Final Thoughts
Is high alkalinity in the pool dangerous?
Yes, high alkalinity in the pool is dangerous. This can lead to rashes developing on a swimmer’s skin along with eye irritation. The higher pH level will also cause scaling on the pool equipment along with reduced water quality.
It’s best to address this right away with the help of muriatic acid.
Adding muriatic acid in a swimming pool is the best way to get rid of the high alkalinity in a swimming pool.
It’s also recommended to learn how to shock a pool as that is going to lead to better results when it comes to improving overall water quality in a pool.
