Best Way to Lower the pH in a Swimming Pool

 

The Industry-standard for lowering the pH in a Pool is to use Muriatic Acid. It is readily available at your local pool store, hardware store and many grocery stores. There are two other alternate and safer ways to lower the pH in your pool and that is by using Dry Acid (Sodium Bisulfate) or Acid Magic (Hydrochloric Acid). I will cover all three methods here for you so you can make an informed decision.




Since the use of Muriatic Acid is well known I will only touch on it briefly here. They sell it in different strength, but the Industry Standard is the 31.45% and you can readily find this strength at your local pool store. Since this is a very strong acid, I suggest wearing gloves when handling it and also you need to be aware of the fumes when you pour it. Also, be careful not to get any on the pool deck as it can stain the surface.

Acid Magic: Acid Magic is Hydrochloric Acid with the same strength as 31.45% Muriatic Acid but it has some great benefits over Muriatic Acid. Acid Magic has 90% fewer fumes than Muriatic Acid and it has a buffering agent that will protect your skin from getting burned. It also won’t etch the surface like Muriatic Acid and it is a safe alternative or as they say, a user-friendly form of Muriatic Acid.

ACID Magic is a full-strength muriatic-based product formulated to ship, use, and store easier than standard muriatic acid. This revolutionary blend of proprietary ingredients offer the cleaning and pH reduction of powerful acids while providing increased usability.

 POOL AND SPA:

• Tested safe in all heated/unheated pools.

• ACID Magic is certified by NSF to NSF/ANSI Standard 50.

• Adjusts pool and spa water chemistry.

• Extremely effective acid wash.

• Cleans filters, chlorine generators, and meter electrodes.

 DRINKING WATER TREATMENT:

• ACID Magic is certified by NSF to NSF/ANSI Standard 60.

• Corrosion and scale control.

• Descaler.

• pH adjustment.

Dry Acid: Sodium Bisulfate (Dry Acid) Sodium Bisulfate is a dry, granular form of acid. This makes it safer for handling, and it is far less corrosive in a pump room or other space as it is not a strong oxidizer like muriatic acid. It Sodium bisulfate needs to be stored in a dry place, without moisture getting into the container.  Sodium bisulfate must be pre-dissolved before being added to the pool, just like any other dry chemical. But if you spill it or get any of it on the pool deck it won’t burn your skin or stain your deck.

Benefits:

Does not burn your skin

Longer shelf life

Easy to store

No toxic fumes

It won’t rust everything around your house or equipment room

Strong as muriatic acid with proper dosage

Easy to use

 Adjusting the pH in your pool is critical for proper water balance and to make sure that the water in your pool is not scale forming nor is it being corrosive. The pH is one important element in this. Note also that when you adjust the pH you are also adjusting the Alkalinity. And that the higher the Alkalinity is over the baseline of 80-120 ppm the more dry acid you will need to lower the pH. This is because Alkalinity is a buffer in the water and will slow down the affect of any acid you add if the water is very alkaline.

 Dry acid is a bit more expensive than muriatic acid if you are comparing pound for pound which is a bit more difficult because one is in a dry form and the other in a liquid form. But if you measure the dosage of the dry acid correctly it is just as strong as 31.45% muriatic acid. I think for the safety and storage benefits dry acid is hands-down better for homeowner use as well as some service pro use. I like to carry 50 lbs. bucket in the back of my truck and find it very handy as it gives me more space to carry my other chemicals and equipment. It is also good for adding acid to those service accounts were pets are present or the homeowner is next to the pool. The last thing you want to do is pour in a quart of muriatic acid and have them overcome by fumes.

 Visit my Website: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/

eBook: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/swimming-pool-care-ebook

YouTube Video Index: http://poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/03/swimming-pool-tips-reviews-how-to-video.html – A list of all of my videos.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To Video Index (List) Alphabetical order

I have over 900 videos on my YouTube Channel: Swimming Pool Tips and How-To - so I have compiled an Index for you to help you find a video on a topic that you are having an issue with or want to learn more about. I hope this helps you find the information you will need to keep your pool looking sparkling every week. Website:  http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/ Coaching Site:  https://poolguycoaching.com/ Podcast Site:  https://www.thepoolguypodcastshow.com/ eBook:  https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/swimming-pool-care-ebook Listen to my weekly Podcast: Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pool-guy-show-podcast/id1257613192 Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Imhdwnal25iyl4c2yfceih2ni4y Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/4vBthPxqaNIAlw4LFVB2m3 A Above Ground Pool Care & Maintenance - The Ultimate Guide: https://youtu.be/j-hlTRSC0Fk ACID Magic User Friendly Muriatic Acid Alternative with 90% Less Fu
Read more

Can I Use Clorox Bleach in my Pool?

Image
Regular Unscented Bleach I started doing pool service when I was 16 years old back in 1988. I took a break from the industry and did some Real Estate Investing and ran a small business for awhile. But I always loved working outdoors and so I decided to do pool service again. So I have about 15 years of practical experience in the field. My specialty has always been water chemistry as I was formally trained by an experts in the field. So I am well versed in most of the chemicals that are on the market today and I have used and tested a lot of different products. So when you hear those in the industry discourage and even slander anyone who uses bleach in their pool, you may think that it is not a product that you should use. In fact as you read this article you will find that using bleach and only bleach is a safe and smart choice. There is a lot of ignorance surrounding household bleach and the use of bleach in a swimming pool. Here is a video I made that goes in more detail on usin
Read more

Mr. Pen Non-contact Voltage Meter - Don't Get Electrocuted!

Image
One of the biggest issues you will run into with anything connected to an AC power is if that device or equipment is receiving power. In the pool service industry, this often is the case when you find that a pool pump won’t turn on. Or if a pool timer doesn't on, is it receiving power? Also for repairs with so many breakers being unmarked, how do you know you turned off the right breaker. Bottom line, a non-contact detector like the Mr. Pen is an easy way to see if power is going to the equipment/device and the line is active. A non-contact voltage detector is just that. You don’t need to make contact with the line like with a Multimeter. Plus you don’t need to adjust any settings or knobs to get a voltage reading. Simply hold the Mr. Pen over a cord or wire whip and if there is AC power a red light will turn on and an audible beep will come out of the device. A very easy way to tell if power or a current is present.  To order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092LFYTG5?&_encoding=UT
Read more