What Are pH Levels?
It is vital that you maintain a healthy pH level in your drinking water because the more acidic water is can lead to health problems. Similar to drinking water, an imbalance in your swim spa’s water chemistry can damage plumbing and cause other issues.
The pH level in your water is essentially an indicator of its acidity levels. It is considered “acidic” if water has extra hydrogen ions, and if it has less than you would find in plain water, it will be considered “basic.” A 7.0 pH level is considered to be completely neutral water, but when you’re dealing with the appropriate pH level for swimming water, you need to aim for a 7.4 – 7.6 reading.
It is necessary to maintain this desired pH level for many reasons. It is ultimately the pH levels that can determine the overall well-being of your spa and its systems, as well as the health of the swimmers in it.
How pH Levels Affect The Functioning Of Your Swim Spa
Sometimes, it can be difficult to maintain the right pH levels in your swim spa; however, it is essential to maintain a good balance.
The swim spa’s pH levels should not be higher than 7.8, as this will make the water too basic and reduce the effectiveness of chlorine. These pool chemicals are used for killing pathogens, so if the pH levels in your spa exceed 7.8, it can cause possible skin rashes and damage equipment.
Alternatively, low pH water can also damage spa parts, as it can eat away at the many different parts of your spa. Plaster, grout, stone and tiling, for example, can be damaged by low pH water. This could lead to cracks in the surfaces. People in your swimming spa may also experience burning, itchy eyes if the pH levels are too low. So, if you find that anyone is experiencing this, it’s a good idea to get out your testing strips and check your pH levels!
External factors are the reason these levels need to be regularly checked. For instance, if your swim spa happens to accumulate a significant amount of rainwater, or really any at all, it’s best to check your levels. Other factors like dirt and debris that could possibly be in the water could very well interrupt the pH balance.
Another external factor is the swimmers of your spa. From creams to perfumes, you never know what products might be coming off their skin and mixing into the water. These things could very quickly affect the pH balance.
There are many resources and tools available that can make it easy to care for your water. For example, you can check your water quality by regularly checking with testing strips or bringing a sample in for a professional analysis at one of our store locations.
How You Can Raise Your Swim Spas pH Levels:
Most times to increase your pH, you will need to add alkalinity to boost the pH to 7.4 -7.6 if you have a low reading on both the total alkalinity and pH. Look for a “Total Alkalinity Increaser” product at your local swimming pool or spa supply shop to get the desired pH and alkalinity increase. You don’t have to try and figure out the balance on your own, as there are many different people and products to help!
There is a simple solution to pH problems that you might be experiencing. However, it’s important to remember that you have a much smaller amount of water in a swim spa than you would in a pool. Therefore, it’s easier to completely drain your spa and start over if you’re having trouble balancing the pH levels. Doing this will remove any uncertainty and help you start fresh without worrying about any outside influences coming into play.
It is important to recognize the desired pH levels for your spa’s functioning and longevity.
Now that you have a better understanding of maintaining proper pH levels for your spa download the free buyer’s guide today to learn how to select the right swim spa for you.