Clearwater Hot Tubs of Litchfield Connecticut
Login Register
Thursday, March 11, 2010  Search
Clearwater of Litchfield Closed Until Further Notice Minimize
Clearwater of Litchfield is closed until further notice. Please check back in the Spring of 2010.
Skin design and build by rhoek.com
Skin design and build by rhoek.com
pH Testing Minimize
The pH is one of the most important factors in pool water balance and it should be tested and corrected at least every week. A pH is the measure of how acid/ alkaline the swimming pool water is. A pH of 7.0 is neutral (below 7.0 is acidic, above 7.0 is alkaline).

ph.jpg If the pool is too acidic (pH is low) and  your swimming pool is Marbelite or plaster, the pool water will begin to dissolve the surface, creating a roughness which is ideal for pool algae growth. Metals corrode and this includes swimming pool equipment, pipe fittings, and pump connections. As the swimming pool walls and metal parts corrode, sulphates are formed. These sulphates are released from the water onto the walls and floor of the swimming pool causing ugly brown and black stains. Chlorine, which is used as a disinfectant in the swimming pool water, is activated and lost to the atmosphere very quickly. When we swim, our eyes and nose burn. Our swimwear fades and perishes. Our skin gets dry and itchy.

If the pool is too alkaline (pH is high) the calcium in the swimming pool water combines with carbonates and forms scale. This calcification is seen most at the waterline, where it traps dust and dirt, turning black with time. The swimming pool water starts to become cloudy or murky and it loses its sparkle. As the pH rises, the power of the chlorine to act on foreign particles is lost. At a pH of 8.0 the pool can only use 20% of the chlorine you put in. In alkaline swimming pool water, the swimmers suffer too. Our eyes and nose burn and our skin gets dry and itchy.

Maintaining the correct levels is vital because it:
  • Improves product effectiveness, especially the bacteria-killing power of chlorinating products and other sanitizers.
  • Prevents etching of plaster surfaces and corrosion of metal equipment and accessories.
  • Prevents the formation of scale that can damage pool equipment, stain surfaces and cloud the water.
  • Prevents eye and skin irritation.
Skin design and build by rhoek.com
Skin design and build by rhoek.com
2006 Clearwater of Litchfield | Terms | Privacy