Using Baking Soda to Raise your Swimming Pool's Alkalinity 

***** Just FYI: Boric Acid is toxic so I say its a bad idea. Long term exposure can cause kidney damage and kidney failure, while an ingested dose of 2-3 grams can kill an infant and 5x~10x that does can kill an adult.

Costco has good price on big bag baking soda

It’s food grade and will cloud your pool. Should use sodium hydrogen carbonate

Bdizzle 420 Baking soda won’t cloud your pool if it’s added through the pool skimmer.

After reading your comment I did a search for borax use in pools. A lot of different websites mention to use it the same way this channel does here Many chemicals used in pools are toxic in their concentrated form, like chlorine. Is it possible your info just talks about Borax in it's original, concentrated form?

Wax

Maybe try broadcasting it into the pool water in the future.

@@SPL so I did the broadcast method with Leslie's alkalinity up and it only moved it up about 10 ppm from 38 to 48. But when I put it directly in the skimmer it jumped from 0 to 38 ppm initially. Is the skimmer way the more effective method in raising alk?

+Gary D Best to get a cheap food scale at the store and use that. That is what I use. And it does sound like you added too much. No worries, just keep adding acid every few days to drop the pH and Alk back down. 30 was pretty low so I see why you wanted to raise it.

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To -MrDgvb1 great. Thanks for the advice. I'll get a weight scale today.

Yes, run the filter

I use this site. It is the best. Just enter your numbers: poolcalculator.com/?.poolcalculator.com&/

+Mo Kravat I would just add the baking soda and then retest the water. Then I would get a second opinion on their calcium hardness reading. Sounds awfully low.

Your not far off. Total alkalinity should be between 80 and 110. If your pool holds 10,000 gallons and your alkalinity is 40 PPM, start with 6 pounds of baking soda. then test again in 24 hours. That should do it.

It is low. Normal alkalinity should be between 80 and 110 PPM

Add to skimmer for best results. With pool running

@@SPLeven if I have the cholrinator tube dispensing ?

Yeah, go figure.

pH too low.

Turn off your pool for 24 hours and let it all settle to the bottom. Then manually vacuum it up.

it'snot an exact science so keep adding it to raise it up. Borax works better.

Have a pro check your pool once a month. Better safe than sorry

go to sams club a 13lb. bag is $6.00

No, it is perfectly safe to leave it on.

Will work fine for you.

Needs to run longer and maybe raise the chlorine level up to 10 ppm

Skimmer is better. Less dust in the pool.

You can add it directly to the pool.

Going to Leslie's is like going to Costco. If you get out of there without spending over $300 you feel good about yourself ;) They are a retail store so yes, they will try to sell you everything you make eye contact with. As far as chemicals - once you get your salt system up and running (I assume it is not running correctly with your near zero chlorine reading) your should be fine with using the BBB Method. Baking Soda, Borax and Bleach (Salt System). You really don't need all of those chemicals although some serve specific purposes and are handy. I would recommend getting your Alkalinity up and your CYA - I like Natural Chemistry's Instant Conditioner myself and use it all the time. The Granular stuff takes a long time to break down and activate. Interested in the flakes on top of your pool. Maybe send me a photo on my website: www.swimmingpoollearning.com so I can take a look at them.

Sounds like metals in the water. Try adding a metal sequestering agent likes Jack's Magic.

Ok is that something u can get a Walmart or specifically a pool place?

And thank you so much for getting bk with me so fast! I've heard you know ur stuff. So I will definitely be doing as u say. We have struggled so much with this.

Try this site - it is really good poolcalculator.com/

Neil Smith All the same. I know Walmart sells this big bag. I assume Walmart is everywhere ;).

It takes months at low levels for ALK to affect the pool surface. Very low pH is more dangerous - but we are talking pH in the 5 range. You are fine.

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To -MrDgvb1 took my water to Leslie's and my TA was spot on at 100. Except for high chlorine and some phosphates my water was perfect, but they did recommend a bottle of perfect weekly. Your recommendation of purchasing supplies at a pool store is correct. My test kit was a garbage giving me false reading. I now only shop at Leslie's to have quality products. A cheap bad tester is worthless and will cost you more head ache and money in the long run. Thanks for all your help...

Add 20 Mule Team borax to bring the pH up.

Won't raise pH as much as ALK but raises both.

Both at once.

It's an odd product. They are tablet forms of Baking Soda with 15% pool clarifier. For me I would just use the powder form.

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To -MrDgvb1 from the package they make it sound as if the product will keep your pool balanced .

Yes. It will make it a bit cloudy for a few hours but it should be fine.

Possibly.

A Reagent test kit or photometer test kit are better.

no don’t buy those not accurate

Yes, it is safe to use in your pool

yes

Costco and Walmart sell it.

Amazon

Sounds like you got the basics down. More than likely the pool guy who was doing the service for the R.E. company bombed the pool out so it would survive the transition. I would start by adding some Conditioner that way the Bleach you will add will have some protection 30-50 ppm CYA. So add some Conditioner. Start with raising the Alkalinity to at least 80 ppm. Baking Soda will also raise the pH. Raise the pH up with some Borax if it is still low after adjusting the alkalinity so that the pool will be comfortable to swim in . Too low a pH and you will have itchy skin and burning eyes. 7.4 - 7.6 is fine. If you want to avoid the pool store entirely I saw Conditioner at Walmart last week. Pool will be good to go.

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To -MrDgvb1 Thank you so much for your response! It took a lot less baking soda & Borax than I thought it would (which I suppose is a good thing) but I got the pool balanced. I was using regular liquid chlorine as I found it to be more economical than dropping the same amount of $ on a lower (1/2 as much I think) concentration Clorox brand bleach. Sad thing is though that this morning we went to the house & the pump putting water out into the pool just barely & barely taking any in at all in the skimmer side.....we emptied the skimmer of the small amount of leaves it had....and that didn't work. So guess we're going to have to call a professional in to see what's up. Hopefully it's a lack of proper maintenance issue & not a major problem with the pump/filter as I've heard those take thousands to replace or repair & I doubt home owners insurance would cover something like that. (but what do I know about that lol). Wish me good luck I suppose. Do you suggest we keep the pump thing running? Or would it be smarter to close it till we get someone to the house to look at it within the next 48 hours? Anyways thanks again for taking the time to respond before. I appreciate it.

Jen Tuesday Did your RE agent get the Seller to purchase a Home Warranty for you? It is customary in my area. The one year Home Warranty should cover any equipment that needs repairing and replacing for service call of $65.00. Check your Escrow Papers.

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To -MrDgvb1 Good news is my dad went to the house the day after I typed up the last comment (I had already called up a pool guy to come & do a service call for 85$ the next day) & my dad said the pool looked to be putting out & taking in water perfectly fine like it was before....so (on the phone) I told him to dump 1/2 a gallon of liquid chlorine in it because the chlorine levels were already low the last I had checked when the pump didn't seem to be working......I get to the house & surprise surprise, it looked freshly vacuumed & there were 1 and a half 3" chlorine tabs in the skimmer! LOL Lucky for me I did quite a bit of research on pool maintenance etc before we started moving or else I would have thought the chlorine tablets in the skimmer were rocks lol. I check the pool with a test strip (I know, I know, I've heard you guys look down on those & that they can be inaccurate at times, but I haven't gotten to dropping $60 on a taylor kit from Amazon yet) & the Chlorine read to be HIGH but everything else was fine. (probably from the unnecessary 1/2 gallon of chlorine added) My best guess about the pool maintenance fairy is that the pool guy who was doing the pool for the previous owners (Who just moved out about 3 weeks ago) stopped by very early yesterday morning & cleaned up the pool as normal... set the chemistry as it should be.....and fixed whatever issue was slowing the water intake/outake down significantly. I spoke to the previous owners of the home before they moved & they mentioned how much they paid for pool service on a monthly basis....and they gave me the pool guys' name & number. I had called him at least 3-4 times before we started moving.. with no response, .( this was before I decided to just learn to maintain the pool myself) so figured he was too busy over the summer to handle calls from unknown numbers/potential new customers? I really hope the case is that the previous owners had already paid him for the month & he was just doing the last maintenance requirement for that month.....but can't know for sure as I don't want to bother the previous owners who were practically strangers & clear across the country by now.....and the pool guy never took my calls before....think I should try calling him again or just let it go? He just did us a big favor (?), probably saved us a good chunk of cash, and I don't want him to have done all that work yesterday for no compensation if he wasn't already paid for it. Maybe he wasn't even aware the previous owner moved away. Sorry for the novel.....just want someone's personal/professional opinion on this.

Jen Tuesday A lot of pool guys are Beta personalities - translation - they don't return calls. Maybe send him a text message or ask the selling agent if she can contact him for you. And yes, he is probably swamped with work like most of us in the Summer... but glad to hear things are up and running again.

Opposite actually. It raises it.

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To - SPL - yes , i just did the research , it does ! thank you !

Sure, not an issue.

Pyro Guy Borax works much better. Walmart and Target both stock it in the laundry isle. Turn off the pool until the pH is above 7.0 to prevent damage and staining.

OK thanks

PS I tried pH up from hth it didn't do that good but I'm going to pick up some borax and thank you 😊

+Mo Kravat Alkalinity up is the Baking soda and it will raise the pH also. pH up is usually Soda Ash.

Sorry again for my ignorance but what we bought from island recreational the pHix it up says sodium bicarbonate on the back of the bag while the alka-pH which is the alkaline product does not tell u the ingredients?? See my confusion. The item I bought from Leslie's pools that says alkalinity up says sodium bicarbonate on the back So it seems I believe that the pHix it up from island rec is the same as alkalinity up from Leslie's??? Yet both places say to use the alkalinity product first ??? But again the alka-pH says for total alkalinity but has no ingredients listed.

+Mo Kravat Soda Ash will also raise the Alkalinity but Baking soda is more effective per lbs. Some companies use Baking soda for both Alk and pH up. If you watch more of my videos I prefer using Borax to raise the pH. In your case the Baking Soda will be most effective as it raises the ALK up more than the pH. Your pH is almost in range so just use the Baking Soda.

Thank u for ur kindness. But one more ? As they suggested is 3 lbs of alkalinity up for a 10000 gallon pool enuf to make it in range ?😊

+Mo Kravat Should get it up to at least 80 ppm with 3 lbs.

Lars Norberg u ijiojnmknj

What do I do when my 12 year old Labrador poops in the pool? subtract 7 years for every 10 CYA and 1 Gallon of sulphuric acid for every dog year? Pool math is hard!

Adjust the Alkalinity up. Once it is over 100 start to lower the pH down.

Same numbers I got

I have right now alkalinity at 49. Should I shoot for 100 alkalinity so when I add muriatic it will drop my ph bring my all in the 80-100 range?

I lie adding it to the skimmer

Do you have a video that you would like to share

Total Alkalinity and a pH reading are not the same thing. As I understand it, Total Alkalinity refers to minerals and other solids in the water that do have an impact on pH, but it's not the same thing.

You are correct, Alkalinity is the minerals in the water. PH is just a scale to give you a reference of where you are at. I think it is called a PH because the testing chemical is Phenol Red. If your PH is high then do a total alkalinity test to determine the PPM. Go to the chart with your pools gallons specified and it will tell you the proper amount of acid to add to disintegrate the proper amount of minerals to give you a good PH reading. Same goes with a low PH but you have to do an acid test to determine the PPM. Refer to the chart and add the proper amount of Sodium Bicarbonate to give a good PH 7.2--7.4

this whole pool cleaning /maintenance is a pain un the head

It's really not that bad once you understand pH. pH is just a scale letting you know if you are high in alkaline high in acid or neutral. Once you got that it's a piece of cake.

Baking Soda. This will raise both the Alkalinity & pH

I was told 1 lb. wait 2 hrs test again.

You will be fine using this.

It's possible the rain lowered the pH. Generally I let the pools rise on their own unless the pH is under 7.2 - pool store was probably erring in the side of caution. It really doesn't do any harm to raise it up if needed.

Yes.