Muriatic Acid and Baking Soda

[Mark IT]

Hi - I am a first-time pool owner. We broke ground Feb 18 and we began swimming in mid-March this year. I am trying to follow the TFP methodology. It seems that I am going through about a quart or two of Muriatic Acid per week and several pounds of Baking Soda a month. Not sure if this is normal, low or high?

Been trying to keep the FC to around 4 or 5 but with the swings in temp and the SWG it seems to swing up and then down. The pool seems to gravitate towards FC 6 and.

Trying to keep the PH as close to 7.2 as I can. The Fiberglass Pool installer had us sign a doc that says the PH needs to be between 7.2 to 7.4 for warranty reasons. I have to the acid to keep the PH from going too high.

I only add the baking soda when the ALK drops below 50. It does seem to dive fairly quickly and the pool math - PoolMath has instructed me to add up to 6 or 7 pounds all at once.

I try to take pool water readings about every other day.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Trying to keep the PH as close to 7.2 as I can. The Fiberglass Pool installer had us sign a doc that says the PH needs to be between 7.2 to 7.4 for warranty reasons. I have to the acid to keep the PH from going too high.

This is the problem. You're required to force your pH down with muriatic acid which, in turn, drops TA. You need to allow pH to rise to a level where it stabilizes.

Is the pH requirement consistent with the manufacturer's recommendation? Maybe it's a typo. Contact the installer and let them know what's going on with your TA.

You've likely seen it, but take a look at TFP's recommendations:

What Are My Ideal Pool Levels?

Use our tool to find ideal chemical levels for any swimming pool. Check TFP recommended levels on pH, free chlorine, cyanuric acid, and more.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Mark IT]

Hi - I looked up the info I mentioned. This was also in the warranty booklet from the fiberglass pool manufacturer:

failure to maintain the pH level of the water in the Pool between PH 7.2 and 7.4, the total alkalinity level between TA 80 and 120 parts per million, the calcium level between CHD 150 and 200 parts per million, and/or the free chlorine level between FCL 1 and 3 parts per million.

 

[mknauss]

Maintaining that pH range and TA range is chemically impossible with out the hamster wheel you are on.

I have a fiberglass pool. My pH is always around 7.8 and TA around 100 or less. No issues.

Those ranges have nothing to do with the fiberglass. They are the boilerplate ranges given by pool stores and chemical companies.

Follow the TFP What Are My Ideal Pool Levels?

 

[Mark IT]

Ahhh so it is not about protecting the GEL coat but on to fund the pool stores. Sadly the pool surface warranty is tied to these numbers.

 

[mknauss]

The likelihood of ever getting any form of warranty claim on a pool surface, unless it is an immediate failure at install, is between slim and none.

 

[Mark IT]

We are first-time pool owners. One of the reasons for purchasing a Fiberglass pool was the warranties. I guess I should not be surprised that the surface is difficult and unlikely to get honored. When purchasing the pool we did not consider that aspect. Can anyone tell us about the Gel Coating that Aviva Pools uses on their fiberglass pool? After X number of years, your fiberglass surface coating is GREAT/HORRIBLE? Or has anyone had a fiberglass pool resurfaced?

Also what about the other warranties - structural etc?? are they also hard to deal with?

 

[Texas Splash]

That 7.2 - 7.4 has got to be a typo. All the FG manufactures use the generic "7.2 - 7.8" range. That, along with all of their other chemical level recommendations, are just hand grenade ranges they publish to try and help owners to keep their chemicals "somewhere" within an acceptable range. Here at TFP we utilize many more tools and data that takes into account the pool surface, method of chlorination, equipment, and other factors to help owners maintain ideal chemical levels. Gelcoats can certainly change over time as they are porous at a microscopic level. Structurally they are very strong, and if installed properly should last an extremely long time.

 

[Sunnydaze]

Man, if i were to maintain ph at 7.2, I'd be adding acid every single day. Maybe twice a day. That's just not very realistic unless you always have a bunch of acid tabs floating. Typical warranty - they set requirements that no one is going to adhere to so they can deny a claim. They would also want proof of pool test results for the life of the pool. It would be your responsibility to prove you kept the levels within their ranges. Can't provide proof? (And you couldn't if you're home testing) they deny the warranty claim.