Does anyone have experience using vinegar to lower pH? My pool has a of 7.8, 15K gallons and a vinyl liner. Thanks
Vinegar to lower pH
- Thread starter Judith Molinelli
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- vinegar.
Why would you want to use vinegar instead of muriatic acid? You would need a lot more vinegar, since its PH is about double, and it's weaker.
Wobblerlorri
Bronze Supporter
- Apr 16, 2019
- 2,010
- Pool Size
- 4024
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Liquid Chlorine
Not to mention the smell, since you're going to use so dang much vinegar. Use either muriatic acid or pH down (dry acid) if you're afraid of the MA. That's what I do.
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,800
- Pool Size
- 28000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Why to you want to do this? Concerned about the strong fumes from MA? There are weaker forms that have much less fuming and are much easier to handle. Takes more to adjust pH than 31.45% MA but you'd still be better off since it contains hydrochloric acid is a strong acid and vinegar is a weak acid. A strong acid completely dissociates into the active form in water a weak acid only partially dissociates. So at any given concentration a strong acid will way outperform a weak acid. I've also heard many people prefer something other than MA because there's a belief that it's not "green". Hydrochloric acid is very common in nature. Its the acid in your stomach that helps digest food.
I hope this helps.
Chris
I hope this helps.
Chris
I am trying to use the most environmentally friendly additives. Vinegar came up in the search. Apparently it decomposes to acetate
Most helpful, thanks!
Is there a particular brand of MA that is pure? ie without additives?
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,800
- Pool Size
- 28000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
MA does not have any additives. The balance is water. It's sold in various concentrations. There are no additives intentionally added although some does contain tiny amounts of mostly metal impurities that can give it a brownish-yellow tint.
I hope this helps.
Chris
Last edited:
- Mar 5, 2020
- 3,221
- Pool Size
- 66000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Astral Viron V35
Muriatic acid is HCl, it decomposes basically into salt and water.
The best thing you can do to minimise the environmental impact is to use as little muriatic acid as possible. To achieve that, you should aim for TA levels as low as 50ppm to minimise CO2 out-gassing which is the main driver for pH drifting up.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 15,967
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Hi Judith! Glad you’re here!
here are some references for u to help u take care of your pool
ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
www.troublefreepool.com
www.troublefreepool.com
here are some references for u to help u take care of your pool
ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
Recommended Pool Chemicals
Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.
www.troublefreepool.com
Non-Recommended Pool Chemicals
These pool chemicals should not be added to your pool. Save your money and frustration and avoid these chemicals!
www.troublefreepool.com
Vinegar is a horrible idea. It will form haloacetic compounds. Definitely do not use vinegar.
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