What Are the Causes of Alkalinity in Pools?

 

Keeping balanced levels of acid and alkalinity in pools is an important step to keeping a healthy pool. Balanced pool levels help prevent algae and pathogens from taking up residence in the pool water. Balancing a pool's total alkalinity requires measurement and attention to balancing levels of chemicals and particulate matter in pool water. Alkalinity can be caused by a variety of environmental factors, but can only be balanced by adding the appropriate acids or acid salts to the pool water.

Identification

Alkalinity is found in water that has a high level of alkaline compounds in the water. When alkalinity is measured in a pool, it is also known as total alkalinity or TA. According to the 2006 "Certified Pool-Spa Operator Handbook" by the National Swimming Pool foundation, total alkalinity is a measure of how the pH level of water changes when an acid is introduced.

Causes

A pool can be alkaline for a variety of reasons, but the problem stems from too little acid in the water. Conditions that can cause alkalinity in your pool can include plant or dirt debris that can dissolve into your pool and change the pH, and can also be a result of alkalinity in the local water source. Most of the time, alkalinity is caused by inaccurate addition of pool chemicals.

Expert Insight

Experts and pool product manufacturers disagree on the range of alkalinity that is right for a balanced pool. According to "The Ultimate Pool Maintenance Manual," balanced water should have total alkalinity of 80 to 150 parts per million (ppm) of bicarbonate and carbonate. According to "Pools and Spas," balanced pool water needs 90 to 150 alkaline parts per million.

Symptoms

Problems associated with a high level of alkalinity include cloudy water, clogged filters and heating elements, and roughness on the pool walls. High alkalinity can also irritate swimmers' skin.

Prevention/Solution

Acid can be added to a pool to control total alkalinity. According to "Certified Pool-Spa Handbook," acids used to control alkalinity include muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate.

Benefits

Maintaining a proper alkalinity level makes a pool healthier and safer for swimmers. Keeping a pool's levels in balance can also help prevent or cure an algae infestation or to keep the pool water from staining the pool. Keeping balanced chemical levels in the pool can also protect the pool from damage from mineral water deposits.

How to Stop Tree Fruit

Home Pool Maintenance & Troubleshooting

DIY Fences and Patios

How to Stop Tree Fruit

 

Stopping your trees from producing fruit is very easy, and is very helpful to the tree's health. It takes the tree a lot of energy to produce fruit, which means a lot of the energy needed for the tree to grow is missing. This is especially helpful with a young, fruit-bearing tree. Removing the flowers is all it takes to stop the fruit from growing.

Locate the tree flowering before the flowering turns into fruit. Depending on the type of tree, the flowering will look different, but they will be very easy to spot, as they are completely different shapes and colors than the leaves.


Locate the flower pods that have yet to turn into flowers and remove them. A lot of energy goes into helping these pods blossom into flowers, so removing them will help the tree concentrate on growing instead of flowering and producing fruit.


Cut the flowers off at the leaf junction. You can use a very sharp blade or gardening sheers. Pinch off the flowering pods with your fingers, and then cut the stem down to the leaf junction. Do this every season until the tree gets to the height you need.

What Are the Causes of Alkalinity in Pools?

Home Pool Maintenance & Troubleshooting

DIY Fences and Patios

Home Pool Maintenance & Troubleshooting

 

Keeping a swimming pool at your home provides hours of outdoor fun and entertainment for your family and friends, but can be unhealthy or dangerous if you don't maintain the pool. You have to keep the water chlorinated, filtered and free of debris. You also have to treat your pool regularly by removing water-soluble waste that can attract bacteria. Keeping your pool clean on a regular basis ensures its safety and appearance.

Pool Maintenance Tips

Check your pool's pH levels once a week. According to the website Penguin Pool, pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of water. Pure water has a pH of 7. The pH of your pool's water should be between 7.4 and 7.6, which allows chlorine to disinfect the water of most bacteria. Natural conditions such as rain can alter your pool's pH levels, especially if your area gets more acidic rain. Also, highly acidic or alkaline water can damage the human body.

Check your pool's water filter. The filter keeps mud and solid debris from floating into the pool from underground. Crushed-sand swimming pool filters can receive airborne contaminants as well, so replace the sand once every three to five years. If your pool experiences heavy use, you may need to increase this frequency.

Clean your pool by scooping out solid debris such as leaves or branches. If possible, remove any overhanging branches that might drop leaves into the water. Leaves can clog up your filter.

According to the website Pool Manual, you should shock your pool at least once every two weeks, but the exact amount depends on your climate and how often people use the pool. Shocking refers to oxidization and a chemical reaction, not an electrical current. It uses substances such as calcium, lithium or chlorine to break down water-soluble waste that swimmers leave behind, such as body oil, sweat, cosmetics and urine.

Water Conditions

Normally, your pool's water should be a clear blue, only tinted by the chlorine or by the bottom of the pool. If your water appears to be a different color, it indicates problems. A green tint, according to the website Repair Home, shows an algae infestation. This happens when your chlorine levels drop. Fix it by adding unstabilized chlorine. You can also use algaecide to kill any remaining algae. Wipe down the sides of the pool thoroughly to prevent the growth of bacteria.

If your water has a red tint, it indicates rust in the pipes. Drain your pool and clean the tile and lining, then replace the fittings of your pipes with copper fittings. Copper will not rust as easily as iron or steel.

What Are the Causes of Alkalinity in Pools?

How to Stop Tree Fruit

DIY Fences and Patios

DIY Fences and Patios

 

Fences and patios can be found in the landscaping of homes across America and around the world. While patios provide a beautiful and comfortable means to rest and relax in the yard, fences provide privacy and security without compromising beauty. If you are planning on installing a fence or patio, know about the materials and techniques available for a successful project.

Fences

Fences can be constructed from many different materials, such as vinyl, brick, block, wood and stone. There are basically two components to a fence: the vertical columns and the horizontal fence sections. If you are installing a brick, block or rock fence, make sure that your foundation is adequate. The footer for the column should be 12 inches thick and 6 inches bigger than the circumference of the column. 

The footer for the fence sections should be 12 inches thick and as long as the sections between the columns. Lay rebar in the footer of the fence and make sure that the footer is level. Lay the columns first. Use a nylon string stretched along the outsides of all columns to make sure that they are all aligned and square to each other. Use a 4-foot level to make sure the columns are plumb and level. After the columns have dried, install the center fence sections.

Wood or vinyl fences have the same components; however, you will only need to set the posts in concrete and install the fence sections after the posts have dried. Make sure the posts are plumb. Measure the length of the horizontal sections before you install the posts, and set the posts so that they correspond to that distance. If you space the posts too far apart or too close, the horizontal sections will not fit.

Patios

Patios can be constructed from various materials, such as wood, stone and brick pavers. Wood patios should be built on a 6-inch elevated frame of treated lumber. Use cedar for the deck of the patio for a more beautiful display. If you choose to use cedar, use stainless steel nails to prevent staining. Stain your wood patio with an exterior stain.

Stone and brick paver patios should be installed directly on top of a concrete or crushed stone base. Use type S mortar to bond the stone to the concrete base, and sand as a setting agent for the crushed stone base. If you are using crushed stone as a base, dig out the earth 6 or 8 inches below grade to allow for thickness of the pavers/stone, sand and crushed gravel. Seal the pavers/stone with an exterior masonry sealer to preserve your work.

What Are the Causes of Alkalinity in Pools?

How to Stop Tree Fruit

Home Pool Maintenance & Troubleshooting