How to Use and Importance of Hydrochloric Acid For Pools

Keeping good water chemistry in your pool is vital for health and safety. One of the most typical pool chemicals is hydrochloric acid, often known as muriatic acid. It is a very strong acid used to reduce the pH or total alkalinity of the water. It can also be used as an acid washer for cleaning an open swimming pool.

Pool Chemistry

The pH level of your pool impacts every other chemical ratio in pool water. pH is the extent of the level of hydrogen ions or bite of the pool water. Measured on a logarithmic scale, a pH of 0 indicates acidic conditions, and a pH of 14 indicates basic needs. A pH of 7 is neutral. The most desired pH of pool water is between 7.4 to 7.6, basic. This is the most cozy range for your eyes and skin. It provides the best chlorine groups to stop bacteria, algae, and fungus growth. It prevents scale. The white crusty sense is often seen on pool tiles or becomes too caustic. Hydrochloric acid is often used to alter pool water back toward the best range when it has become too basic.

Importance of Optimal pH

The pH must be changed with hydrochloric acid to reach ideal levels. The pool pump, heating core, and plaster walls can lead to corrosion in the metal fittings. Eye irritation, low pH, and acidic pool water can also contribute to corrosion. The pool’s walls may become stained by the dissolved metals. Basic pool water causes chlorine to work slowly and poorly. Minerals in the water can form a hard, white residue on the pool tile. The water becomes murky and discolored. The filter has to work harder. Eye irritation can happen. The pH can also be lowered with sodium bisulfate. But, hydrochloric acid has the advantage of increasing free chlorine in the water.

Free Chlorine

Free chlorine rots and sanitizes impurities that enter the pool water. Cl2 is added to pool water to add chlorine. It includes both hypochlorous acid or HOCl and hydrochloric acid or HCl. Hypochloric acid will split into hypochlorite ions or OCl- ions at a pH level greater than 6.0. Hypochloric acid and hypochlorite ions are called free-available chlorine or FAC. FACs are effective at killing bacteria. Once hypochloric acid combines with pollutants, it forms chloramines. Less than 1% of the cleaning power of FAC molecules is held by chloramines. It might need freely available chlorine for a 100% bacterial end. Chloramines have a unique smell and are very annoying to your eyes and skin.

Safety

Hydrochloric acid is dangerous. It must be added at the deep end of the pool being alert not to spray the focused solution onto pool walls or fittings. You should wear rubber gloves and safety mirrors when working with hydrochloric acid. Vapors may bug your respiratory tract. Always count the acid to the water; never add water to the acid.

Read Also: What Are Pool Clarifiers? How To Use Them Safely?

How To Use Hydrochloric Acid In Your Pool

However, hydrochloric acid in pools has other uses. This guide will focus on how to use hydrochloric acid to slip the pH and total alkalinity of your pool.

Gather Supplies

When using hydrochloric acid to alter your pool’s chemistry, first gather a pH and total alkalinity test kit, hydrochloric acid, protecting gloves and eyewear, and a stable plastic gauging cup.

A plastic mixing pail is also urged so that you can dilute the hydrochloric acid before adding it to your pool.

Test Your Pool

Check the pH and total alkalinity of your pool before adding hydrochloric acid. Determine how much acid to add. This can be done using a test gear.

Don’t add hydrochloric acid if your pH and total alkalinity are already good or low. Only use it to lower these levels before adding another pool treatment.

Calculate How Much Acid To Add

First, count your current levels of pH and total alkalinity. Then, calculate the crucial dose of hydrochloric acid. We urge using our hydrochloric acid pool calculator to make this step fast and easy.

You must be aware of your current pH and total alkalinity levels to use the calculator. You’ll also need the volume of your pool in liters. If available, include the attention rate of your hydrochloric acid. After that, the calculator will indicate how much hydrochloric acid (mL) to add to your pool.

No more than 500mL of hydrochloric acid should ever be added to your pool at once. If you are unsure about how much acid to add to your pool, start with a lower amount. Add more acid later if necessary.

Adding too much hydrochloric acid to a pool can create low pH and total alkalinity levels. These levels are often fed until the acid dies down. This can lead to hot jams of acid in your pool, which in turn results in a decay of your pool surface and kit.

Add Acid To The Pool

When adding hydrochloric acid to your pool, it is urged that you premix this effect. This will evade the risk of ‘hot spots’ forming.

Hot spots are areas of full acid that aren’t mixed in with the rest of the water. If they do not leak, these can cause burns for swimmers or damage to the pool’s lining or kit.

Fill your bucket up halfway with pool water, then count out the fit amount of acid in your measuring cup. Add the acid to the pail of pool water, taking care not to spray it or breathe in any fumes.

Spread the contents of the pail all around your pool while the pump is running. Do not mix the solution in the pail.

After adding acid to your pool, run your pump for at least three hours. Then retest your pH and total alkalinity levels. From there, you can add another dose of acid if vital.

How soon after adding hydrochloric acid can you go swimming?

It’s best to wait at least 3 hours after adding hydrochloric acid before swimming. Make sure that the pool pump is running during this time to help the acid air and mix in with the rest of the pool water.

Read Also: Best Pool Stain Removers and How to Use Them

Where To Buy Hydrochloric Acid?

Because hydrochloric acid is typed as a risky good, it cannot be bought online and then sent to the home. We urge picking this effect up at your local pool supply or hardware store.

If you need help finding a dealer in your area, you can check out our guide on where to buy muriatic acid in Australia.

Conclusion

You can use hydrochloric acid or muriatic acid to lower your pool water’s pH and total alkalinity. It can be dangerous to handle. Its full attention means that a small amount of acid can make big shifts in your pool’s chemistry.

Do you have any questions about using hydrochloric acid in your pool? Leave us a comment down low, we’d love to help!