What Is pH and Why Does It Matter?
pH measures how acidic or basic your pool water is on a scale from 0 to 14. The ideal range for a swimming pool is between 7.2 and 7.6. This narrow window isn't arbitrary — it's the range where chlorine works most effectively, where your skin and eyes feel comfortable, and where your pool surfaces and equipment are protected from damage.
When pH drifts below 7.2, water becomes acidic. This corrodes metal components like heaters, ladders, and pump internals. It etches plaster surfaces and causes grout deterioration. Swimmers notice stinging eyes and dry, itchy skin.
When pH climbs above 7.6, water becomes basic. Calcium begins to precipitate out of solution, forming white scale on tiles, inside pipes, and on heat exchanger surfaces. Chlorine effectiveness drops dramatically — at pH 8.0, your sanitizer is working at roughly half its potential, meaning bacteria and algae get a foothold even when chlorine levels appear adequate.
The Domino Effect of Bad pH
pH doesn't exist in isolation. It affects every other aspect of your water chemistry. When pH is off, your total alkalinity readings become unreliable. Your calcium hardness levels shift. Your chlorine burns off faster or becomes inactive. What started as a simple pH imbalance cascades into a complex chemical mess that's expensive and time-consuming to correct.
This is why budget pool services that skip detailed testing create a vicious cycle. They dump chlorine to address visible problems without addressing the underlying pH issue. The chlorine doesn't work properly, so they add more. Your chemical costs skyrocket, your water stays cloudy, and your equipment deteriorates.
How AFS Pools Handles pH
At every service visit, your dedicated AFS technician tests pH using professional-grade reagent kits — not the inexpensive test strips that many services rely on. Reagent testing provides accuracy to 0.2 pH units, while strip tests can be off by 0.5 or more.
We log every reading and track trends over time. This allows us to see patterns — for example, if your pH consistently drifts upward, it may indicate high total alkalinity or an issue with your fill water. We address root causes, not just symptoms.
Adjustments are made with precise chemical dosing calculated for your specific pool volume, not estimated scoops from a bucket. The result is water that consistently looks beautiful, feels comfortable, and protects your investment.