5 Things to Know About Pool pH Levels

Keep pH between 7.4 and 7.6 This narrow range keeps your chlorine working effectively.

High pH makes chlorine lazy Above 7.8, chlorine loses power, so you need more to kill algae and bacteria.

Low pH damages your pool Below 7.2, water becomes aggressive and eats away at metal fixtures, pool surfaces, and swimsuit elastic.

pH affects comfort and clarity Low pH stings your eyes and skin. High pH turns water cloudy and leaves scale on surfaces.

Test weekly in summer Use cheap test strips. Adjust with pH increaser or decreaser as needed.