5 Things to Know About Using Baking Soda for Pool Alkalinity

Baking soda raises total alkalinity without spiking pH Sodium bicarbonate is the right fix for low alkalinity (below 80 ppm). Soda ash raises both alkalinity and pH, which you don’t want here.

Use a simple dosage rule Add 1.5 pounds per 10,000 gallons to raise alkalinity by 10 ppm. For a 10,000-gallon pool at 60 ppm aiming for 100 ppm, that’s 6 pounds.

Know your pool volume first Check your equipment or measure the pool. Guessing the volume leads to wrong doses and wasted effort.

Dissolve it before adding Mix the baking soda in a bucket of water, then pour it around the deep end with the pump running. This prevents clumping and uneven distribution.

Test after six hours and go slow Overshooting alkalinity locks pH in place and makes adjustments difficult. Add less than you think, test, and repeat if needed.