How Does Calcium Affect a Pool?
By checking the calcium hardness personally or calling a reliable pool service for help, homeowners can enjoy more comfortable and safer summer swims.
Owning a private pool is fantastic but requires lots of maintenance. It's vital to consider calcium hardness or the amount of calcium in the pool water to keep the pool in tip-top condition.
Keeping track of this critical measurement helps prevent permanent damage to the pool and keeps the water clear. Calcium hardness is all about managing the balance, so let's take a closer look at why it's so important.
What is calcium hardness?
Many homeowners are familiar with soft and hard water, which represents the mineral content in the water. The mineral build-up, such as magnesium and calcium, hardens the water and damages appliances.
A similar process can occur in the pool, as the calcium hardness determines the calcium content in the water.
The calcium hardness measurement unit is parts per million (ppm), and the ideal range for a pool is 150 to 400 ppm. Therefore, maintaining this range is vital. Sometimes that means increasing the calcium levels and lowering them other times.
But other crucial elements of this process include regular and thorough pool cleaning, scrubbing the tiles, and washing the filter.
Low calcium hardness levels
If the pool water becomes soft or has low calcium, it gains corrosive properties. Without manually adding calcium, the pool water will absorb calcium from different sources, including stone, concrete, metal, and grout.
If the calcium hardness is too low for an extended period, specific issues will occur. The most common problems are:
The etching of the plaster
Pitting of concrete and the pool deck
Dissolving of the grout
One can raise the calcium hardness levels by adding a granular hardness product available at most pool retailers.
High calcium hardness levels
If the calcium hardness level exceeds 400 ppm, the water becomes oversaturated and cloudy. After a while, the scale build-up will occur in and out of the pool and around expensive pool equipment.
It's not uncommon for a water filter to clog, thus reducing circulation. Furthermore, the excess calcium in the water can reduce the pool heater's efficiency.
All these issues can lead to expensive repairs and equipment replacement, so it's best to act swiftly. Therefore, the only sure way to reduce the calcium content in the pool is to partially drain it and add fresh water.
How frequently should one test calcium hardness levels?
Ideally, pool owners should test for calcium levels once per month. One way is to use specialized test strips, which are not perfectly accurate.
Another option is to monitor calcium hardness with drop-count titration. These testing kits are usually available at pool retailers. But having a specialized pool service check the calcium hardness works too.
Moderation is essential
Moderation is key to everything regarding calcium harness and how it affects pools. Staying on top of calcium hardness levels may seem like a chore, but it can save on expensive repairs.
By checking the calcium hardness personally or calling a reliable pool service for help, homeowners can enjoy more comfortable and safer summer swims.
Pool Tile Cleaning Vegas offers pool tile cleaning, calcium removal, acid washing, pool draining, and media blasting services, in Las Vegas and Henderson. Call us at (702) 605-6936.
