How to Lower Calcium Hardness in Your Pool—A Complete Guide
Attention Pool Owners! Have you had your pool damaged, or are you worried that it could happen? It will happen if you don’t know how to lower the calcium hardness in the pool. But how do you even know that you have an adequate amount of calcium hardness in the pool?
If you see cloudy water, scaling on pool surfaces or equipments getting damaged or metal pasts are corroding and you know the reason why, then this guide will help you to see calcium’s total hardness in pool, testing methods, what is reason that your pool is destroyed, consequences of high and low calcium hardness in pool, easy and simple DIY techniques for how to lower total hardness in pool, tips to save your pool and more FAQs. It is advised to keep reading to avoid destroying your pool.
What is Calcium Hardness and Why Does It Matter?
Calcium hardness in a pool is nothing but dissolved calcium ions in your pool water, which are measured in parts per million (ppm). The total calcium hardness levels in the pool depend on the type of pool you have. And based on that, you might lower or raise calcium hardness in the pool to prevent it from destroying your pool.
For most pools, the general recommendation is 200-400 ppm; you might need to adjust it based on your pool type. For example, if you have a plaster or concrete pool, ideal levels are 200-400 ppm. If you have a vinyl pool, then it can tolerate calcium hardness up to 500 ppm because vinyl liners don’t contain calcium for your water.
Why Calcium Hardness Is Important
- Consequence of low calcium hardness: You will see corrosion of metal parts in the pool. Leaching will occur because the water lacks sufficient calcium, so it draws calcium from whatever it can, including concrete, plaster, tile, and even grout. So you will see pitting on pool surfaces, etching on pool surfaces, and tile grout.
- Consequences of high calcium hardness: High total calcium hardness in the pool leads to scaling, a calcium buildup. You will see cloudy water. This could restrict circulation, clog filters, and reduce heater efficiency.
- Factors affecting calcium hardness: Calcium total hardness in the pool depends on the water source, i.e, tap water, as it is too high in minerals, rainwater, evaporation, and chemical additions in the pool. It is important to have a routine of pool maintenance to protect your pool. It also includes removing debris. Because it helps monitor and manage these levels indirectly.
Aiper
Signs of High Calcium Hardness in Your Pool
There are telltale signs of the levels of total calcium hardness in the pool. You should check for these signs after heavy rain, or after filling your pool, or if you are using healthy water. You can even buy test kits for precision. If you can resonate with these signs, then you immediately have to know how to lower calcium hardness in a pool so that your pool doesn’t get destroyed.
- Visual indicators: If you see white staining, flaky deposits on tiles or ladders or heaters then you need to know how to lower calcium hardness in the pool because you have gone far in destroying your pool. Another sign is cloudy or milky water.
- Performance issues: You may notice that the pump’s ability to circulate water is reduced, filters require frequent cleaning, or the heater is inefficient.
- Long-term damage: If you don’t resolve it now, then you could see pump failures, damage to your plumbing,and even liner deterioration.
Tip: You should do regular testing once every month or every few weeks so your pool doesn’t get destroyed.
How to Test Calcium Hardness Levels
To test calcium hardness in a pool, you will need a testing kit. You can buy kits such as test strips, liquid test kits, or digital testers based on your budget.
Here is a step-by-step testing process for total hardness in a pool:
- You should not collect water from the surface or from the pool floor, as it can easily manipulate results. Collect water samples from elbow depth.
- Add regents and compare colors that will be listed on the kit instructions. Follow the kit's instructions for the reagents to add.
- Record your test results and compare them to the ideal range of calcium hardness in the pool.
How frequently should you test your total hardness in the pool? You can test it infrequently when it's not swim season. If it's swim season, test it every two weeks. But what about the testing kit? Is there any alternative?
DIY testing kits you buy from the pool store are designed to give you a rough idea of the current state of your pool. So most are not accurate. To obtain accurate results, consider having a professional lab test the calcium hardness in your pool.
Common Mistakes While Testing Calcium Hardness
Not taking pH or total alkalinity when testing for total hardness in the pool. Because if pH is high, then it will cause calcium to precipitate. Do not adjust the pH or total alkalinity before testing, as this can alter the results.
Effective Methods to Lower Calcium Hardness in Your Pool
This guide outlines the steps to lower the calcium hardness level in your pool, but it's essential to follow certain safety requirements. Do not expose your skin to chemicals; wear gloves and goggles. Never mix chemicals and follow chemical labels.
Method 1: Partial Drain and Refill
Start by draining your pool about 20-50%. For this, you can use a submersible pump to drain water. Draining the pool will lower the calcium hardness because calcium doesn’t get used up like other chlorine, so you have to replace the water. Refill the pool with softer water, like harvested rainwater or treated water. Retest the pool water and then balance other chemicals.
But this method of how to lower calcium hardness in a pool has pros and cons. This method is effective, but it results in higher water wastage. And the cost of new chemicals and water to refill depends on your region.
Method 2: Use Flocculants or Clarifiers
To lower the total hardness in the pool, add a flocculant, which works by binding to calcium particles in water and then settling them down on the floor. Then vacuum the floor to remove excess calcium.
These steps are crucial before you add flocculants to a pool. First, balance the pH of the pool water. Add each product according to its label and instructions. Run the pump for circulation. Do not run it when you add flocculant. Let the calcium settle overnight and then vacuum or use an automated pool cleaner to make the job easier.
This method for lowering total hardness has pros and cons, as it only works for mild cases where calcium hardness levels are not too high. You may need to do this multiple times to lower its levels.
Method 3: Reverse Osmosis or Water Softening System
You can set up a reverse osmosis (RO) unit to soften water, or you can hire a service for mobile RO units, which will filter out all minerals from water for you.
The listed method for lowering calcium hardness in the pool guide should only be used when you have too high a total hardness in the pool or a hard water source that naturally contains too many minerals. Use this service for calcium hardness levels above 600 ppm.
This method will thoroughly remove minerals, but it can be expensive. And you need to balance the pool water chemistry again. You can refer to the pool water chemistry cheat sheet for assistance.
Method 4: Chemical Adjustments (e.g., Soda Ash for Precipitation)
Be cautious when using this method. To lower calcium hardness with soda ash, you need to use large doses to force calcium particles out of the water. This method is not recommended for beginners, as excessive soda ash can potentially lower its levels from 600 ppm to 100 ppm and further damage your pool.
Clean your pool thoroughly after the calcium has settled down. This is part of the post-treatment process, which includes brushing walls, cleaning the pool floor, and vacuuming debris to remove residues.
So this post-treatment may take much more time than actually lowering calcium hardness in the pool because it is a labor-intensive task. You should note that automated cleaning tools can make your post-treatment cleanup a lot easier by scheduling them to remove debris efficiently. You can use tools like automated robotic pool cleaners to clean your pool walls, stairs, and waterline just from an app.
Preventing High Calcium Hardness in the Future
You should tackle the total hardness issue of the pool early. This is an important step in learning how to lower calcium hardness in a pool because even if you treat your pool now, you need to make sure it doesn’t happen again. You should look at your water source. Test the water you are using for the pool. If you have hard water, consider using a water softener or purchasing filters to attach to your hose to soften the water.
Keep your pool water chemistry right. Balance all chemicals, like pH and total alkalinity, on a weekly basis. Evaporation of water increases total hardness in the pool, so keep it covered.
Perform seasonal checks and testing to maintain the pool in optimal condition. You can drain the pool partially in the off-season if needed.
One long-term strategy you can implement is to install a water softener for the home or pool fill line. This way, you will keep total hardness levels in the pool at ideal levels.
Conclusion
The first step in reducing calcium hardness in a pool is to start by testing. Because if you don’t know the base, then you might over-saturate or under-saturate your pool with total hardness. Now that you know what the ideal levels should be based on your pool type, there are four methods listed in this guide for you. And depending on your preference or the situation, you can opt for one of them. But how to prevent calcium hardness in a pool?
You need to prevent the buildup of excess calcium in pool water, which is detrimental to your pool. If you have less total hardness in the pool, then you can literally destroy your pool because water starts pulling calcium out of the pool surfaces. Keep calcium hardness levels at an ideal range for a healthy pool. Is there something you need to pay attention to after adjusting its levels?
You may need to adjust pH and alkalinity. And remember that balanced pool water will provide you with a more enjoyable swimming experience and help save your pool from damage. And thus, saving you from more hassle in the future. If you found this article helpful, then share it with your friends or on social media.