How to Raise Alkalinity with Baking Soda (And What to Use for pH)

You've probably heard the tip: "Just add baking soda to your pool!" It sounds like a simple fix, but what does it actually do for your pool's pH? And are you using it correctly? The truth is, many pool owners get this common advice wrong, leading to endless frustration and wasted money.

This guide will give you the simple, correct answers. You’ll learn how to properly use baking soda to balance your pool water, save money, and achieve that crystal-clear water you dream of.

Will Baking Soda Fix My Low Pool pH?

The short answer is: not effectively.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is naturally alkaline, with a pH of about 8.0. So while adding it to your pool can cause a small, slow increase in pH, this is not its real power. Its primary and much more important benefit is raising your pool's Total Alkalinity.

Using baking soda to chase a low pH is like using a small oar to steer a giant ship – you might eventually see a tiny change, but you're using the wrong tool for the job. It’s inefficient and ultimately creates bigger problems. To see why, let's break down the two most important numbers in your pool's chemistry.

Alkalinity vs. pH: What You Actually Need to Know

Think of pool chemistry as a delicate balance. Two numbers are key to that balance: pH and Total Alkalinity. Understanding their relationship is the secret to stable, clear, and safe pool water.

What is pH? (The Measure of How Acidic Your Water Is)

Your pool's pH measures how acidic or basic your water is. According to the CDC, a pH range of 7.0–7.8 is crucial, as this provides the best balance for allowing chlorine to kill germs while protecting your pool equipment from damage. For optimal swimmer comfort and performance, we recommend narrowing that range to between 7.2 and 7.8.

• Low pH (<7.2): This means your water is too acidic. It's corrosive, which can damage your pool equipment (like heaters and pumps) and etch surfaces. For swimmers, low pH causes uncomfortable stinging eyes and itchy, dry skin.
• High pH (>7.8): This means your water is too basic. The biggest problem here is that high pH dramatically reduces the effectiveness of your chlorine, making your sanitizer virtually useless. This leaves your pool vulnerable to algae and bacteria, and can also lead to cloudy water and scaling.

It’s crucial to know that the pH scale is logarithmic. This means a small change in numbers represents a huge change in acidity. For example, a drop from pH 8.0 to 7.0 makes your water ten times more acidic! This sensitivity is why maintaining a stable pH is so important.

What is Total Alkalinity? (The Key to Stable pH – Your Pool's Anchor)

While pH measures the current state of your water, Total Alkalinity (TA) measures its ability to resist change. Think of alkalinity as the "anchor" for your pH. Its job is to hold your pH steady and prevent it from swinging wildly up and down due to things like rain, swimmer activity, or chemical additions.

The ideal TA range for most swimming pools is between 80 to 120 ppm.

• Low Total Alkalinity: This is the direct cause of a frustrating problem known as "pH bounce." When your TA is low, your water has no "buffer" or "anchor." The slightest disturbance sends your pH flying from one extreme to the other, making it impossible to maintain a stable reading.
• High Total Alkalinity: This can cause "pH lock," where your pH is stubbornly high and difficult to lower without using excessive amounts of acid.

The Golden Rule of Pool Care: Fix Your Alkalinity First!

This is the single most important procedural rule in pool maintenance: Always test and correct your Total Alkalinity before attempting to adjust pH.

Why? Because if your "anchor" (alkalinity) isn't set, any adjustments you make to your pH simply won't last. You'll be chasing an unreliable number, wasting time and chemicals. Get your TA into the 80-120 ppm range first, and you'll find your pH much easier to manage.

How to Use Baking Soda: A Simple 4-Step Guide

Once you understand the distinction, using baking soda to adjust your pool's alkalinity is straightforward. Follow these steps for effective and safe results.

Step 1: Test Your Water

Before adding any chemicals, you need an accurate diagnosis of your water's current state. Start by using a standard liquid or strip test kit to get an accurate Total Alkalinity (TA) reading. This is the number you'll need to calculate how much baking soda to add. At the same time, you can use the Aiper HydroComm Smart Water Monitor to get a precise, real-time reading of your pH. This allows you to keep an eye on this critical level throughout the entire process.

Step 2: Figure Out How Much You Need

Once you know your current TA, you can calculate how much baking soda to add.

The Golden Rule of Dosage: 1.5 pounds of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water will raise the Total Alkalinity by approximately 10 ppm.

Worked Example: You have a 20,000-gallon pool, and your TA is 50 ppm. You want to reach 90 ppm, so you need to increase it by 40 ppm.

• To raise 10,000 gallons by 10 ppm, you need 1.5 lbs.
• To raise 20,000 gallons by 10 ppm, you need 3.0 lbs.
• To get a 40 ppm increase (which is 4 x 10 ppm), you'll need: 3.0 lbs x 4 = 12 pounds of baking soda.

Quick-Reference Baking Soda Dosage Chart:

Pro Tip: If you're new to this, start by adding only half to three-quarters of the calculated amount. It's always easier to add more later than to fix an overdose.

Step 3: Add it to The Pool the Right Way

The best way to add baking soda (or most powdered chemicals) is called "broadcasting."

1. Run the Pump: Always make sure your pool pump and filter are running before and during the application. This is essential for proper circulation and distribution.
2. Broadcast Evenly: Slowly sprinkle the measured powder in wide arcs across the entire surface of the pool.
3. Avoid Wind: Don't add powdered chemicals on a windy day, as the fine powder can blow back and cause irritation.
4. NEVER Use the Skimmer: This is a critical safety rule! Pouring chemicals directly into the skimmer can create highly concentrated solutions that can damage your plumbing or react dangerously with other chemicals in your system.

Step 4: Wait 6 Hours Before Retesting

Patience is key in pool chemistry. After broadcasting the baking soda, allow your pump to run and circulate the water for at least six hours before retesting your pH and TA levels. Some experts even recommend waiting 24 hours.

Why wait? Retesting too soon will give you an inaccurate reading because the chemical hasn't had time to dissolve and integrate into all the water fully. This can lead you to mistakenly believe you need to add more, resulting in an overdose. After the waiting period, retest and make minor adjustments only if necessary.

What to Do When Your pH Is Still Low

This is where many pool owners get stuck. You've added baking soda, your alkalinity is great, but...

"My Alkalinity is good now, but my pH didn't move!"

This is a very common and expected outcome! As we learned, baking soda's primary job is alkalinity. If your pH was already low and your alkalinity was also low, correcting the alkalinity often doesn't significantly raise the pH to the ideal range. This isn't a failure; it's exactly what's supposed to happen.

The Solution: Use Soda Ash (The Real "pH Increaser")

Once your Total Alkalinity is within the ideal 80-120 ppm range, then you can focus on adjusting your pH. The correct chemical for raising pH directly is sodium carbonate, commonly known as soda ash or washing soda. This is what's typically sold as "pH Up" or "pH Increaser" at pool stores. Soda ash is a much stronger base than baking soda (approximately 1,000 times more basic!). This immense "chemical leverage" allows it to rapidly and dramatically increase your pool's pH without drastically overshooting your newly balanced alkalinity. Always follow the product's specific dosage instructions.

How to Avoid the "Yo-Yo Effect"

A frequent and costly mistake is using massive amounts of baking soda to try and force the pH up. This is not only inefficient but creates a cascade of problems known as the "yo-yo effect."

Consider this: To raise the pH of a 10,000-gallon pool from 7.2 to 7.6, you would need an astonishing 21 pounds of baking soda! This enormous dose would also send your Total Alkalinity soaring far above 200 ppm. Now, to correct that sky-high alkalinity, you'd have to add acid, which then crashes your pH, often below where you started (e.g., pH 6.5). You're then trapped in a cycle of adding bases and acids, chasing readings that will never stabilize.

Understanding the right tool for the job (baking soda for TA, soda ash for pH) is the only way to escape this frustrating and expensive cycle.

Conclusion: Perfectly Balanced Pool Water

Balancing your pool doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. By following these simple rules, you'll be able to maintain crystal-clear water with confidence:

• Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) = For Raising Total Alkalinity.
• Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate) = For Raising pH.
• Always fix your Alkalinity first (your pH anchor).
• Avoid the costly and frustrating "Yo-Yo Effect" by using the correct chemical for the job.
• Save money by buying bulk baking soda instead of overpriced pool store "Alkalinity Increaser."

Balancing your pool doesn't have to be complicated. By using the right tool for the right job, you can get it right every time. A modern maintenance routine combines this smart chemical strategy with a device that monitors your hard work 24/7. Using the Aiper HydroComm ensures you always have precise, real-time data, giving you the confidence that your pool is perfectly balanced.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How do you raise alkalinity without raising pH?

A: The best way to raise Total Alkalinity with a minimal impact on pH is to use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Because baking soda has a relatively mild pH of about 8.0, it effectively raises alkalinity without causing a large or rapid spike in your pool's overall pH level.

Q: How much baking soda is needed to raise alkalinity in a pool?

A: The standard formula is: 1.5 pounds of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water will raise Total Alkalinity by approximately 10 ppm. You should always test your water first to determine your starting alkalinity level. For quick calculations, refer to the dosage chart in the article above.

Q: How do you raise pH in a pool without raising alkalinity?

A: The most effective chemical-free method is aeration. By pointing your return jets upward or running waterfalls and other water features, you agitate the water's surface. This process helps carbon dioxide (CO2) outgas from the water, which causes the pH to rise naturally without affecting Total Alkalinity. It is a gradual but effective method.

Q: Does baking soda lower the pH in your pool?

A: No. Baking soda is an alkaline (basic) substance. It will never lower your pool's pH. It will either have a negligible effect on pH or cause a slight increase.

Q: How long does it take for baking soda to affect pool chemistry?

A: It’s important to remember that baking soda is primarily for raising Total Alkalinity, not pH. After adding baking soda, you should allow the pump to run for at least six hours to ensure it has fully circulated and dissolved. You will see its full effect on both alkalinity and any minor change in pH after this circulation period.

Q: Is baking soda the same as a pH increaser?

A: No, they are different chemicals for different jobs. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which is what pool stores sell as "Alkalinity Increaser." Its primary purpose is to raise Total Alkalinity. A product sold as "pH Increaser" is typically soda ash (sodium carbonate), a much stronger substance specifically used for raising low pH.