Pool owners..anybody else notice PH and TA(total alkalinity)levels rise after rain?
 

Went from PH 7.4 to 7.8 and TA 100 ppm to 120 ppm after 2 plus inches of recent rain..Any pool owners seeing similar?:ohdear:

No, but I never checked. Should I?

PH and total alkalinity are constantly going up with a salt water pool, rain or no rain. The pool technician from T & D has to add acid to our pool every week to bring the levels back down. We have to wait a couple hours to use the pool after every service.

Been seeing it for years in my saltwater pool. Nature of the beast. There's lots of discussion of the topic on the different pool forums online. Not a lot can be done about it.

Yes..definitely. I use the Aqua check 7 way test strips and or the Taylor pool test kit.

Always happened w my pool in Atlanta.. I tried keeping up with the chemicals myself for a while and it was a disaster.. IMO, keeping the chemicals balanced in a pool is not a job for amateurs.. Find a pool company that includes chemicals in their rate. It will increase your enjoyment and probably cost less in the long run.

Chlorine generator creates byproduct NaOH and raises pH and alkalinity
 

The chlorine generator in a saltwater pool uses electrolysis to disassociate salt NaCl into chlorine gas and sodium hypochlorie for disinfecting the pool water. The second part of the reaction produces NaOH which is a strong alkaline compound which raises the pH and total Alkalinity whenever the Chlorine generator is working.

Of course rain changes pool chemistry. That’s why pool servicers have to add lots more chemicals during their weekly service calls during the rainy season.

It is not just rain it is also heat and evaporation

It is an issue with salt water pools, our pool guy also adds chemicals almost every week to balance it out. But after having a salt water pool now for 8 years I would never go back to the strong chlorine smell and irritated eyes and skin of the other type.

Balancing a pool is very easy. Visit TroubleFree Pool and read the getting started articles. You'll have a clearer pool that is far less expensive to maintain. You only need two chemicals for 95% of the maintenance - Muriatic acid and Baking Soda. One raises pH, the other lowers.

Get a good test kit to start with - not strips, they are highly inaccurate. Either get a TF-100 kit from TF Testkits or the Taylor K2006c. Both will give you accurate readings. I would never trust a pool store - they are in business to make money.

TroubleFree pools has an app that tells you exactly what to add based on numbers for either of these kits.

Weekly maintenance is not enough in FL due to the heavy rains and sun. That's why the pool services add so many chemicals - because it needs to last for a week and they over saturate the water so it's sure to last a week.

Once you have balanced the pool, I check twice a week - and usually a day after a heavy rain. That way I add a minimum of chemicals and don't have to worry about any type of issue.

Yes

We have used T&D for 8 years and never had a problem with our pool water. For what we pay for that service and the peace mind it provides it is well worth it, and believe, they can’t be making much based on what they charge and factoring in they have to pay the pool person something and also provide a truck and maintain it, etc. At any rate, it is personal preference. I like spending my time elsewhere and not having to bother and train a neighbor to test and watch it for me when we are gone.

I thought that was the advantage of salt water pools? Less chemicals. Why wouldn’t rain affect PH balance.

I have been using a chorine generator here in Florida for 20 years and I have had to add acid to correct the PH every time it rains. My neighbor uses chorine tablets and he does not have the same issue.