Water hardness occurs as an indirect side effect of various chemical compounds. Calcium and magnesium are the two primary minerals that make up hardness in water. Like alkalinity and pH, hardness affects the tendency of the water to be corrosive or scale-forming. (Scale is a deposit that forms on pool walls and equipment when the mineral content of the water is too high.) By maintaining the ideal ranges for hardness and alkalinity, you can keep scale formation to a minimum.
Low hardness levels require immediate attention! They can be very dangerous to your system. Water that is not properly saturated with hardness—water in which the hardness level is too low—will be very corrosive, causing significant damage to metal pipes and fixtures as well as plaster. You must be sure to balance hardness before adding any sanitizer to the water. Otherwise, the water will become even more aggressive (corrosive); it can cause severe damage in a short period of time.
When the hardness level is low, increase the hardness immediately to limit the damage of corrosive water. You can increase the hardness level by adding a chemical like calcium chloride. When the hardness level is too high, excessive scale formation occurs, and the water may become cloudy or discolored. Elevated pH and warmer temperatures will increase scale build-up too. If the hardness level is too high, you can partially drain and refill with fresh water.
The ideal level of hardness for your pool or spa water is from 200 – 400 ppm (mg/L). You should test hardness when adding fresh water, and re-test until you have balanced the water hardness properly. After that, test hardness a minimum of once per month throughout the season. If you use calcium hypochlorite as a sanitizer, you need to test more frequently to ensure that the level has not exceeded the upper limit.
For more detailed advice on the specific chemical treatment for your pool or spa, contact your dealer.
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