Water ChemistryHow-to
How to Raise pH in a Pool
Aeration, soda ash or baking soda: which one your test calls for, how much to add, and why pH below 7.0 takes far more than the rule of thumb says.
6 minUpdated Sep 15, 2026
Topic
Total Alkalinity Guides
Alkalinity is the shock absorber under your pH. Set it first, and pH stops bouncing.
7 guides on this topic
Water ChemistryExplainer
Borates in Pool Water: What They Do and What They Don't
Borates slow pH creep and the labels claim algae suppression. What the EPA labels really say, how much to add, the pH catch, and why only draining removes them.
9 minUpdated Sep 13, 2026
Water ChemistryExplainer
Baking Soda in a Pool: What It Does
It raises alkalinity, not pH — which is why people add it, get the wrong result, and add more. How much to use, and when soda ash is the right product.
5 minUpdated Sep 8, 2026
Water ChemistryHow-to
How to Lower pH in a Pool
Muriatic acid or dry acid, how much to add, and why the pH you keep chasing back down is usually an alkalinity problem wearing a disguise.
5 minUpdated Sep 13, 2026
Water ChemistryExplainer
Langelier Saturation Index: What LSI Means and How to Fix It
Why two pools with identical test results behave completely differently, and how the saturation index ties all your numbers together.
5 minUpdated Aug 12, 2026
Water ChemistryExplainer
Total Alkalinity vs pH: Why Your pH Won't Stay Put
If you're adding acid every three days, you don't have a pH problem. Here's what alkalinity actually does and how to stop chasing the number.
5 minUpdated May 19, 2026
Water ChemistryGuide
How to Balance Pool Chemistry: Order, Targets and Timing
The five numbers that matter, the order to fix them in, and the doses that actually work. Written by people who've done this on real pools for 20 years.
9 minUpdated Sep 12, 2026