Muriatic Acid: Well, in this post, I would be walking you through various aspects of muriatic acid in order to help achieve optimum results.
Moreover, whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned professional, this comprehensive guide would be of great help when it comes to balancing the pH level.
To be honest, I along with my team have put loads and loads of effort to come up with this idiosyncratic superlative piece of information.
So, without any further ado, let’s begin…
If you’re an avid reader of this blog then definitely, you would’ve figured out till now that alone chlorine can’t do justice to your pool cleanliness, safety, and overall health, right?
Moreover, if you’ve landed on yardmonkpro.com for the first time then it is my humble request that you should read the previous articles published under the tab pools and ponds.
No doubt, chlorine is one of the most important sanitizers that is used in most pools but it does have some side effects that might backfire if NOT HANDLED with care.
Though all the limelight and credit fall under the chlorine roof still you can’t ignore the contribution of elements such as muriatic acid.
Cutting long-story-short, this post is a wholehearted tribute to none other than the muriatic acid for the value that it brings to the table at an affordable price.
What is Muriatic Acid?
Well, to begin with, muriatic acid is one of the names for hydrochloric acid and it dissociates in water to form a hydrogen cation (H+) and chloride anion (Cl-).
Hydrochloric acid, a corrosive strong acid, has the chemical formula HCL.
Since the acid is very strong so you need to handle it with care.
But, the good thing about the acid is that it performs really well when it comes to balancing pH levels in your pool water.
Muriatic means “pertaining to brine or salt”.
What is Muriatic Acid used for?
- Descaling
- Purification of table salt
- Pickling of steel
- Leather processing
- Production of inorganic chemical compounds
- pH control of water, food, and drugs
- Building Construction
- Used to dissolve rock in oil production
- And, many more…
Well, aside from the aforementioned uses, muriatic acid can also be used for cleaning tiles, removing stains, dissolving calcium deposits, and cleaning the pool surface.
So, other than adding the chemical to your pool water for maintaining the chemical balance, you can also use it for cleaning the surface of your pool.
Should I add Muriatic Acid to my pool?
Definitely, you should add muriatic acid to your pool as it wouldn’t only help you in maintaining the chemical balance but also would help in removing stains and calcium deposits from the surface of your pool.
But, the main and most important use of muriatic acid is in lowering the pH when it surges too high, that is, above 7.8 in an epigrammatic span of time.
As we all know, highly alkaline pool water can give birth to a series of problems including scaling, chlorine inefficiency, and cloudy water.
Scaling can cause lots of problems, especially with plumbing and pool equipment.
Another chemical that is very popular among pool owners for reducing pH is none other than sodium bisulfate.
How can I use Muriatic Acid for my above-ground pool?
Well, I’ve been using muriatic acid for years to deal with pH fluctuation as well as staining problems.
Today I’m gonna discuss all the steps that I’ve been following to achieve optimum results.
Pool Level Testing
First and foremost, you need to be aware of what’s happening in your pool.
And, the best way to find out is by testing your pool water chemistry.
You can use a pool testing kit or a test strip to figure out the imbalance in the pH levels if ANY.
If the end result of the pool water testing shows a pH above 7.8 then definitely, you need to use muriatic acid for a quick pH balance.
Wear Protective Gear
As discussed earlier, muriatic acid is very strong so you need to put on gloves, goggles, and a face mask to prevent any last-hour mishap.
As an experienced pool expert, I would suggest you should cover as much area of your body as possible because it will mitigate the risk of skin coming in contact with the acid.
Nonetheless, if somehow acid splashes on your skin then use cold water to clean that part.
Acid Dilution is a Must…
Yes, you heard it RIGHT!
You need to dilute the acid to prevent the possibility of any misadventure.
All you need to do is to use a five-gallon bucket and fill it with clean water.
Use supply water and NOT pool water.
For dilution purposes, you need to add 1/10th as much muriatic acid as water to the bucket.
Adding Muriatic Acid to the Pool Water
Once you’re done with preparing the diluted solution of muriatic acid, the next thing that you need to do is to turn on the pool pump.
Moving further, you need to slowly add the diluted solution all the way around the pool’s perimeter.
Refrain yourself, from entering the pool for at least half an hour.
Re-Checking pH Level of Your Pool Water
After a couple of hours, you need to test the pH level again to confirm that it has come down to the acceptable range of 7.2 and 7.8.
Repeat the entire process if the pH level is still found to be on the higher side.
Keep adding muriatic acid and testing until and unless the optimum range of pH is reached.
Muriatic Acid Vs. Sodium Bisulfate
The reason I’m discussing the difference between the two is that sodium bisulfate is also used as a pH reducer agent.
So, very often my clients ask me which chemical to use.
Today, I’ll try my best to end this age-old debate.
Definitely, sodium bisulfate can be used as an alternative to muriatic acid.
Sodium bisulfate is easy to store and safer to use.
Even if it gets spilled on your skin accidentally, it will NOT burn your skin.
I know you’re inquisitive that if sodium bisulfate comes with so many benefits then why someone would use muriatic acid, right?
Well, if you’re looking for a quick result then definitely muriatic acid is the best option.
The difference is huge if we compare the end result of both of them on a time scale.
What the muriatic acid would help you to achieve in less than 6 hours, you might not be able to see that result with sodium bisulfate even after 24 hours.
Now, it’s you who need to decide which chemical you wanna choose out of the two.
Though sodium bisulfate is less caustic still you need to use it with utter care to prevent any mishap.
It’s A Wrap
First and foremost, I would like to thank all my readers who have been with us till the end.
Lowering the pH level is something that needs muriatic acid.
Furthermore, problems such as calcium deposits and scaling can be effectively dealt, with the help of muriatic acid as well.
At the same time, you need to be very careful while using muriatic acid, and of course, taking proper precautions is the best way to deal with an unprecedented situation.
Also, the muriatic acid should be stored in a place that is out of the reach of your kids and pets.
I hope you would’ve thoroughly enjoyed this comprehensive guide on muriatic acid.
And, if that is the case, then please share this piece of information with the ones who are in need of it.
After all, sharing is caring, isn’t it?
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