E-254 Pool Nation Podcast - High pH, Cloudy Water, and Algae — Are You Making These Mistakes?

Every pool professional has been there: you arrive at a pool expecting crystal-clear water, only to find a cloudy, algae-tinged mess that screams pH problems. It's one of those moments that can make or break your reputation as a pool pro. In Episode 254 of Pool Nation Podcast, the hosts tackle one of the most fundamental yet frequently misunderstood aspects of pool chemistry—pH balance and its cascading effects on water quality.

The pH Deep Dive: Why One Number Controls Everything

pH isn't just another number on your test kit—it's the master controller of your pool's entire chemical ecosystem. When pH levels swing out of the ideal 7.2-7.6 range, it creates a domino effect that impacts chlorine effectiveness, bather comfort, and equipment longevity. The Pool Nation team emphasizes that understanding pH is crucial for both seasoned professionals and newcomers to the industry.

Each is important. And the interesting thing is we continue to get a lot of questions in shift, obviously, now that summer, even Cap City was talking about it on the Instagram Live. Like really a lot of these podcasts and Instagram Lives help them out during the times of summer when they're out there and they're trying to figure things out and they have a place to go to ask these questions and stuff like that.

— Edgar De Jesus, Pool Nation Podcast

High pH levels above 7.8 create multiple problems simultaneously. Chlorine becomes significantly less effective—at pH 8.0, chlorine is only about 20% as effective as it would be at pH 7.2. This reduced sanitizer efficiency opens the door for algae growth and creates the perfect storm for cloudy water conditions.

The High pH Trap: Common Mistakes Pool Pros Make

One of the most frequent errors in pool maintenance is addressing symptoms rather than the root cause. When faced with cloudy water and algae, many technicians immediately reach for more chlorine or algaecides without first checking and correcting pH levels. This approach often leads to frustration and wasted chemicals.

High pH conditions also cause calcium carbonate to precipitate out of solution, creating that telltale cloudy appearance. This cloudiness isn't just an aesthetic issue—it indicates that your water chemistry is fundamentally unbalanced and that expensive equipment damage could be occurring.

We've been on a roll these last few weeks with some chemistry questions and we've been getting a lot of interaction from everybody and people wanting more and more podcasts or Instagram lives or us to do more videos on answering some of these chemistry questions because it's so easy to forget.

— John J.J. Flawless, Pool Nation Podcast

The scaling that results from high pH doesn't just affect water clarity—it builds up on pool surfaces, clogs filters, and can damage expensive equipment like heaters and chlorine generators. Prevention through proper pH management is always more cost-effective than dealing with the consequences later.

The Chlorine Effectiveness Connection

Understanding the relationship between pH and chlorine effectiveness is crucial for any pool professional. Chlorine exists in two forms in pool water: hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite ion (OCl-). The more effective sanitizer, hypochlorous acid, dominates at lower pH levels, while the less effective hypochlorite ion becomes more prevalent as pH rises.

At pH 7.2, approximately 80% of your chlorine exists as the highly effective hypochlorous acid. By pH 8.0, this drops to just 20%. This dramatic shift explains why pools with high pH levels struggle with algae and bacteria even when chlorine readings appear adequate on test strips.

This chemical reality means that lowering pH can often solve apparent chlorine demand issues without adding more sanitizer. It's a perfect example of working smarter, not harder, and understanding the science behind pool chemistry rather than just following generic procedures.

Algae Growth and pH: Breaking the Cycle

Algae thrives in high pH conditions for multiple reasons. Beyond the reduced chlorine effectiveness, high pH environments provide optimal growing conditions for most algae species. The combination of ineffective sanitizer and favorable growing conditions creates a perfect storm for algae blooms.

Many pool professionals make the mistake of shocking with chlorine when they encounter algae, without first addressing the pH imbalance that allowed the algae to establish itself. While shock treatment can kill existing algae, failure to correct pH means the problem will likely return quickly.

The most effective algae treatment protocol starts with pH correction. Lower the pH to the ideal range, then proceed with appropriate sanitizer treatment. This approach ensures that your sanitizer works at maximum effectiveness and helps prevent future algae issues.

Professional Development and Industry Growth

The Pool Nation team continues to emphasize the importance of ongoing education in the pool industry. Their upcoming events demonstrate a commitment to elevating the professionalism and knowledge base of pool service providers.

And he said, can you do one and really just can you go into one topic and just hit that topic all the way through? And we're like, oh my God, that's such a great idea. So today we're going to talk about pH.

— Edgar De Jesus, Pool Nation Podcast

The announcement of the Women's Summit on August 21-22 at Heritage Pool Supply, along with the Pool Nation Conference in October, shows the industry's commitment to professional development. These events focus not just on technical skills but also on business development, helping pool professionals transition from technicians to successful business owners.

The conference's three-track approach—business, technical, and hands-on—ensures that professionals can focus on their specific development needs. The emphasis on smaller, intimate learning environments reflects an understanding that quality education requires personal attention and interaction.

Building a Sustainable Pool Service Business

Beyond the technical aspects of pool maintenance, the podcast highlights the business side of pool service. The upcoming conference sessions on profit mentality, financial planning, and exit strategies address crucial aspects of building a sustainable business that many technicians overlook.

Really what we want is from the very first stage of every pool pro is to be able to shift very quickly from the mindset of a pool pro, of a technician, to really a business owner and have that clear picture of where they need to go since day one and focus on the profitability of every pool.

— Edgar De Jesus, Pool Nation Podcast

Understanding your costs, pricing services appropriately, and managing cash flow are just as important as mastering water chemistry. The "pool guy math" concept—making sound financial decisions based on actual costs rather than gut feelings—can make the difference between a struggling service route and a profitable business.

The emphasis on talent lifecycle and team development recognizes that successful pool service businesses eventually need to scale beyond what one person can handle. Building systems and developing team members becomes crucial for long-term success.

Pool professionals must balance technical expertise with business acumen to build sustainable careers. The industry is evolving beyond simple "splash and dash" service to comprehensive pool care that requires both chemical knowledge and business skills. By mastering fundamentals like pH control while developing business capabilities, pool professionals can build rewarding, profitable careers that serve their communities while providing financial security for their families.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Technology Updates
• 05:30 Pool Nation Events and Announcements
• 12:00 Business Track Conference Preview
• 18:45 pH Deep Dive Introduction
• 25:00 High pH Problems and Solutions