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I've read different posts on using muriatic acid and was wondering if people usually mix this acid with water first, or add it straight to their pools. I'm kind of scaried of this stuff-I don't want to get burned-and the label doesn't tell me any info on how to disperse it. I'm a short person and my walls are 52", so my arm doesn't reach very far into the pool. Any help? Denise
I just hold the jug right above the waterline in front of the return jet and pour it in slowly. Be careful, eye protection probably is not a bad idea.
Denise,
Wear gloves and some kind of eye protection. You can dilute the acid by pouring it into a bucket of water by that doesn't really seem any safer to me (if you do, remember to always add acid to water, never the converse).
I just pour it slowly, and from just above the surface of the water, into a return stream. It will quickly disperse and be diluted from there.
The biggest problem with MA for me is the fumes; those can be very harsh. The easiest way to deal with the fumes is to keep the acid downwind of you.
Don't be scared of it but do keep a healthy respect for what it can do to you, especially to your eyes and lungs.
I always pour my acid into a measuring cup before adding it to the pool, otherwise I always seem to overdose. I normally spread mine around over the deepest section of the pool with my pump on high speed. As others have said, watch the wind direction, the fumes are nasty, be careful not to splash it on yourself or anything else, and rinse immediately if you do
To avoid spilling the acid, I mark the gallon jug at one pint increments. I calibrated a paint stick with markings for each pint using an empty jug and water. That way I know how much I am adding without having to use a measuring cup.
I add it slowly in an arc around the return but fumes never seem to be an issue for me.
Well I went ahead and used the acid. It scared the beegeezees out of me when the white smoke vapors started coming out from under the cap when opening. I'll see what the ph is in a little while. Using a measuring cup sound interesting because I was only guessing with the amount. Denise
That is all I ever do is guess, I have gotten pretty good at it too. But I am heading to Walmart here after a while for another batch of bleach so I may pick up a measuring cup and I would like to start keeping track of things. The MA scares me too, especially now with one eye, I am healing with the other one, but I tell you not having one is aweful, and not having any would be unbearable, protect your eyes at all costs. This stuff is Hydrochloric Acid, very potent stuff.
I put my plastic measuring cup on a plastic cafeteria type tray so if I spill any I can just throw the whole tray right into the pool. (with an inground pool it's easy...just push it in.)
I've never pre-mixed or diluted the acid simply because I feel like I'd be handling it one extra time and thus one more chance for a spill or splash. I don't know if it's been mentioned yet but I always open the jug outside next to the pool rather than inside the garage where I store it. Again: fumes, spills and splashes inside the garage--that would be bad.
Plus, acid washed jeans aren't cool anymore!
When I first started using M. Acid it was if I were going into space. I had so much protection on I had a difficult time moving. It took me 30 minutes to add one cup of the stuff. As time went by I began to wear less and less stuff. So one day after church I remembered that I needed to add a cup (you guys no were I'm going with this) So instead of changing first I went out grabbbed the jug and started pouring in the deep end. Replaced the cap and went inside, seconds later my wife screamed at me was I alright , I looked at her and asked what she was talking about. She pointed to my pants and all I could do was stand there in amazement. Without my knowing the acid had splashed up my pant legs and totally ruined my slacks. Let's just say my new nickname is Neil Armstrong.
Newpoo, that's funny-Neil Armstrong. I was wearing shorts when I poured the acid in-maybe it'll be long pants from now on. Denise:)
I always pour the acid into a old glass canning jar. They have measurements on the side of them and are easy to handle.
I had posted the same question about a month ago....I was loosing my shorts and shirts from splashed acid that I didnt notice.
The recommendation was to dilute it in a bucket first then toss the bucket in the deep end.
Since then, no new holes in my shirts! I dilute roughly 5/1 water/acid
I pour it out of the jug slowly at the waterline in front of a return. I wear gloves, goggles, and a respirator (indoor pool).
Couldn't you substitute granular Sodium Bisulfate to low PH? Is there a benefit to the Acid that the Sodium Bisulfate wont provide?
I believe muriatic acid is cheaper and doesn't add sulfates to your pool. I was given certain chemicals when we purchased our pool and sodium bisulfate was one of them. I used 2 3lb containers in the pool and it only brought down the ph by 2 points. When I first used the muriatic acid, I poured approx. 3/4 c into the pool and it came down by 2 points. I still have a lot left in the gallon jug as compared to no more dry acid. Hope this helps. Denise
If you have a SWCG, then Muriatic Acid is the only pH reducer you should be using. As Mohawk says, sodium bisulfate only increases you total TDS.
Pat
I'll be adding my first dose of Muriatic Acid tonight (pool just filled this past Saturday). I like the idea of measuring how much to add with a glass measuring cup. Do I rinse the cup after I pour the acid in? I would think not given the "never add water to acid" warning. Do I just leave the cup to dry?
I use a plastic measuring cup, and when I've poured all the acid in, I dip it in the pool and pour it out 4 times, making sure to get it totally rinsed, then set it aside to air dry in the garage with my other pool tools.
Yeah, just quickly dip the measuring cup into the pool water and empty a few times. No violent reactions here so far. :p
A couple other questions about handling muriatic acid:
- how do you take the seal off that's under the cap? I've been using needlenose pliers to take them off and it's a big pain! :)
- how do you dispose of the empty muriatic acid jugs? Do you just throw them in the trash bin? Recycle bin? Special collection?
I asked the local Pinch a Penny pool store about this and they said just cap it and throw it in the trash...that is what they do (they do pool service also). This never seemed like a good idea to me. Somone on here said that they rinse the jug out in the pool and then throw it away. I have been doing this now. Just make sure that it is REALLY empty first.Quote:
Originally Posted by joelq