More Test Results!

[Simmons99]

We have a new pool as well and ours tends to want to sit around 7.8-8.2. We were told by the pool builder that a salt pool increases the chance of scale - I don't know if that is true - but for our warranty we need to keep the PH between 7.2-7.4. I add about 1/2 gallon of acid a week to keep it within the range.

[chem geek]

We were told by the pool builder that a salt pool increases the chance of scale - I don't know if that is true - but for our warranty we need to keep the PH between 7.2-7.4.

A salt pool is actually more corrosive and less likely to scale than a non-salt pool, all else equal (though the difference between the two is not large). However, an SWCG pool (which you have) tends to increase in pH and it is true that higher pH increases the liklihood of scaling (all else equal) so perhaps that is what he is talking about. In any event, for the normal ranges you are talking about, I think he is being overly conservative (as well as wrong about salt and scaling), but a warranty is a warranty so you've got to follow its requirements, at least until the warranty runs out.

Richard