Does Baking Soda Increase Calcium Hardness?
No, baking soda does not increase calcium hardness. This is a common myth that exists in the pool industry. Adding baking soda when you don’t need to can actually cause a whole host of problems later down the line.
I’ll go through some of the reasons it doesn’t increase calcium hardness below. As well as how to use baking soda in your pool the right way. Let’s bust some myths.
Want to see how to actually increase hardness?
Check out my guide on cheaply increasing calcium hardness.
Why Isn’t Baking Soda Effective for Increasing Calcium Hardness?
Baking soda isn’t effective for calcium hardness because it works to increase the overall alkalinity of the pool- not the calcium. This makes it more suited to reducing acidity and balancing pH levels.
In fact, adding baking soda when you don’t need to can cause a ton of problems, such as:
- Pool scaling
- Water clouding
- Equipment damage
- Unbalancing your pH level
These problems worsen if you’ve already added a calcium hardness increaser to your pool. Hard water pools are more likely to cause scaling and calcium deposits. So, by increasing the alkalinity, you actually contribute to this issue!
Key takeaway: Don’t use baking soda as a hardness increaser!
How to Use Baking Soda in Your Pool Chemistry
Baking soda does have a place in a pool’s chemistry and maintenance. Because it increases the pool’s alkalinity, you can use it as a means to bring up the alkaline levels in your pool. This will also help to bring up your pH into the correct range, as the two go hand-in-hand.
I’ve seen many people using baking soda as it’s cheap and easy to get hold of – most people have it in their kitchen cupboard. It’s also one of the Bs in the BBB method to pool care (now called the TFPC method).
By keeping the alkalinity from going too low, you prevent damage to your pool design, water discolouration, and stinging eyes. Maintaining good alkalinity also keeps your pH in check and helps chlorine do its job properly.