Chemical Balance - Pentair MiniMax Plus Service Manual

Chemical Balance

Pool and Spa Water
Your Pentair Pool Products pool heater was designed
specifically for your spa or pool and will give you many
years of trouble free service provided you keep your
water chemistry in proper balance.
Three major items that can cause problems with your
pool heater are improper pH, disinfectant residual, and
total alkalinity. These items, if not kept properly
balanced, can shorten the life of the heater and cause
permanent damage.
CAUTION
Heat exchanger damage resulting from chemical
imbalance is not covered by the warranty.
WHAT A DISINFECTANT DOES -
Two pool guests you do not want are algae and bacteria.
To get rid of them and make pool water sanitary for
swimming - as well as to improve the water's taste, odor
and clarity - some sort of disinfectant must be used.
Chlorine and bromine are universally approved by health
authorities and are accepted disinfecting agents for
bacteria control.
WHAT IS A DISINFECTANT RESIDUAL?
When you add chlorine or bromine to the pool water, a
portion of the disinfectant will be consumed in the
process of destroying bacteria, algae and other
oxidizable materials. The disinfectant remaining is
called chlorine residual or bromine residual. You can
determine the disinfectant residual of your pool water with a
reliable test kit, available from your local pool supply store.
You must maintain a disinfectant residual level adequate
enough to assure a continuous kill of bacteria or virus
introduced into pool water by swimmers, through the air,
from dust, rain or other sources.
It is wise to test pool water regularly. Never allow
chlorine residual to drop below 0.6 ppm (parts per
million). The minimum level for effective chlorine or
bromine residual is 1.4 ppm.
pH - The term pH refers to the acid/alkaline balance of
water expressed on a numerical scale from 0 to 14. A test
kit for measuring pH balance of your pool water is
available from your local pool supply store; see pH Chart.
pH Chart
Strongly Acid
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Muriatic Acid has a pH of about 0. Pure water is 7
(neutral). Weak Lye solution have a pH of 13-14.
RULE: 7.4 to 7.6 is a desirable pH range. It is essential
to maintain correct pH, see pH Control Chart.
Rev. C 12-1-00
Neutral Strongly Alkaline
10 11 12 13 14
If pH becomes too high (over alkaline), it has
these effects:
1. Greatly lowers the ability of chlorine to destroy
bacteria and algae.
2. Water becomes cloudy.
3. There is more danger of scale formation on the
plaster or in the heat exchanger.
4. Filter elements may become blocked.
If pH is too low (over acid) the following
conditions may occur:
1. Excessive eye burn or skin irritation.
2. Etching of the plaster.
3. Corrosion of metal fixtures in the filtration and
recirculation system, which may create brown, blue,
green, or sometimes almost black stains on the
plaster.
4. Corrosion of copper in the heater, which may cause
leaks.
5. If you have a sand and gravel filter, the alum used as
a filter aid may dissolve and pass through the filter.
CAUTION
Do not test for pH when the chlorine residual is
3.0 ppm or higher, or bromine residual is 6.0 ppm
or higher. See your local pool supply store for
help in properly balancing your water chemistry.
RULE: Chemicals that are acid lower pH. Chemicals
that are alkaline raise pH.
pH Control Chart
7.2
6.8 7.0
Add Soda, Ash or Marginal
Sodium Bicarbonate
ALKALINITY High - Low:
"Total alkalinity" is a measurement of the total amount of
alkaline chemicals in the water, and control pH to a great
degree. (It is not the same as pH which refers merely to the
relative alkalinity/acidity balance.) Your pool water's total
alkalinity should be 100 - 140 ppm to permit easier pH
control.
A total alkalinity test is simple to perform with a reliable
test kit. You will need to test once a week and make proper
adjustments until alkalinity is in the proper range. Then,
test only once every month or so to be sure it is being
maintained. See your local pool dealer for help in properly
balancing the water chemistry.
1 5
7.4 7.6 7.8 8.0 8.2 8.4
Ideal Marginal Add Acid
P/N 38033