Keep your pool pH between 7.4 and 7.6.

Right around 7.4 to 7.6.

That narrow band keeps your chlorine working like it should. If pH drifts too high (above 7.8), chlorine gets lazy—you’ll need more of it to kill algae and bacteria. Too low (below 7.2), the water gets aggressive, eating away at metal fixtures, pool surfaces, and even your swimsuit elastic.

It also matters for your eyeballs and skin. Low pH stings. High pH turns water cloudy and can leave scale on everything.

Test strips are cheap. Test weekly in summer, adjust with pH increaser or decreaser as needed. Keep it simple.

Your pool’s chemistry is not the place to wing it.