Support answer · Alkalinity
What happens if pool alkalinity is too low or too high?
Short answer: Low alkalinity can cause pH swings and corrosion, while high alkalinity can cause cloudy water, scale and reduced sanitizer effectiveness.
Based on Maytronics support, updated 2026-08-11, rewritten by Poolbots' pool experts.
The answer
What to know.
If alkalinity is too low, it can
- Make pH shift rapidly.
- Make the water corrosive.
- Damage pool surfaces and equipment.
- Irritate swimmers' eyes and skin.
If alkalinity is too high, it can
- Make the water cloudy.
- Cause scale to build up.
- Make pH harder to adjust.
- Make sanitizer less effective.
Source: Maytronics support. Same steps and facts, rewritten for clarity; the videos and illustrations are Maytronics' own.
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