Does Calcium Hardness matter for Vinyl liner?

[bfang711]

I have an impression that CH is not important at all for Vinyl Liner. I just don't know if this is a valid statement. My pool has very low CH, and the local pool shop warned me to bring up the CH. I just want to make sure which is correct.

thank you.

 

[Richard320]

Low CH is not a problem for a vinyl pool. There is no plaster to etch.

For others reading, that doesn't mean ignore CH. High CH can still be a problem in a vinyl pool.

 

[Jive5877]

Such a good question I was wondering the same thing. So my understanding is low CH is fine, but still test to make sure it doesn't go too high. Am I correct in my thinking?

 

[CJadamec]

High CH can lead to scaling in any pool.

Low CH for vinyl won't hurt anything.

If you have a heater check to see if they recommend a minimum CH value.

 

[joonbug99]

I have heard that an out of whack CH number can effect the liner by causing it to "wrinkle" over time. I have not looked into this claim any further that just hearing it though.

 

[sccm_sysadmin]

edit: confused CH with TA by mistake

 

[Pool_Medic]

Ph issues can wrinkle a liner, not calcium. Just another way that pool stores add up not needed chemical sales.

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

I have heard that an out of whack CH number can effect the liner by causing it to "wrinkle" over time. I have not looked into this claim any further that just hearing it though.

Low pH can cause the brittle type wrinkle-cracks that look like a cracked hard boiled egg shell, or broken glass... wrinkles can also form if a liner pool was drained and resettled wrong, or if the liner floated.

I've never heard of low CH causing wrinkles.

 

[Catanzaro]

As of two nights ago my CH level is 50ppm in my vinyl pool, which is always sparkling and crystal clear. I usually keep it in the 60-80ppm range though, to help avoid the pH from drifting up.

Are you referring to alkalinity here? We are talking about calcium hardness levels. My warranty on the heat pump specifically states that levels must be kept between certain ranges and this could void the warranty. How any company can prove this is another thing. It is always best to keep receipts on any items purchased and a log, especially for this reason.

 

[vinmazz]

Pool school recommends CH level in a vinyl pool to be anywhere between 0-350 (0-300 with SWG), so if you're within those levels you have nothing to worry about. Only reason to keep a specific level of CH in a vinyl pool would be if a piece of equipment had a warranty that required a certain CH level. In which case it still has nothing to do with the condition of your pool and/or water, just the company's warranty.

 

[sccm_sysadmin]

Are you referring to alkalinity here? We are talking about calcium hardness levels.

Yes, I read "calcium hardness" and my brain somehow translated that to "total alkalinity". Brain fart.