Why is my mash ph always too low?

[SRJHops]

6 to 9 or so is the general range I'd expect water pH to be. If water pH 6 yields a prediction of 5.30 and 9 yields 5.32, then the 5.31 that you get for no entry is probably guessing something in between.

I think I'll keep entering the ph, but the learning (thanks!) is that the grain and salt additions are really what move the numbers. The calculator must have that 6 -9 range as part of how it works, but numbers outside of that range make it go a bit wonky. Otherwise I don't know how to explain that entering 3 or 4 for the starting water ph makes it predict 8.75 ph including the grain...

 

[KyBeer]

I chased my PH when I first started testing. I found the water source listed in Brewers Friend was a little out of date. Sent in a sample to Ward Labs and have been on track since.
Has anyone seen PH levels change with the seasons? Mine do some, but I think its due to my water source is from surface water.

 

[dmtaylor]

Has anyone seen PH levels change with the seasons? Mine do some, but I think its due to my water source is from surface water.

It absolutely does change seasonally for a lot of places, absolutely. I am a chemistry analyst and have graphed it. Over several years I have seen a pattern of pH rising and falling every summer and winter, respectively, for my source water, which here is Lake Michigan. The difference here is small but noticeable, from 8.4 to 8.0. YMMV

 

[RM-MN]

My water comes from an 80 foot well and the composition of that can change from week to week. I have filled my hot tub and have had a cloudy water immediately, filled it the next time and it is perfectly clear but the bubbles when the pump run have a reddish look. Next time it is clear and the bubbles are now white.