Pool Water Testing Guide
If you are just dipping your toe into DIY swimming pool maintenance, one of the first things you need to learn is how to test the water. Water testing ensures proper water chemistry so your pool stays sparkling clean and healthy. Let’s talk about when, why, and how to properly test your pool water so that your friends and family can enjoy swim season without any worries.
Why You Need to Test Pool Water
Properly balanced pool chemicals keep water clean and free of contaminants, prevent pool surface staining and damage to expensive pool equipment, and provide a more enjoyable swimming experience. Testing pool water regularly is the only way to determine the chemical levels in your water so that you can add the right amount of chlorine, muriatic acid, pool shock, and other substances to your water to keep it properly balanced.
When to Test Pool Water
To keep pool water chemistry balanced, we recommend testing at least once per week. During times of heavy use or rainfall, the water may need to be tested more often. Many pool owners also like to bring a water sample to be tested at a local pool store at pool opening and closing and once or twice throughout the swim season.
Which Pool Chemical Levels to Test
Standard pool test strips or test kits will check the following chemical levels:
If you have a saltwater pool with a chlorine generator, salt test strips can help you ensure that your salt levels are in the ideal range of 2700-3400 ppm.
How to Test Pool Water
Testing your pool water at home is quick and easy when you have the right supplies. There are three types of at-home tests available: test strips, test kits, and digital testers.
Pool Water Test Strips
Test strips are a super-popular option because they are affordable and easy to use, and the simplicity means less room for human error. To use test strips, quickly dip the strip in the water and take it out. Hold it still for 10-15 seconds and then compare the colors on the strip to the chart on the package. Adjust your chemicals as needed.
Recommended Pool Water Test Strips
Doheny’s 5-in-1 Value Test Strips
These simple and accurate test strips are a hassle free way to test your pool water’s total chlorine, free chlorine, pH level, total alkalinity, and total hardness. The convenient process and affordable price makes these test strips hard to beat.
AquaChek Silver 7-Way Test Strips
Get water test results in 15 seconds with AquaChek SIlver 7-Way Test Strips, which are perfect for use in pools and hot tubs. Use these strips to quickly check your pool’s total chlorine and free chlorine levels, total bromine, pH, total alkalinity, total hardness, and stabilizer (CYA).
Other useful types of test strips include salt test strips, phosphate test strips, and total iron test strips. Wait times for each type of test may vary slightly, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions.
Pool Water Test Kits
Liquid test kits are the most accurate way to test your pool water, but they are also the most expensive and require a little more work. While every test kit is a little different, the following are general instructions for use:
- Collect a water sample by holding the collection container upside down and submerging it in the water up to your elbow. Turn the container right side up to fill it. Be sure to collect the sample in an area away from the skimmers and return jets.
- Add the recommended number of drops of reagent to each compartment as directed (phenol red for pH, OTO for chlorine, etc.)
- Hold the container up to a white background, like a piece of paper and compare the colors in the water to the colors on the chart provided. Darker colors mean higher levels.
- Adjust chemicals as needed.
Recommended Pool Water Test Kits
Taylor 2000 Service Complete Test Kit
This comprehensive test kit from Taylor is super accurate and easy to use. Taylor is the only brand approved by the American Swimming Coaches Association. The kit includes everything you need to test free and combined chlorine, cyanuric acid, pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels.
Another user-friendly kit from Taylor, the sureCHECK Safety Test is a quick and easy way to check free and total chlorine levels, bromine sanitizer levels, pH, and total alkalinity levels. This kit is an affordable option that is perfect for use in your weekly pool care routine.
Digital Pool Water Testers
Digital testers are a great option for anyone who wants to take the guesswork out of interpreting colors on a comparator chart. To use a digital tester, simply dip a compatible test strip into the water and insert it into the test strip reader. Results are displayed on a digital screen within a few seconds. While digital testers do cost more than test strips alone, they are highly accurate and easy to use.
Recommended Digital Pool Water Testers
AquaChek Pool & Spa Digital Test Strip Reader
Get a digital read-out of your pool or spa’s free chlorine or bromine, pH, and total alkalinity instantly with this convenient digital test strip reader. Users love the large LCD screen and ‘high,’ ‘low,’ and ‘OK’ indicators on the display.
This digital tester for saltwater pools does not even require test strips to quickly and accurately measure salt TDS in your water. Get results in seconds with the large LCD display and convenient push buttons.
Whether you have a new pool or are just learning to take care of your existing swimming pool, water testing, proper filtration, and regular maintenance will help you prevent common problems like cloudy water and algae blooms. If you have any questions about our selection of pool water test supplies, contact our friendly pool professionals today at 800-574-7665, or visit our website at doheny.com.
