Your Quick Guide to Testing Your Pool Water
The pool season is just around the corner, and swimming pool owners are prepping up their backyard pools for the busy times ahead. Keeping the swimming pool water balanced, safe, sanitary, and algae-free is a vital aspect of pool ownership.
One of the best ways to have an inviting pool with clean and safe water for swimming is testing the pool water quality before re-opening the pool. Other occasions that demand pool testing include after a rainstorm and other harsh weather events, before closing the pool for winters, after excessive use, before algae treatment, and after adding water.
Pool water testing frequency
An average residential swimming pool needs regular testing of pH (7.4-7.6), total alkalinity (80-120ppm), cyanuric acid (20-50ppm), calcium hardness (200-400ppm), TDS (under 2000ppm), and metals. Although there are no fixed guidelines for the frequency of testing pool water, pool experts suggest testing the chlorine levels and pH two to three times a week, total alkalinity every week, and calcium hardness, cyanuric acid, and TDS once a month.
Here are a few methods to test the pool water accurately:
Liquid or reagent pool test kit
Liquid testing kits are ideal for regular residential pool testing as they are affordable and provide an accurate result when properly used. Ensure that the test kit has phenol red and orthotolidine to test pH and chlorine, respectively.
Use the testing collector provided in the kit to collect water samples away from jet and skimmers and well below the surface (at least 18 inches).
On the pH side, add the number of phenol red drops to the water as recommended on the kit.
Add the required drops of orthotolidine (OTO) to the collected water on the designated chlorine testing side.
Drop the recommended amount of solution to check acid demand and total alkalinity.
Seal and shake the containers.
Hold the test kit against the white background to compare the color of the water in the tubes to the color scales given in the test kit.
After testing, rinse and dry the tester before packing it and store it in a safe place. If the testing solution finishes, buy refill bottles instead of a new testing kit.
Test strips
Although pool water strips are fast, convenient, cost-effective, and simple to use and read, they are considered less accurate than liquid test kits. They can measure pH, alkalinity, and chlorine.
Collect your water samples from the middle of the pool and away from the jet and skimmer.
Dip a test strip in the collected water and remove it. Make sure not to soak or let the strip stay submerged in water.
Hold the strip with test dots up or place it on a flat surface for the time indicated on the container. Avoid shaking the strip.
Compare the strip results with the color chart provided with the package.
After the tests, follow the guidelines to adjust the chemicals accordingly.
Keep your pool clean and inviting
Incorrect water chemistry can damage the pool and its equipment and irritate the eyes and skin. If you are uncomfortable with or do not want to go through the hassles of testing your pool water, hire a swimming pool service. Alternately, you can take the water sample to the professionals monthly or when opening or closing your pool.
Pool Tile Cleaning Vegas offers pool tile cleaning, calcium removal, acid washing, pool draining, and media blasting services, in Las Vegas and Henderson. Call us at (702)605-6936.
