Testing Pool Water Guide

Every pool or spa owner should test regularly for sanitiser and pH, and periodically for total alkalinity and calcium hardness.  Some other infrequent tests may reveal other elements like copper, iron and cyanuric acid levels, but in this event you can contact the pool chemical helpline for advanced assistance or expert analysis.

Why Test Pool Water?

Most people understand the need for bacteria control and testing, but few appreciate the importance of pH.  The pH levels can be described as a regulator for comfort, sanitiser efficiency and equipment protection.  Periodic full water balance tests of total alkalinity and calcium hardness also contribute to your control regime (See Balancing Pool Water Guide).

What to test pool water with?

Pool test strips provide a quick and easy method of effectively testing the levels of basic pool chemicals such as pool chlorine or bromine, total alkalinity, and the acidity or alkalinity of your pH level.

Greater accuracy can be obtained using a comparator type test kit where testing tablets are added to pool water samples which provide a colour change that is compared with re-set colours to provide a value.  DPD No.1 tablets test accurately for free chlorine or total bromine and Phenol Red tablets test pH levels.  For greater accuracy still, local pool chemical dealers provide analysis by computer with digital testing kits such as palin test.  Smaller hand held digital testers are also a handy tool for the job.  But pool test strips provide a method which is generally both accurate enough and affordable swimming pool water testing.