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What to test with in residential pools

By:

Jay Anand

Marketing Manager

Industrial Test Systems, Inc.

www.poolcheckonline.com

Making sure that your water is safe to swim in is the concern of every pool owner nationwide. So, what should you use in order to gain this security? With the wide variety of tests that are available in today’s market, choosing the test that is right for you is just as important as the safety of your water. Although the choices are many, only a few test kits are ideally suited for the average pool owner.

Liquid test kits have been around for a long time and are inexpensive and easy to find. These kits involve taking a sample of water and adding phenol red, which indicates pH levels, and OTO, which indicates chlorine levels. Although these test kits appear to be easy to operate, they are plagued with problems. First, there is no way to guarantee that every drop you add is exactly the same. This can translate into incorrect results. Second, liquid reagents in test kits often can go bad if exposed to heat for a period of time. Again, this can translate into unreliable results. Third, the reagent OTO, used to measure chlorine, has been classified as a suspected carcinogen. If the underlying goal of testing your pool is safety, you do not want to use a test that can be harmful. Lastly, phenol red, used to measure pH, can often provide false low reading when your chlorine levels are above those normally found in pool water. Unless you are attentive to detail and have access to a controlled environment, liquid test kits are not for you. A more ideal choice for the pool owner is to test your pool water with a multi-parameter test strip.

Test strips can be found at almost every retailer nationwide. They are inexpensive, quick, and, when used properly, can be very reliable. Although test strips cost a little more that liquid test kits, the benefits offset the price differences. First, test strips have all of the chemical reagents necessary pre-measured on the test strip, providing consistent readings every time. Second, test strips give reliable results so you can be sure that your pool investment is protected and its users are protected against harmful bacteria, algae, and other undesirable conditions. Third, test strips can offer more results than liquid test kits in a shorter time – after all, we all want to enjoy the pool and not spend our days testing it. Fourth, test strips have a long shelf life - an average bottle has two years. Lastly, test strips are safe. Manufacturers of test strips have taken exhaustive measures to ensure that their products contain no hazardous reagents.

A few tips when using test strips:

1. Always follow the directions closely - different manufacturers have different test procedures;
2. Always place the cap securely on the bottle when not in use - excessive moisture in the bottle can cause test strips to prematurely expire;
3. Always make sure to be in a well lit area when matching your results – direct sunlight might be a little too much light, but shade is okay. Avoid trying to match colors at night unless you have a well-lit area.

The goal of having a swimming pool is to be able to enjoy it with your family. Making sure that it is safe should be easy, accurate, and as fast as possible.