Pool Tester Tips for Keeping Your Water Safe and Clean

How to Test Your Pool Water – Three Possible Tools

The best pool testing methods include:

1. Test strips which are easy to use, but can be less accurate.  
2. Liquid test kits which are more accurate than test strips, but a little more time consuming. 
3. Digital pool water testers which are the most accurate option, but more expensive.

Now, let’s go over how to test swimming pool water with each of these different types of tools so you can better understand the differences. All of them are good, so don’t worry too much about making a choice. You can always test the tests to determine which method works best for you.

Pool Test Strips

Pool test strips are the most common option, as they’re super affordable and easy to use. To test with a pool strip, which is essentially an automatic pool water tester, simply:

1. Dip the strip into the pool water for a few seconds. 
2. Remove the strip and look at the colors on it. These colors indicate the levels of different chemicals in your pool water.
3. Now compare the colors on the strip to those in the chart provided on the test packaging, to see what’s high and what’s missing from your pool.

Liquid Pool Checkers

When it comes to how to check pool water, this method is more accurate than test strips, but a little more laborious.

1. To start off, you’ll need a liquid test kit (containing reagents, vials, and color charts), and a clean container for the sample (if not provided in the kit).
2. Collect a water sample from the deep end of your pool using the clean container.
3. Pour water into the vials and add the reagents (chemicals) as directed in the kit's instructions.
4. Mix and wait the specified time, as detailed in the kit’s usage guide.
5. Compare the resulting colors to the chart provided in the kit to get your results.

Digital Pool Testers

Digital pool testers, also sometimes referred to as photometers, are the most accurate in terms of results. That’s primarily because the readings are automatically shown on a digital display, taking the guesswork out of your pool water testing. The downside is generally quoted as the cost, however, though in our opinion over lifetime ownership of a pool, this may be less consequential than it seems. Since each digital pool chemical tester differs somewhat, it’s important to refer to the manual and follow the instructions that come with your device for optimal readings.

Tip: All types of pool water testers can be bought at specialty pool stores, online at Amazon or on eBay, at hardware stores, or even general stores like Walmart and Target during pool season.

Special Considerations for Salt Water Pool Testing

Saltwater pool sanitation is a bit different than for traditional chlorine pools. The main difference is that the most crucial test here is for the salinity level. The ideal salinity level varies depending on your salt chlorine generator model, but it typically falls between 3,000 and 4,000 ppm.

That being said, how it’s tested isn’t really much different. Again here you can choose between salt test strips or a salt test kit to measure the salinity, with some digital testers also including salinity testing capabilities.