Check often to ensure your pool has the best water quality
The beginning of warm weather means pool season.
That means it’s time to startchecking your water quality.
Working With Test Kits
Standard kits for testing water chemistry come in several different types.
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Some people test all components daily, which is a perfectly acceptable schedule.
Water chemistry near the pool’s surface may not be typical of the water deeper in the pool.
Proper readings require a precise ratio of pool water to the testing solution.
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Test for Free Chlorine and Residual Chlorine
Add five drops of solution No.
1 to the column for testing chlorine.
In this kit, the chlorine indicator solution happens to be Ortho Tolidin.
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Note: Some test kits use dissolving tablets rather than a liquid testing solution.
This will give you a reading of the free chlorine level.
For a few minutes, compare the colors again to determine the residual chlorine level.
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Note: Some kits have separate free and residual chlorine tests, each requiring different solutions or tablets.
The residual chlorine must first be adjusted to normal levels.
Note: Dont perform this test if the pH exceeds 7.5 and the chlorine residual exceeds 3.0.
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The residual chlorine must be brought to proper levels before testing for acid demand.
Test for Total Alkalinity
Multiply the number of drops of solution No.
3 you used by 10 to determine thetotal alkalinity.
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Note: Don’t perform this test if the residual chlorine is above 3.0.
Chlorine must be in normal ranges before testing for TA (total alkalinity).
Pack the kit and store it in a cool, dry place away from children.
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It’s best to take a sample of pool water after the pump runs on high for an hour.
Take the sample from about 18 inches deep.
Never test stagnant water or take a sample near a pool return or floating pool chemical dispenser.
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The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
