POOL TEST STRIPS
POOL TEST STRIPS
Regular testing of your pool’s water is an essential part of maintaining a healthy and attractive environment. Not only does testing make your pool more enjoyable, it protects your investment by identifying problems before they become serious — leading to costly repairs and maintenance.
How often should pools be tested at home?
Zagers recommends testing your pool’s water weekly at a minimum and more frequently if your pool experiences heavy use. We carry a variety of test strips to make the process as easy as possible.
When should pool water be professional tested?
Every 3-4 weeks, we encourage you to have your water professionally tested by the Zagers team free of charge (we make it easy! you can have it tested while you wait, or we have convenient drop-off bins at each of our locations). Professional testing is the most accurate form, and it can serve as an important check on your home testing to ensure it’s accurate. The Zagers team is also specially-trained to identify potential problems early.
Sparco 5 Way Pool & Spa Test Strips
Measures free chlorine/bromine, pH, total alkalinity, and stabilizer. 50 strips per bottle.
BioGuard SaltScapes Test Strips
BioGuard SaltScapes Test Strip Pack provides you with the tools to test all the required levels in your salt water pool.
BioGuard SoftSwim 4-Way Test Strips
BioGuard Soft Swim Test Strips are designed to test pool water for the chemicals used in the Soft Swim program.
Pool Test Strips Purchasing Guide
Testing pool water evaluates several important indicators, including free available chlorine (FAC), pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and cyanuric acid levels. Depending on your type of pool or unique circumstances, you may also find kits that test for salt, iron, or copper.
Testing your pool’s water can be done in one of three basic ways:
- With test strips
- With a liquid test kit
- Computerized professional testing
Each of these methods has its pros and cons.
What are pool test strips?
Test strips are, by far, the easiest method. After capturing a proper water sample, you submerge a test strip in the sample (following the instructions) and compare the colors on the test strip to the reference guide that comes with the kit. The downside of test strips is that they tend to be less accurate than the other forms of testing.
What are pool liquid tests?
Liquid tests are more accurate, but slightly more difficult to perform. In this method, you’ll use an eyedropper to precisely add a small quantity of chemicals like phenol red and orthotolidine to the sample, and then compare the sample against a white background to determine the results. This method is ideal, however, if you’ve always wanted to pretend to be a forensic scientist in a crime drama montage.
The most accurate form of testing is using a computerized system with results analyzed by trained professionals (i.e. the Zagers team). These test systems can be expensive, and the average person isn’t trained and certified to interpret the results. But we are, so don’t hesitate to bring your water sample in.