Hi and thank you for the recent post on when to test pool water. We have had our pool for only one season now and did the dumb thing of believing the pool sales jerk when he said we don’t have to test but once or twice a month. We spent a FORTUNE trying to get the water to stay clear and then when we tested more using the test strips that came with our kit the results were crazy high one day crazy high the next and the directions read like a bad foreign subtitle film. Do all pool strips get made in places outside the US? Also can test strips actually do the job or do we need something else? Thanks, May

Well, May, we DO know of several pool test strip manufacturers located here in the United States and as you probably saw in our water test kit store that at this time we carry the Pool Check Brand of pool test strips in a variety of configurations: 3-Way, 4-Way, 5-Way, and 6-Way.

We decided to carry the Pool Check Brand for a number of reasons:

• Easy-to-follow directions written right on the bottle.
   
• Pool Check test strips get manufactured in the United States by Industrial Test Systems, Inc. — which has its headquarters in South Carolina.
   
• Wider detection ranges and we believe that Pool Check color charts have more precision than many other brands currently available.
   
• We have worked in the field and at our own homes with Pool Check products for many years and have always felt confident that we could trust the water test results we got during testing.

As for whether or not Pool Check (or any pool testing product for that matter) will work well for you, that all depends on your water quality situation. If too far out of whack, then pretty much no at-home testing product will give accurate results… so we suggest taking your water at the beginning of the season (right after you open the pool) to a local pool store and having them test it — so you can hopefully start the season off right..

Yes, they will more than likely tell you that you need this, that, and the other thing to get your water balanced, but at least you will know that you have done what you needed to do to get the water balanced, clear, and safe. Follow their instructions and then use products like the Pool Check brand of test strips to make sure important water quality parameters have not started to drift from acceptable levels.

In our opinion, a properly monitored pool should rarely, if ever, have any serious algae or clarity problems stemming from water quality unless outside factors (i.e. chemical feeder malfunction, excessive bather load, kids forgot to add chlorine for a week, etc.) come into play.

Moral of the Story?

Start your swimming season the right way by having your water tested by a trained pool water professional. They will (or should…) test for more advanced things like metals (i.e. iron, copper, TDS, etc.) and get you headed in the right direction with crystal clear water that’s safe for swimming.

After that, use the water testing product that makes the most sense for your budget and water conditions to keep an eye on the quality of your water. By doing so you should have the ability catch potential water quality issues before they become… expensive water quality problems.

By Request… COOLPOOL15 Discount Code Extended Until 2/10/2013!

Simply use discount code COOLPOOL15 to save 15% off regular prices on all pool and spa testing products for this weekend only… or just click this link and the code will automatically get loaded into your browser & shopping cart for you.

Importance of pool & spa testing

Water serves as a perfect breeding ground for all sorts of nasty, unwanted bacteria, parasites, insects, germs, diseases, etc. if not properly treated with sanitizing products like chlorine, bromine, ozone, ionizer systems, and other methods.

You will not KNOW that you have the correct amount of sanitizer(s) in your water unless you… test your pool/spa water on a regular basis.

So test chlorine/bromine and that’s it, right?

WRONG!

Other critical pool water parameters such as pH (is the water acidic or basic), total alkalinity (is the water properly buffered against radical pH changes), calcium hardness (does the water have enough calcium to keep it from becoming aggressive), chlorine stabilizer (self-explanatory), and dissolved metals (also self-explanatory) all play a vital role in helping to make sure pool water remains safe to swim in, pretty to look at, and not problematic for pool surfaces (i.e. liners, fittings, etc.).

Best test strip for testing a chlorine pool

Obviously WE believe strongly in testing for as many parameters as possible on a regular basis, but then again we actually enjoy testing water all the time. Ha ha. For the rest of the world, hitting what we call ‘The Big 5’ routinely ought to suffice:

• Free Chlorine — You main sanitizing agent.
• Total Chlorine — Helps you determine ‘good chlorine vs. bad chlorine’ count.
• pH — Is the water acidic or basic?
• Total Alkalinity — Is the water properly protected against sudden changes in the pH level?
• Calcium Hardness — Does the water have enough minerals to keep it from eating away at pool surfaces?

Most times if all these levels remain in balance a pool’s water will remain crystal clear and perfectly safe to swim in.

Tell us about saving money on pool chemicals

Pool owners who do NOT test their water for (at least) the basics on a regular basis tend to have a great number of algae outbreaks and problems with cloudy water than pool owners who do test their water regularly.

That means pool owners who do not test on a regular basis tend to need more algaecide, pool shock treatments, and clarifiers — all of which cost money.

Another way in which regular pool testing saves money involves not not adding more chemicals than your pool actually needs.

Testing the sanitizer level before adding more keeps you from adding too much and possibly either making the water unpleasant to swim in and/or making it harmful to various pool surfaces and components.

Moral of today’s story?

You will need to test your pool or spa water anyway so why pay full price in a few months when you can pick up what you need right now for 15% less money?

Plus picking up test strips will be one less thing your spouse will nag at you to do in a few months 😉

The links below will automatically load the COOLPOOL15 discount code for you!

Copper/Silver Ionizer

Back in the old days people used only one of two things to keep their pool water safe, clean and clear: Chlorine or Bromine. Nowadays people can choose from chlorine, bromine, ionizer, mineralizer, biguanide, peroxide, and salt systems — and each method requires special attention to specific water quality parameters.

Not knowing what to test for with each pool water sanitizing system could have disastrous results… which brings us to an email inquiry from ‘ShonShondra911′ who recently had a pool installed in her yard and had no idea what type of test kit to use:

"Our pool salesman suggested we install our pool with one of the ionizer systems that puts small amounts of copper in the water to help keep the pool from turning green and slimy (his words) and he said we would have to test for the levels once we got all the water in and the system started but he never said what levles to test. Do we just use the yellow and red kit you sell? Test strips you sell? Or do we need lab testing each time? Can you help???"

Do not panic, Shon. Do not panic. We can help you decide what type of pool water test kit should work best for your pool’s copper ionizer sanitizing system.

While you COULD invest in a traditional wet chemistry test kits such as the Taylor Copper Test Kit which tests for copper (.2ppm – 3.0ppm) in pool water and the Taylor K-1004 Troubleshooter Test Kit which tests for alkalinity, pH and other water parameters… a simpler, less expensive option exists.

The Pool Check brand of pool test strips manufactures a dip-n-read test strip product called the Pool Check Copper 3-Way which tests for copper, pH and total alkalinity — the three main water quality parameters you will want to keep an eye on most of the time.

This product boasts detection ranges of:

1. Copper: 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 2 ppm
2. Total Alkalinity: 0, 40, 80, 120, 180, 240, 360 ppm
3. pH: 6, 6.4, 6.8, 7.2, 7.6, 8.2, 9

… and has a total test time of around one minute.

Additionally, this product requires no special chemicals, no multi-step instructions, no proprietary testing vessels (containers), and has a cost of around $11 for 50 tests!

So, unless you feel re-visiting your old high school chemistry days, we suggest you take a look at the Pool Check Copper 3-Way for your day-to-day pool water testing needs.

= = = =

Recently we saw that a company had a link on its web site entitled Online Pool Water Testing… and quite honestly it seemed a bit weird to think that a company could POSSIBLY test your water over the Internet so naturally we went and checked out the link.

We EXPECTED to find a convoluted bunch of advertising hype leading up to asking us to send a sample of our water to a lab someplace bu we did not find anything of that nature.

The company, In the Swim (www.intheswim.com) posted a very simple online form that asked for just a few simple pieces of information that one could obtain by looking at their pool water and using a test strip like the Pool Check 5-Way Pool Test Strips offered in our online store.

The form asked for the following pieces of information: Pool type (pool or spa), water conditions (cloudy or clear & color if cloudy), visible algae, visible stains, pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and free/available chlorine (or bromine).

Then, once we hit the ‘submit’ button it took us to a page where it placed all of our values in a nice, neat table that also contained the industry accepted values for the same pool water quality parameters. This made it very easy for us to see exactly how our pool water quality compared to the way it should be.

We then had a chance to ‘view suggestions’ regarding our personal water quality situation — which we did — and a new page appeared with information regarding possible causes of our pool water woes (we said we had cloudy water and low pH). At this point the program did, of course, give a push for us to add some chemicals to our cart, but never once did the program’s language seem threatening or intimidating… like we have overheard in many pool stores over the years.

• “If you don’t fix this problem right away your pool will rot.”
• “Yeah, you CAN swim in it as-is, but I wouldn’t.”
• “Hey, if the machine says you need these chemicals then you NEED these chemicals.”
• And one of our favorites of all time: “Don’t come crying to us when your skin gets all itchy and your hair turns green, OK?”

Yep. Got to love the untrained, uncouth water testing personnel in some pool stores. Wait, we take that back. No, you don’t have to love them. You SHOULD, however, make use of Pool Check Test 5-Way Strips and the convenient, not-too-pushy Online Pool Water Test program on IntheSwim.Com. No download required, either! It’s 100% online and easy!

Pool Check 5-Way Test Strip

Pool Check 6-Way Test Strip

Pool Check Salt Test Strips

= = = =

We had not seen the online water test on In the Swim before and want to thank Water Testing Blog for bringing it to our attention. After playing around w/ it ourselves just now we, too, found the process pretty easy, completely painless and totally worthwhile.

Many pool stores use test methods no more sophisticated than the testing tools than you may already have at home or that you can purchase online at places like In the Swim or from our own Pool Water Test Kit Store.

If you’re taking a refreshing dip in a pool with four other people, odds are one of you is urinating. This is not gross-out myth, but cold, depressing fact from a recent survey conducted by the Water Quality & Health Council, a scientific research group sponsored by the American Chemistry Council.

The survey, conducted in April, asked nearly 1,000 adults whether they urinate in pools. One in five bravely admitted their mistakes. And those are the ones who admitted it.

…

It is easy isn’t it? Maybe that’s because many of us were taught as kids that chlorine counteracted any accidents. Technically, that’s mostly true. If pool operators maintain proper chlorine and pH levels, most waterborne germs are killed on contact.

But 54 percent of public pools tested by the WQHC last year failed to provide the proper chlorine levels and 47 got low marks for pH balance. You can blame poor pool maintenance, but frequent urinators don’t help.

…

To find out of your pool is safe, look for some tell-tale signs of bacteria.

“Check if you see the bottom,” says Dr. Wiant. “If a pool is clear it’s likely very clean and balanced, but if it’s it cloudy or the sides are slimy, those are signs that bacteria is prevalent and the pool isn’t filtering out germs the way it should.”

Hyper-vigilant swimmers can also purchase pool test strips at any drug store and do their own scientific assessment. “They’re easy to use,” he adds, “just crack one open and dip it in the pool and you’ll be able to tell right away if the pool is clean.”

Another signal it’s time to get out of the pool: burning, stinging eyes. Although it’s not seriously harmful, when “urine combines with chlorine it becomes an irritant,” Wiant says. So if you find yourself squinting in pain after a dive, ask yourself why that person doing the backstroke in the next lane looks so relaxed. It’s not that nice of a day. ( source )

Do us all a favor, folks and PLEASE stop peeing in the pool! The Center for Disease Control has monitored pool water quality for many years now and the number of illnesses contracted from contaminated swimming pool water has increased steadily.

Some blame the increase on poorly maintained pool water but in the end it comes down to one thing in our minds: Garbage In, Garbage Out.

Shower before swimming: If everyone removed the oils and other bodily secretions from their bodies before entering the pool the chlorine and filter would have less to clean up.

Shower after swimming: Clean the pool off of you after a swim. We suggest this for two reasons: 1) Chlorine dries out your skin; 2) Perhaps a fellow swimmer, one of the 20% that admits to peeing in the pool, unknowingly had a contagious health condition that he or she passed into the water at some point. Do you REALLY want to walk around with THAT on your skin the rest of the day?

Preventative measures

Aside from showering before a swim and using the proper urine receptacles (Toilets, people! Use the toilets!) when nature calls, keeping an eye on pool water quality will go a long way towards making sure everyone has a safe, clean and enjoyable time in the pool.

Detecting a strong chlorine smell in swimming pool water does NOT always mean the water is safe. If, for example, the pH goes out of range the chlorine will not work nearly as effectively at neutralizing unwanted bacteria and other organic contaminants.

Therefore we, like the article, suggest testing pool water before diving in. Easy-to-use pool water test strips like the Pool Check 3-Way test kit give accurate, reliable water test results for free chlorine, pH and total alkalinity in under a minute.

Pool Check 4+ Test Strips

Pool Check 5 Way Test Strips

Pool Check 6 Way Test Strips

]]> http://watertestingblog.com/2012/06/01/lots-of-americans-pee-in-the-pool-a-cold-warm-fact/feed/ 0 http://watertestingblog.com/2012/05/26/pool-check-test-strips-store-now-open/ http://watertestingblog.com/2012/05/26/pool-check-test-strips-store-now-open/#respond Sat, 26 May 2012 16:05:13 +0000 http://pool-water-testing.com/pool-testing-blog/?p=812 It took a bit longer than expected for us to get everything up and running but it finally happened… The Pool Water Test Kit Store officially opened its doors this week!

Your Best Source for Pool Check Test Strips

What makes our pool water test kit store unique? Well, for starters we offer flat rate shipping (just $4.95!) for all orders regardless of size so you can stock up on Pool Check test strips for the whole swimming season for and not have to worry about outrageous shipping costs.

Additionally, the Pool Water Test Kit Store carries ONLY pool water testing supplies so you won’t get lost in a sea of pool toys and other stuff that you don’t really need. We make it EASY to get the pool test strips you need without all the unnecessary distractions.

Moral of the story?

If you need pool water test strips the Pool Water Test Kit Store carries the Pool Check brand — which is made in the United States, by the way. Pool Check has pool water test strips ranging from basic 3 Way Pool Test Strips (free chlorine, pH & alkalinity) all the way up to the more advanced 6 Way Pool Test Strips (free chlorine, total chlorine, pH, alkalinity, total hardness & cyanuric acid).

Oh, and don’t forget that we offer flat rate shipping of just $4.95 so you won’t get stuck paying a huge amount for shipping!

Your Best Source for Pool Check Test Strips

What makes this site unique? Well, for starters it offers flat rate shipping (just $5.55!) for all orders regardless of size so you can stock up on pool water testing supplies for the whole swimming season and not have to worry about outrageous shipping costs. Oh, and this site ships by USPS Priority Mail so you KNOW your order will arrive fast!

Additionally, the Pool Water Test Kit Store carries ONLY pool water testing supplies so you won’t get lost in a sea of pool toys and other stuff. They make it easy top get what you need without unnecessary distractions.

Moral of the story?

If you need pool water test strips the Pool Water Test Kit Store carries the Pool Check brand — which is made in the United States, by the way. Pool Check has pool water test strips ranging from basic 3 Way Pool Test Strips (free chlorine, pH & alkalinity) all the way up to the more advanced 6 Way Pool Test Strips (free chlorine, total chlorine, pH, alkalinity, total hardness & cyanuric acid).

One final (important) reminder: Flat rate USPS Priority Mail shipping of any order for just $5.55 so you won’t get stuck paying a huge amount for shipping! 🙂

As a general rule bromine offers more disinfecting power than chlorine because even its combined/used form (bromamine) still has the power to help keep water safe and clean. Additionally, by shocking once a week w/ an extra dose of bromine pool and spa owners effectively ‘free’ bromine molecules up to return to their assigned task of oxidizing biological contaminants.

Do bromine pools require stabilizer?

Despite bromine’s superior stability in water compared to chlorine, pool experts suggest maintaining a cyanuric acid level between 30 and 60 part per million. Note: As with chlorine, excessively high stabilizer levels can restrict bromine’s ability to do its job effectively.

What form does bromine come in?

Bromine usually comes packaged in tablet or granular form. Most people use tablets in a floater or feeder of some sort for everyday purposes and granular bromine for weekly shock treatments. One may also use granular bromine as a means of establishing a bromine level in fresh water so that it will begin to draw off of bromine tablets in a feeder or floater.

Who sells bromine?

Pretty much EVERY pool and spa store carries bromine in one form or the other, thought usually most will not carry bromine powder in large containers.

As far as online retailers go, we know that In the Swim carries different sizes of bromine tablet pails ranging from 3.5 pounds all the way up to 500 pounds.

In the Swim’s “Americas Strongest Bromine”…

• 3.5 lbs. of bromine tablets
• 10 lbs. of bromine tablets
• 25 lbs. of bromine tablets
• 50 lbs. of bromine tablets
• 100 lbs. of bromine tablets
• 200 lbs. of bromine tablets
• 500 lbs. of bromine tablets

A question you may have at this point: “How do I test for bromine?”

As usual the easiest method involves the use of test strips manufactured by companies like Aquachek or Pool Check. Test strips offer fast, reliable test results without the need for complicated testing procedures or messy powders and liquids.

Pool Check Chlorine/Bromine Test Strips

Aquachek Chlorine/Bromine Test Strips

]]> http://watertestingblog.com/2011/06/15/quick-information-about-bromine/feed/ 0 http://watertestingblog.com/2008/06/25/public-pool-water-testing/ http://watertestingblog.com/2008/06/25/public-pool-water-testing/#respond Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:24:05 +0000 http://watertestingblog.com/2008/06/25/public-pool-water-testing/ The temperatures have gotten a lot warmer in the past few weeks and swimming pool operators now must meet the public’s demand for a place to ‘cool off’. Swimming pool season has arrived!

Problem: Some pools just don’t pass muster.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s the right season to take a dip in the neighborhood pool, but WCNC found almost half the pools in Mecklenburg County fail their first inspection.

The problems were serious enough at 15 percent of Mecklenburg County pools that inspectors shut them down immediately. (source: 6/25/2008 article by Stuart Watson WCNC)

An ‘open’ pool does not necessarily mean a safe pool. Visitors of public swimming facilities, especially those which have privatized maintenance, as in the case of an apartment complex, may want to test the pool water for basic parameters before going for a swim.

Taking a few minutes to use one of the Pool Check^TM brand or Aquachek brand of test strips will tell you right away if the pool contains the right amount of necessary chemicals. Properly maintained pool water will have a perfect balance of pH, Total Alkalinity, Hardness, and Sanitizer(s). Too much or too little of each parameter may result in potentially unsafe swimming conditions.

Pool service companies and/or maintenance technicians reading this entry may want to take a look at the FAS DPD Service Kit and/or the Taylor Pool Service Test Kit since those kits use more traditional (liquid test kit) testing methods.

Most local health inspectors do not allow pool operators to rely solely upon test strips and require that public swimming facility operators use either liquid test kits like the ones just mentioned or more sophisticated meters.

In need of replacement test reagents for Taylor Swimming Pool Test Kits? You can find a full selection of replacement Taylor Test Kit Reagents on the PoolCenter.Com web site.