Of all the methods out there, Pool Test Strips offer the quickest and easiest testing solutions. Some people doubt the accuracy of test strips, sure, but test strips have come a LONG way in recent years.

Pool Check 3-in-1	Pool Check 4-in-1
Pool Check 5-in-1	Pool Check 6-in-1
Pool Check 3-in-1 Bromine	Pool Check 3-in-1 Copper
Pool Check 3-in-1 Low Chlorine	Pool Check 3-in-1 Salt
Pool Check MPS Test Strips	Pool Check Phosphate Test Strips

Pool Check TDS Strips

Looking for a pool test kit w/ a bit more… chemistry to it? No problem. ‘Old School’ wet chemistry test kits that use liquids still exist. The most basic ones use OTO (for total chlorine testing) and a chemical called phenol red for pH testing.

More advanced liquid pool testing kits will use both those chemicals, maybe, and others to test for chlorine (free & total), bromine, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, etc. The more pool water parameters you test for, the easier a time you will have keeping your pool water clean, clear and safe!

Taylor 2-Way Liquid Test Kit

Poolmaster 5-Way Liquid Test Kit

If you catch a pool water problem early on you have an opportunity to correct it BEFORE it gets out of hand, your water turns green (or black!), and you wind up spending money on extra chlorine, extra algaecides, and possibly other things.

To check those basic parameters a pool owner can use pool test strips, wet chemistry pool test kits and/or pool testing meters. Each method has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages:

While the four parameters mentioned above (sanitizer levels, pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness) should get checked on a regular basis, pool owners should also keep a watchful eye on other pool water parameters such as cyanuric acid levels, mineral content (i.e. iron, copper, etc.), TDS (total dissolved solids), and acid/base demand.