Testing Pool Water For Ph And Alkaline Levels

Routine testing of the water in your swimming pool is a key part in keeping it safe and clean. Testing kits can be found at any pool supply store or in the pool department of your local discount department store. These kits feature either testing strips that are dipped into the water or a cylindrical test tube in which you place the water and then add colored testing drops to the water sample. These test kits test the pH level and chlorine residual in the water and some also can test the calcium hardness level and alkalinity of the water. The results of these tests can help you determine what kind of chemical or sanitizer you need to add to the pool and how much of it you will need. Some pool supply stores will test the water for you if you bring in a sample.

The testing kit that requires you to take a sample of the water also requires you to place drops of chemicals that come with the kit into the water. These drops come in two colors, red and yellow generally, and the part that holds the water has two sides, holding two samples. Two red drops go in one side and two yellow drops go in the other side. Each side has a color coded guide that shows you the level of alkaline and pH of the water. The water you use for this test should come from at least one food under the surface of the water. Be sure when mixing the drops with the water you do not use your finger to cover the top of the sample holder as this can affect the pH level of the sample.

Be sure to hold the sample of water against a white background and not against a cloudy or bright sky as this can affect the actual color of the sample. After reviewing the sample be sure to clean out the test kit completely. The drops usually last about a year so it is important to replace them annually.

A good guide to follow for proper levels of your pool water are as follows:

• The Chlorine Residual should be between 1.0 and 1.3 parts per million (ppm)
• The pH level should be between 7.2 and 7.6
• The alkalinity should be between 80 and 120 ppm
• The calcium hardness should not exceed 1,000 ppm and not be below about 200 ppm
• The Cyanuric Acid should be somewhere between 40 and 50 ppm

For recently plastered pools, it is even more important to test the water as the hardening of the plaster can have an affect on the water. Keeping an eye on the pH balance is very important in this case because the water can become acidic and begin taking calcium from the plaster. This acidic water can cause skin and eye irritations and possibly corrode pool equipment. During the first month you should be testing the water twice a day. After that you can decrease to about two or three times a week.

If you want to be sure you are getting the most accurate results or are opening your pool back up after the winter, you might want to bring a sample of pool water to your pool supply store and have them test the water. They will be able to give you an accurate print out and help you determine any steps you need to take to get the water to a healthy and safe balance. If you find that your pool water is extremely out of balance or has begun to accumulate algae you will probably need to do a shock treatment to eliminate any organic matter or ammonia. It is important that you don’t let anyone in the pool after a shock treatment until the water’s chlorine tests out somewhere below 3 parts per million.

By: Bjorn Brieman

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