Testing Pool Water Free Chlorine

Test strips are the easiest way to test free chlorine but test kits are more accurate.

Testing pool water free chlorine.

This will bring your pool water chlorine back up to a level where it s very effective at killing organisms and disinfecting the pool water. The pool and hot tub alliance recommends keeping free chlorine levels between 2 0 and 4 0 parts per million ppm. Add sanitizer to raise chlorine. Combined chlorine levels should not be above 0 5 parts per million and swimmers are likely to be more comfortable if the level is below 0 2 parts per million.

If you test with a test kit and the color is clear then redo the test but use one half the amount of water. There are three methods that you can use to test for free combined and total chlorine in your pool which include chlorine test strips chlorine test kits and an electronic digital chlorine tester. Pool test kits can be more time consuming to use but they are typically more accurate than test strips. 0 ppm for a stabilized pool.

Color wheel test kits use a powder or tablet chemical dpd n n diethyl p phenylene. In general the free chlorine level should remain between 1 5 and 2 5 parts per million. Methods to test free chlorine in the field in developing countries pool test kits. Intheswimrecommends 2 0 to 3.

Dpd tests and oto phenol tests. The first option for testing uses a liquid chemical oto orthotolidine that causes a color change to. For test kits take your water sample from 12 to 18 inches below the surface after the circulation system has been on for an hour. There are two popular types of test kits that can be used for your pool.

While it s recommended that you test your pool water every day your pool should be fine if you only test the water every other day. You know that free chlorine combined chlorine total chlorine. Dpd tests usually measure chlorine ph alkalinity stabilizer and hardness. If your pool has a salt system the salt level should also be checked.

You subtract the amount of free chlorine from the total chlorine to get your combined chlorine level. However ideal free chlorine levels are dependent on cyanuric acid levels. Testing the pool water is particularly important if your pool is left uncovered which exposes it to sunlight rain leaves and wind. Then multiply the chlorine estimations you get by 2.

Oto phenol kits test for chlorine and ph. You shouldn t have a free chlorine reading of 3 and a total chlorine reading of 7. Elevated chlorine should drop quickly with use and sunlight. Occasionally seek a second opinion to make sure your testing is accurate.

Here is the part where total chlorine comes into play. However if your free chlorine reading is different than your total chlorine reading then there s a problem. Chlorine test strips are. Total chlorine is the amount of chlorine used or not in your water.

Typical water tests include measurements for free and total available chlorine ph total alkalinity calcium hardness and cyanuric acid. In the test if your free chlorine reading matches your total chlorine reading your pool is not experiencing a high demand for chlorine. The easiest way to check your chlorine levels is with test strips.