Testing Pool Water Free Chlorine

If your pool has a salt system the salt level should also be checked.

Testing pool water free chlorine.

The easiest way to check your chlorine levels is with test strips. Local pool service providers often will test your pool water for free. Total chlorine is the amount of chlorine used or not in your water. Testing the pool water is particularly important if your pool is left uncovered which exposes it to sunlight rain leaves and wind.

This is very important to help keep swimmers safe and keep the water in the pool clear. You shouldn t have a free chlorine reading of 3 and a total chlorine reading of 7. You subtract the amount of free chlorine from the total chlorine to get your combined chlorine level. 0 ppm for a stabilized pool.

Oto phenol kits test for chlorine and ph. 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. Typical water tests include measurements for free and total available chlorine ph total alkalinity calcium hardness and cyanuric acid. However if your free chlorine reading is different than your total chlorine reading then there s a problem.

Intheswimrecommends 2 0 to 3. However ideal free chlorine levels are dependent on cyanuric acid levels. Color wheel test kits use a powder or tablet chemical dpd n n diethyl p phenylene. This is a normal reading.

Pool test kits can be more time consuming to use but they are typically more accurate than test strips. There are two popular types of test kits that can be used for your pool. Then multiply the chlorine estimations you get by 2. 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.

You know that free chlorine combined chlorine total chlorine. Elevated chlorine should drop quickly with use and sunlight. Occasionally seek a second opinion to make sure your testing is accurate. 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.

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. Here is the part where total chlorine comes into play. Test strips are the easiest way to test free chlorine but test kits are more accurate.

If you test with a test kit and the color is clear then redo the test but use one half the amount of water. Chlorine test strips are. Methods to test free chlorine in the field in developing countries pool test kits. The first option for testing uses a liquid chemical oto orthotolidine that causes a color change to.

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. Dpd tests usually measure chlorine ph alkalinity stabilizer and hardness. In the test if your free chlorine reading matches your total chlorine reading your pool is not experiencing a high demand for chlorine.