Pool test kits are another pool accessory that falls into the unthought-of category in the beginning. But soon after your pool is installed and filled, you’ll see the importance of owning a reliable, good quality pool test kit.

Maintaining a clean, clear, healthy swimming pool depends on properly balancing the chemicals and sanitizers in the water. It is not enough to simply dump chlorine into a pool.. You need to know how much chlorine, or chlorine alternative chemicals, to use.. Additionally, you may need other chemicals to help keep the amount of chlorine in the pool water at the right levels. Buffering agents and other pool chemical supplies may be required.

The only way to know the amounts of chlorine, acid, and other chemicals is to test for factors that indicate water balance.

Basic balanced water factors are:

PH
Total alkalinity
Chlorine
Calcium
Stabilizer

There are good names in pool test kit lines. Purchase kits such as Taylor pool water test kit or hth kit pool test online. Pool water test kits are also sold at every pool supply dealer, and in many home centers.

Not all swimming pool test kits are equal. Some test kits only hold tests for a limited number of possible pool chemicals and factors. A more comprehensive pool test kit on salt water or alternative chemical and filtration systems may be required.

The purchase of a 7 way pool test kit, such as one offered by Taylor pool test kits will include all the available pool water test supplies you will need. The 7 way pool test kit (made also by manufacturers other than Taylor pool test kit) tests for the following factors:

Total hardness
Total chlorine
Total bromine
Free chlorine
pH
Total alkalinity
Cyanic acid (stabilizer)

You may not think you need everything in a 7 way pool test kit, and it is possible you will not, but having tests available on hand when water characteristics change is convenient, and can save you an emergency trip to the pool supply to solve a boggling water/chemical problem.

Another advance in pool test kit choices is digital pool test kits. A digital pool water test kit works quickly, and is more accurate than manual pool test kits. Digital pool test kits give an exact numerical reading. The pool owner does not need to decipher cryptic color codes on jar labels to guesstimate accurate pool factor readings.

Traditional or digital, pool test kits are the only way to know what is and is not in your pool water. A pool test kit is an essential tool for every pool owner.