The Types of Tests That Should Be Done on Your Pool Water

On sweltering summer days, there’s nothing better than stepping out back and taking a dive into your cool, refreshing pool. However, if the water is looking a bit on the murky side, you might want to think twice about taking a dip. The last thing you or a member of your family wants to experience is a skin rash caused by swimming in water with poor chemistry. That’s why regular water testing for your Pittsburgh pool is essential to ensure the health of your swimmers.

Now that we’ve established the importance of water testing, let’s discuss some of the types of tests that should be done for your pool. When working with a test kit, there are four major tests you’ll perform. We have listed the test types and the recommended levels for each:

• pH: 7.2 – 7.8
• Chlorine: 1.0 – 2.0 ppm
• Total Alkalinity: 80 – 120 ppm
• Calcium Hardness: 200 – 400 ppm

For outdoor pools that use chlorine, it is also recommended that you test the cyanuric acid levels, which should fall somewhere between 20 and 50 ppm. If you need to determine how much acid or base is required to change the pH to the desired level, you’ll want to do an acid or base demand test. Or, you can have Valley Pool & Spa perform this test for you – we’re the only trained and certified chlorine demand treatment staff in Pittsburgh.