Testing Pool Water Free Chlorine

The easiest way to check your chlorine levels is with test strips.

Testing pool water free chlorine.

Testing the pool water is particularly important if your pool is left uncovered which exposes it to sunlight rain leaves and wind. Dpd tests usually measure chlorine ph alkalinity stabilizer and hardness. The first option for testing uses a liquid chemical oto orthotolidine that causes a color change to. Pool test kits can be more time consuming to use but they are typically more accurate than test strips.

If your pool has a salt system the salt level should also be checked. If you test with a test kit and the color is clear then redo the test but use one half the amount of water. Intheswimrecommends 2 0 to 3. The pool and hot tub alliance recommends keeping free chlorine levels between 2 0 and 4 0 parts per million ppm.

However if your free chlorine reading is different than your total chlorine reading then there s a problem. Then multiply the chlorine estimations you get by 2. Test strips are the easiest way to test free chlorine but test kits are more accurate. This is a normal reading.

This is very important to help keep swimmers safe and keep the water in the pool clear. Color wheel test kits use a powder or tablet chemical dpd n n diethyl p phenylene. Total chlorine is the amount of chlorine used or not in your water. Occasionally seek a second opinion to make sure your testing is accurate.

You know that free chlorine combined chlorine total 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. 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. Chlorine test strips are.

You shouldn t have a free chlorine reading of 3 and a total chlorine reading of 7. Typical water tests include measurements for free and total available chlorine ph total alkalinity calcium hardness and cyanuric acid. 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. In the test if your free chlorine reading matches your total chlorine reading your pool is not experiencing a high demand for chlorine.

You subtract the amount of free chlorine from the total chlorine to get your combined chlorine level. 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. Elevated chlorine should drop quickly with use and sunlight. Add sanitizer to raise chlorine.

Dpd tests and oto phenol tests. There are two popular types of test kits that can be used for your pool. Here is the part where total chlorine comes into play. Methods to test free chlorine in the field in developing countries pool test kits.

Oto phenol kits test for chlorine and ph. However ideal free chlorine levels are dependent on cyanuric acid levels. 0 ppm for a stabilized pool.