How To Test and Fix Your Pool Water

In our last article Pool Water Chemistry 101, we have already run through the basic parameters and the reasons why it could be too high or low to help you avoid imbalances in the future. Here we are going to delve deeper into pool water testing and share with you how to test your pool water properly and bring your chemical back to its optimum level.

First things first. You'll need to test your pool water to find out where your chemical levels are sitting. Ideally you should do this once a week. You’ll want to test it more often if the pool is getting a lot of use (twice a week in peak months) or if it’s rained, and every time you add chemicals. Even if you know how to test pool water yourself, take a sample to a pool store once a month for a professional checkup, especially when opening and closing your pool for the season.

How to Take a Proper Pool Water Sample

The most important factors here are where you take the sample from, and how you do it. If possible, take the sample from the furthest side from any skimmer opening or any return jets.

1. Use a clean cup or bottle
2. Rinse the container several times with the water from the pool
3. Hold it upside down so the opening is facing the pool floor. (so that it’s full of air).
4. Insert the cup into the water elbow-deep, and then turn it right side up to collect the sample.
5. When completely filled, bring it up to the surface and cap the bottle with minimal air bubbles.

Here are your testing options:

• Test strips: This is the quickest and easiest option for on-site spot testing.
• Liquid test kit: Dropper bottle reagents are able to give a more accurate analysis of your pool water chemistry.
• Take a water sample to your local pool store: This is the most thorough and accurate way to test your pool water. Most pool shops provide free water testing in-store. Simply bring in your sample and they can analyse this within a few minutes.

Here are the most fundamental chemicals you’ll need:

• pH Increaser (Soda Ash) & pH Decreaser (Hydrochloric Acid or Sodium Bisulfate)
• Alkalinity Increaser (Sodium Bicarbonate or Buffer)
• Calcium Hardness Increaser (Calcium Chloride)
• Sanitizer (Chlorine, Bromine, non-chlorine sanitizers)
• Stabilizers (Cyanuric Acid) (only for chlorine pools (including salt/minerals))

How to fix your pool water?

• pH 7.2 – 7.6 (Ideal 7.4)
  
  • Too low: Add Soda Ash to the pool with applicable dosage rates to your pool volume.
  • Too high: Dose your pool with Dry Acid.

• Total Alkalinity (TA) 100 – 200ppm (Ideal 120ppm)
  
  • Too low: Add Buffer to the pool with applicable dosage rates to your pool volume.
  • Too high: Add Dry Acid to the deepest end of the pool with the pump off for 2 hours before turning it back on.

• Calcium Hardness (CH) 200 – 400ppm (Ideal 300) for concrete/tiled pools; 100-250ppm for vinyl and fibreglass pools
  • Too low: Dose your pool with Calcium Increaser.
  • Too high: You need to reduce it by adding Calcium & Metal Remover.

• Free Chlorine 2 – 3ppm
  
  • Too low: Add a chlorine sanitiser. If you are using a Chlorinator, use the boost option or increase the operational time.
  • Too high: Chlorine remover can be added, otherwise, over time, the sun will naturally dissipate excess chlorine within a few days. Do not add any more chlorine products, and switch off your Chlorinator until the chlorine is lower.

• Cyanuric Acid (CYA) 30 – 50ppm
  
  • Too low: Dose your pool with UV Shield (Cyanuric Acid). Add dosage in lots of 500g and retest. You can always add more, but it is difficult to lower if you add too much.
  • Too high: Too much cyanuric acid can stop chlorine from working effectively, causing chlorine lock. If this occurs, the water needs to be diluted by dumping out a third to half the pool water and refilling it. Refrain from completely emptying out a pool unless advised by a pool expert.

• Optional Extras - Algaecide
  It’s always good to have an Algaecide on hand for monthly dosage. If your pool is clear and balanced, a long-life algaecide (copper-based) will do its part in keeping any algae growth under control.

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