Testing Pool Water Free Chlorine

Add sanitizer to raise chlorine.

Testing pool water free chlorine.

The easiest way to check your chlorine levels is with test strips. Pool test kits can be more time consuming to use but they are typically more accurate than test strips. You know that free chlorine combined chlorine total chlorine. This is very important to help keep swimmers safe and keep the water in the pool clear.

Then multiply the chlorine estimations you get by 2. Testing the pool water is particularly important if your pool is left uncovered which exposes it to sunlight rain leaves and wind. Elevated chlorine should drop quickly with use and sunlight. There are two popular types of test kits that can be used for your pool.

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. In the test if your free chlorine reading matches your total chlorine reading your pool is not experiencing a high demand for chlorine. Local pool service providers often will test your pool water for free. You shouldn t have a free chlorine reading of 3 and a total chlorine reading of 7.

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. In general the free chlorine level should remain between 1 5 and 2 5 parts per million. Here is the part where total chlorine comes into play. Intheswimrecommends 2 0 to 3.

Total chlorine is the amount of chlorine used or not in your water. This is a normal reading. Oto phenol kits test for chlorine and ph. However if your free chlorine reading is different than your total chlorine reading then there s a problem.

However ideal free chlorine levels are dependent on cyanuric acid levels. You subtract the amount of free chlorine from the total chlorine to get your combined chlorine level. 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. Test strips are the easiest way to test free chlorine but test kits are more 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. Dpd tests and oto phenol tests. The first option for testing uses a liquid chemical oto orthotolidine that causes a color change to. If your pool has a salt system the salt level should also be checked.

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. Dpd tests usually measure chlorine ph alkalinity stabilizer and hardness. Occasionally seek a second opinion to make sure your testing is accurate. 0 ppm for a stabilized pool.

The pool and hot tub alliance recommends keeping free chlorine levels between 2 0 and 4 0 parts per million ppm. Methods to test free chlorine in the field in developing countries pool test kits. Color wheel test kits use a powder or tablet chemical dpd n n diethyl p phenylene.