Water Testing Chlorine

Always use a DPD test kit.  This kit will test the free and available chlorine in your pool and pH.  Instructions for using the kit are printed on the white plastic card included in the kit.

We recommend testing the water at least every other day.  Always test your water at the same time of day and preferably by the same person each time.  A water sample should be taken from elbow depth in a neutral spot in the pool.  (Not next to a return outlet.)  Poolside readings can be inaccurate.  Indoor lighting will give consistent readings.

You will be testing for Chlorine (sanitizer) and pH (the acidity or alkalinity of your pool water.)

If your chlorine reading is not 1.0 ppm, check the chlorinator or skimmer basket for chlorine sticks.  Add sticks as necessary.  Remember that high swim volume and warm sunny weather will increase your chlorine usage.

A proper pH reading should be between 7.4 and 7.6 ppm.  A 7.6 reading is ideal for vinyl liner pools. If a low pH reading is not corrected, the result will be costly damage to your heater and your liner.

If your pH reading is not between 7.4 and 7.6 ppm, adjust by adding Balance Pak 200 (increaser) or Lo ‘N Slo (decreaser) according to instructions.  Remember that any addition of water (whether from refill due to evaporation/splash-out or excessive rain) can change the pH. Rainwater usually has a pH of 6.0 or lower.

Have your water tested at least once a week during the pool season by your nearest Pools of Fun Customer Care Center.  We will test the complete water chemistry of your pool for FREE.  This weekly visit enables Pools of Fun to keep an up-to-date recorded analysis of your water chemistry.