The Importance Of Pool Chlorine Testing

Having your own pool is a wonderful luxury. During those long summer days, you have the chance to dip in and enjoy the cooling water whenever you want – without having to worry about heading out or finding space in a public pool. However, a green or unclean pool can be unappealing and potentially dangerous. Here, we will look at the importance of looking after your pool water. 

Why is it important?

Chemicals and chlorine testing are important because they keep your pool clean and sanitised. Over the course of a week, an outdoor pool will be contaminated by bacteria, birds, other animals and the people who swim in the pool. This will leave behind a breeding ground for infections and dirt – if left untreated, you’d soon have a dark, swampy pool of water. But by using chlorine testing you can ensure that your pool is always safe and clean while looking inviting for anyone to take a dip. 

What is the pH test and why do we do it?

The pH of a pool is hugely important, and it should be measured once a week. The pH is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the swimming pool water: 7 is a neutral score, while anything below is acidic and anything above is alkaline. To keep your pool safe for humans it should always be between 7.0 to 7.8 on the pH test. If it falls out of this range, then metals and plastics inside the pool will be damaged over time. You will also notice brown and black stains. What’s more, the chlorine will be released from the pool and into the atmosphere at a quicker rate, meaning you have to add more to the pool. As a result, swimmers will find themselves with itchy eyes and dry skin after finishing up in the pool. Naturally then, the pH test is hugely important. 

Total chlorine

Once you have the pH test sorted, you’ll be able to add chlorine to your pool to kill germs and bacteria. For this, you’ll first need to test the chlorine level in the water. This is measured by placing a dipping strip in the pool before then matching the resulting colour with the corresponding colour on the “parts per million” area of the chart. Once you’ve done this, you can purchase chlorine tablets and add them to the pool until your chlorine reading hits a satisfactory level.

To keep your pool safe and clean, you need to be aware of chlorine and pH testing. By following the advice above, though, you should be all set to safely enjoy your pool with friends and family.