Having a swimming pool in your backyard is one of the most amazing things about summer. It’s hot here in Oklahoma, and there is no better way to stay cool all summer long.Another bonus is the many backyard memories you make with your family as well as the parties with friends.
In order to make sure your water is crystal clear, sparkling, algae-free, and healthy to swim in, you have to test it regularly! So, you might be wondering how often you should test your pool water. You might also wonder whether it’s okay to use a home test kit, or if you should bring a water sample to us to run through our ALEX system.
First, they both have their place, but there is a difference. Second, you need to test your water regularly so you can have a great swim every time you jump in your pool.
How Often Are You Testing?
You should be testing your swimming pool water at least two to three times per week. Test more with heavy usage and after a heavy rainstorm. And test more when the weather is super hot.
The amount you use your pool and environmental favors means you need to stay on top of testing. Every pool needs to be regularly measured and adjusted, and this is especially true with your pH and sanitizer levels.
We also recommend you bring us a water sample to run through our ALEX system. We do this for you for free because we know how important an in-depth water test is. You want to bring us a sample every month during the pool season, at pool opening, and at pool closing.
This way, you’ll have a great-looking (and feeling) pool all summer.
What Are You Testing For?
Here is a list of the most important things to look for:
- Chlorine levels: This is key to a sanitized swimming pool. You want to check this several times a week. Look for your free chlorine levels.
- pH: Check this at the same time you check your chlorine, as it can affect your levels.
- Total Alkalinity: Test for this about once a week. It influences the stability of your pH levels, so you need to keep an eye on this.
- Salt Levels: Usually, we recommend testing monthly, but this depends on what chlorination system you are using.
- Calcium Hardness: This is another one-time-per-month test.
- Total Dissolved Solids: This is everything else you’ve dissolved in the water. You don’t want this to be too high.
- Metals: You want to check for these so you don’t end up with a stained pool.
Alex or a Home Test?
A home test is fine several times a week as long as you are regularly (once a month at least) bringing us a water sample. BioGuard’s computerized water analysis system, ALEX, provides accurate, in-depth results in an instant.
All you need to do is bring us a water sample from your pool. We’ll run it through ALEX and provide personalized step-by-step instructions for maintaining (or opening or closing) your swimming pool.
How is ALEX Different?
The test is faster and more accurate than a simple dip of a test strip at poolside. That’s because we test for several parameters beyond the basics to understand how they may influence one another. This helps you avoid painstaking trial and error.
Being right the first time saves you time and money.
Why Test Your Water?
Finally, water testing is vital for a healthy swimmer environment and a sparkling clear pool.
Water chemistry can be complex, and we are here to help you keep your pool balanced. You will avoid swimmer discomfort, equipment problems, and algae issues with regular water testing.
Please get in touch with us today if you have any questions!
