Testing Pool Water Free Chlorine

The pool and hot tub alliance recommends keeping free chlorine levels between 2 0 and 4 0 parts per million ppm.

Testing pool water free chlorine.

0 ppm for a stabilized pool. You subtract the amount of free chlorine from the total chlorine to get your combined chlorine level. Local pool service providers often will test your pool water for free. In general the free chlorine level should remain between 1 5 and 2 5 parts per million.

However ideal free chlorine levels are dependent on cyanuric acid levels. Typical water tests include measurements for free and total available chlorine ph total alkalinity calcium hardness and cyanuric acid. However if your free chlorine reading is different than your total chlorine reading then there s a problem. 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.

Testing the pool water is particularly important if your pool is left uncovered which exposes it to sunlight rain leaves and wind. 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. Dpd tests usually measure chlorine ph alkalinity stabilizer and hardness. Then multiply the chlorine estimations you get by 2.

Dpd tests and oto phenol tests. Chlorine test strips are. If your pool has a salt system the salt level should also be checked. In the test if your free chlorine reading matches your total chlorine reading your pool is not experiencing a high demand for chlorine.

If you test with a test kit and the color is clear then redo the test but use one half the amount of water. The easiest way to check your chlorine levels is with test strips. Methods to test free chlorine in the field in developing countries pool test kits. You shouldn t have a free chlorine reading of 3 and a total chlorine reading of 7.

You know that free chlorine combined chlorine total chlorine. 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. Oto phenol kits test for chlorine and ph. There are two popular types of test kits that can be used for your pool.

Test strips are the easiest way to test free chlorine but test kits are more accurate. Here is the part where total chlorine comes into play. Color wheel test kits use a powder or tablet chemical dpd n n diethyl p phenylene. 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.

Add sanitizer to raise chlorine. Elevated chlorine should drop quickly with use and sunlight. Pool test kits can be more time consuming to use but they are typically more accurate than test strips. The first option for testing uses a liquid chemical oto orthotolidine that causes a color change to.

This is very important to help keep swimmers safe and keep the water in the pool clear. Occasionally seek a second opinion to make sure your testing is accurate. 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.