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Water Testing Basics
No Chemistry Degree
Required. Testing is Easy.
Maintaining the water in your pool or spa doesn’t require a
degree in chemistry. Test strips can, and do, give accurate
test results more quickly and easily than any other method. As
with any test kit, there are several factors that can be
controlled to ensure the validity of the test results.
Following are some guidelines for using test strips to obtain
accurate water analysis results.
- Follow the directions that came with the kit.
Sounds simple, doesn't it? However, there have been many
cases where a user inadvertently used the directions that
came with another manufacturer's strips or used directions
from an older kit. Most inaccurate test results occur when
individuals do not follow directions or follow the wrong
directions! Test strips are continually improving and
becoming more accurate, and you should never assume that the
directions on one container are going to apply to another
container's strips. In addition, not all manufacturers' test
strips are the same, so it is essential to read and follow
the directions on each container.
- Store test strips in a low humidity environment at
room temperature. Test strips will be most effective
over a long period of time if they are stored properly.
Suitable storage will give you confidence in your results
until the product has reached the date of expiration.
- Keep the cap on tight between uses. Doing this
will prevent moisture from entering the bottle of unused
strips. It is important that moisture not be introduced to
the test strips until you use them in your pool or spa.
- Keep wet fingers out of the bottle. The test
strips won't know the difference between the water on your
fingers and the pool or spa water! So, make sure that the
only water your test strips are reacting with is the pool or
spa water you intend to measure.
- Do not use expired test strips. Most containers
of test strips will display an expiration date somewhere on
the container. Always be aware of this date when using or
purchasing test strips. Regardless of how the container has
been stored or handled, test strips have a definite shelf
life and should not be used after the product has expired.
Using test strips after this date will likely lead to
inaccurate results. Therefore, replace any bottles that have
expired.
Test strips are among the easiest and fastest methods for
testing water. By following the above guidelines, you can also
ensure that test strips provide an accurate method for
measuring the properties of pool or spa water, leading to a
clean and healthy pool or spa.
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