Water is one of those incredibly versatile resources that can be an asset to have access to; but a nuisance if it is not looked after properly. Here at Dolphin Pools, we specialise in swimming pool installation and maintenance, but a little known fact is that we also spend a lot of time cleaning and offering hygiene advice to our clients.
As a result, this entire blog post will be all about pool water testing – not because there’s nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon, but because unless you make sure to keep your water as clean and fresh as possible, it won’t take long for it to become stagnant and thrive as a breeding ground for pests and bacteria.
Is it really that bad?
It really is. Why else do we tell our clients how important it is to maintain their pools with chlorine and algaecide? Without these chemicals your pool could become a pit of dirt and grime. There is such thing as too much cleaning however, and if you over do it, of course bacteria won’t survive – BUT your families’ health might begin to suffer instead.
And that’s where water testing comes in handy.
What does it involve?
In the simplest terms, all water has a pH level. If this level is too low, it means that the acid within the water is too extreme and the chemicals could take their toll on your body. If it’s too high, the chlorine in your pool will no longer work effectively. Just as with Goldilocks and the three bears, there’s such a thing as being ‘just right’ and that’s what a testing kit will provide.
Most kits come with small bottles of liquid. You’ll simply need to take a small sample of your pool water and store it temporarily within the device that most kits come with. There should be two compartments and you’ll need to fill both to the relevant line to get an accurate reading of your water’s balance.
One or two drops of the transparent liquid into the pool water compartment will stay see-through if there’s not enough bleach, or slightly yellow if the level of chlorine is where it needs to be. Strong yellow means there’s too much. Likewise, the red droplets will dilute into the other compartment and if it’s transparent, the pH level is well off. Most kits come with a reader to show you where your pool’s water needs to be, but if all of this sounds too long-winded and technical, give us a call and we can run through the process with you right there with you on-site next to your pool. Furthermore, come and visit us in our shop, we can test your pool water complementary and offer you expert advice on what action you need to take.