How to Interpret Your Pool Test Results
The following is general advice only. Requirements for individual pools and pool systems may vary.
Balanced water chemistry plays an important role in keeping your pool crystal clear, clean, and swimmable. However, with so many chemicals on the market, it may seem overwhelming or confusing to decide which and how much your pool needs to balance the water effectively.
Common indicators we will test for include:
Total hardness (or calcium hardness). This measures the amount of calcium hardness in your water. Poorly managed calcium hardness levels can damage your pool equipment and surfaces over time. If your total hardness is low, you will need to add XXXX. If your total hardness is high, you will need to add XXXX.
Total chlorine. This measures the amount of free chlorine and combined chlorine in your water. Your total chlorine should be as close to your free chlorine level as possible.
Free chlorine. This measures the amount of chlorine that is available to actively sanitise your pool water.
Combined chlorine. This measures the chlorine that is being used up in your water. Free chlorine and combined chlorine levels equal your total chlorine level.
pH. This measures how acidic your pool water is. When your pH is unbalanced, it can damage your pool equipment, irritate swimmers' skin and eyes, and prevent your chlorine from working effectively. If your pH is low, you will need to add pH decreaser. If your pH is high, you will need to add hydrochloric acid.
Total alkalinity. This helps prevent your pH from fluctuating. If your total alkalinity is low, you will need to add alkalinity increaser or pH buffer. If your total alkalinity is high, you will need to add hydrochloric acid.
Cyanuric acid (or stabiliser). This helps stabilise your chlorine and protect it from the sun's UV rays. Cyanuric acid is necessary in outdoor pools to prevent your chlorine levels from dropping. If your cyanuric acid levels are low, add stabiliser. If your cyanuric acid levels are high, you will need to XXXX.
We recommend testing your pool's water weekly. You can do this by using test strips or at-home liquid test kits, or visit WaterPro Pool and Spa in-store for a free water test conducted by our automated 'SpinTouch' machine to produce the most accurate chemical readings.
When you become a customer of WaterPro Pool and Spa, we add you to our 'PoolTrackr' system and obtain some details from you about your pool, including whether it is in or above ground, the type of sanitiser it uses, the pool's approximate volume, and the pool's surface type. Your water test results are compared against the industry standard having regard to your pool's specific requirements.
Our automated reports are stored on PoolTrackr and easily retrievable in the future, allowing you to monitor your pool’s chemical composition over time. Our reports provide you with accurate chemistry readings, as well as the chemical readings from your previous test for comparison. Our reports also provide recommendations regarding which products your pool needs, the required amounts, and instructions to restore your pool's chemical balance.