Testing Your Swimming Pool For Bacteria

Testing your Swimming Pool

It is very important that you test the water in your swimming pool on a regular basis. This way you can be sure bacteria and algae aren't present in unacceptable amounts. With algae you will be able to see it forming which is a sign you need to take better care of your swimming pool. Bacteria is different though as you likely won't be able to see it forming. The only way to know if you are okay or not is to test the water.

There are a couple of different ways you can accomplish this. One of them is to take in samples of your swimming pool water to a dealer. They will use various types of testing to look it over. They will give you a computer print out with all the data about your swimming pool. If there are problems you will also get data about how to resolve those issues.

Sometimes this type of analysis is free due to the fact you purchased your swimming pool from them. Other times they charge a fee each time you take the samples in to them for evaluation. It can become time consuming though to take in the samples on a regular basis. You may also run into problems if you don't have local place to do the testing for you. It can be tricky as well as expensive to mail those samples into a company.

A better option that is more convenient is to get a kit that allows you to test for bacteria at home. That way you can do it when it fits into your schedule. This process is also more cost effective in the long run. Since there are quite a few expenses associated with maintaining a swimming pool you should be looking to eliminate those that you can.

You can test the Ph levels in your swimming pool with strips that you dip into the water. They have been chemically treated so they will react to the water from your pool. You will have a chart that comes with the strips so you can compare the color you get with the key. Based on the results you may need to add various products as you don't want the water to be too acidy or too alkaline. The range you want for your Ph level is 7.0 to 7.6.

At least once a week you should be testing the chlorine levels, Ph levels, and conditioners in your swimming pool. Monthly you need to test the calcium and the amount of dissolved solids in the water. Of course testing isn't effective if you don't know what the results mean. There are standards you should get for each area of testing. If your results fall outside of those standards then you need to make some changes to your routine. It could be adding certain products or changing what you use. Make sure you know what the acceptable range is in these areas based upon the size of your swimming pool.

Never guess if you have a swimming pool problem you can't resolve. Adding more of this and less of that isn't an effective way to treat it. In fact you may end up with things so out of balance your only hope is to drain the swimming pool and start all over. You want to avoid doing that due to the cost of the water you will waste to do so. Refilling your swimming pool is also a very time consuming process that means your swimming pool will be inoperable for a while.

With regular testing of your swimming pool you should be able to maintain things quite well. If you suddenly find you have huge variations that are out of the norm due the test again. If you get the same results it could be an indicator of a problem with either your swimming pool pump or filter so look into these areas as well for a solution.