Testing the water in your pool is a crucial aspect of pool maintenance. It helps ensure that the water is clean, clear, and safe for swimming. But how often should you test your pool or hot tub water? Whether you're a new pool or spa owner or a seasoned pro, this is a common question.

There are many different factors that go into ensuring your pool or spa is properly balanced. Specific parameters for alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness, phosphates, sanitizer and stabilizer play a role in keeping the water safe for bathers, maintaining equipment integrity and allowing the pool to run as efficiently as possible.

The good news is that testing your pool water is quite straightforward. All you need are test strips or a testing kit, both of which are readily available at your local Discounter's Pool and Spa Warehouse. A good rule of thumb is to test your pool water once a week at home with your test strips and have it professionally tested with us once a month.

By testing your pool water once a week, you can ensure that the water is properly balanced, and make adjustments as necessary. This will help prevent problems like algae growth, cloudy water and skin irritation. Regular testing also helps you keep your chemical bills low. By maintaining proper water balance, you can avoid wasting chemicals and save money in the long run.

Professional testing is also essential. While at-home test strips can give you a good idea of the water's condition, professional testing is more accurate and provides a more comprehensive analysis of your water. At your local DPSW, our water care professionals will test your water for pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, chlorine levels, phosphates and more. We will also provide you with a detailed report on your water's condition. This will help you identify any issues that need to be addressed and ensure that your water is safe and healthy for swimmers.

Professional testing only needs to be done once a month to ensure equipment and liner warranties stay valid. Should you notice a water clarity issue or see some strange results on your home testing kit, always bring a water sample into your local DPSW. We can run a full test and calculate the most accurate prescription for your pool water. Using weekly products such as Stain & Scale, will prolong the life of your equipment should your water fall into an aggressive state before your next professional water test.

In conclusion, testing your pool water is essential for maintaining a clean, clear, and safe swimming environment. By testing your water once a week at home and having it professionally tested once a month, you can ensure that your water is properly balanced, save money on chemical bills, and keep swimmers safe. So, come visit your closest DPSW location for great advice and best price, grab those test strips and get testing!

Helpful Tip: To receive the most accurate results, never take a water sample near the return or the skimmer. Make sure the pump is on and the water has been circulating for at least an hour in a pool or 5-10 minutes in a hot tub. The water sample should be collected from approximately 2 feet below the surface or up to your elbow deep. Following these steps will ensure you will get the most precise results.

Don’t forget to purchase your weekly maintenance products to help maintain appropriate sanitizer levels and achieve enhanced water clarity.