Hot Tub Water Testing
The ease of maintaining your hot tub water quality depends on the accuracy of water tests. In the past, spa test strips were considered by many to be less accurate than complicated liquid test kits. AquaChek has been making the best and accurate test strips which have become the preferred water testing method.
AquaChek test strips are easier to use, and more economical than most cumbersome liquid test kits. There's no equipment to clean. You never have to keep track of various liquid chemical reagents... a drop of this, two drops of that. Hot tubbing is for fun and relaxation, so let's keep water testing simple and easy as possible. This is not rocket science!
Why We Test Hot Tub Water
Testing your hot tub water allows you to monitor the chemicals in the water which are needed to keep your hot tub water safe, clean and healthy. When testing the water it also give you and indicator to balance the chemical properties so that it is neither too alkaline nor too acidic, for both comfort and equipment protection. It also helps to maintain a spa sanitizer in the proper range which keeps the water healthy and free of harmful microorganisms.
Total Alkalinity (TA) is always adjusted first, then we look at pH. (Correcting TA often brings pH in line). Complete instructions for water balance are found on our hot tub water chemistry page.
Simple Testing Procedure
If using a conventional sanitizer such as bromine or hot tub chlorine, check hot tub water weekly.
Note:
Read the instructions on the bottle. Testing procedures vary by test strip brand.
- Dip the strip in the water just deep enough to wet the test pad(s) used.
- Do not remove excess water by shaking the strip, (again, check the bottle directions).
- Hold strip horizontal, pad side up, for 15 seconds (or per bottle instructions).
- Make color comparisons with bottle chart.
Watch your Fingers
Be sure your hands and finger are dry before opening the test strips bottle. Wet finger or hands and traces of chemical residues on fingers can skew the test results. Never take a test strip out of the bottle with wet fingers or leave the lid open on the test strip bottle it will contaminate the test strips. If test strips are exposed to high humidity or moisture of any kind the regents on the color tabs activates and test strips are no longer usable.
Store Strips Properly
It's very important to store the AquaChek test strips bottle in a dry place at room temperature at all times. Test strips should not be store outside were the change in temperatures can cause condensation in the bottle activating the testing regents an all the strips which renders them no longer usable.
Use Fresh Strips
AquaChek brand test strips have a best before date and it's best use them before the expiry date to ensure accurate results. When purchasing test strips always check the best before date, sometimes a sale price indicates the test strips best before date is or is about to expire which means they are useless.
For Chlorine & Bromine Users Only
When buying test strips, make sure to buy the correct type for your sanitizer. Some brands like AquaChek have separate test strip bottles for bromine or chlorine while others may measure both chlorine and bromine on the same strip. It's best to buy test strips that are designated to test for bromine (AquaChek Red) or chlorine (AquaChek Yellow) separately to ensure accuracy.
Bromine Testing
Free bromine is the most active form of the sanitizer. When it reacts with contaminants, it becomes combined bromine. Yet combined bromine is still about 80% effective, and can be converted back to free bromine by shocking the water with non-chlorine shock, such as our Spa Essentials Oxidizing shock. You need test strips which test Total Bromine. AquaChek Red bromine test strip will test for bromine levels in your hot tub water .
Chlorine Testing
Chlorine testing is a different story. Only free chlorine (the form of chlorine you add to the water) is an effective sanitizer. As with bromine, when free chlorine reacts with contaminants, it becomes combined chlorine, but then has very little sanitizing ability. Combined chlorine can cause irritation, and has a strong odour. Make sure your test strips measure both free and total chlorine, so you can determine the amount of combined chlorine present.