How to Check the Chemicals in a Swimming Pool
- 1). Gather a small sample of the pool water in a glass container to check the free chlorine, alkalinity and pH. Insert a 3-way pool test strip into the glass container, being careful not to fully submerge the strip under water. Let the test strip sit in the pool water for three minutes.
- 2). Remove the 3-way pool test strip from the glass container and read the results to find out the current level of each chemical in the swimming pool. The pH should be 7.4 to 7.6, the alkalinity level should be 80 to 150 ppm and the level of free chlorine should be 1.0 to 3.0ppm.
- 3). Adjust each pool chemical accordingly. Continue to test the pool water two times per week, and also after heavy rain, if the pool is outdoors.
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