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Maintaining spa water quality depends on the accuracy of water analysis. In the past, test strips
were considered by some to be less accurate than complicated
liquid test
kits. Great strides have been made making test
strips the preferred water testing method. Test strips are easier to use, and more economical than
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 Spa Water
Analyzing hot tub water allows us to balance the chemical properties so that it is neither too alkaline nor
too acidic, for both comfort and equipment protection. It also
allows us to maintain a sanitizing system to keep 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
 Prep
& Maintenance page.
There are now also new test strips to monitor
 bacteria.
Simple Testing Procedure
If using a conventional sanitizer such as
bromine, check spa water weekly. If using
Cleanwater
Blue sanitizing system, testing is required only twice a month. Note: Read the instructions on the bottle. Testing procedures vary by
test strip brand.
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- Allow spa to circulate for a minute or two,
then take a sample of spa water in a clean plastic drinking glass-- a few
ounces will do.
- Remove a spa test strip from the bottle, and
recap tightly.
- Dip the strip in the water
just deep enough to wet the test pad(s) used, and remove
according to bottle directions.
- Remove excess water by
shaking the strip once, briskly (again, check the bottle
directions).
- Hold strip horizontal, pad side up, for 15
seconds (or per bottle instructions).
- Make color comparisons with bottle chart.
- Adjust spa water as necessary. See
 Prep
& Maintenance instructions.
- For most accurate results,
allow water to equilibrate several hours or overnight
after adding balance chemicals, then retest.
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Watch your Fingers
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Be sure to wash your hands before
performing the test. Bromine, chlorine, or other chemical
residues on fingers can skew the test results. Never put a wet finger into the test
strip container. This will contaminate the unused strips. |
Store Strips Properly
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Don't store your test strips
outside. Keep them at room temperature, dry, and away from
direct sunlight. Cap the bottle tightly right after removing a strip-- don't wait until you are done testing. |
Use Fresh Strips
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Check the date on the bottle
and replace expired strips. Beyond that date, you may get false readings
resulting in wasted
chemicals, or improper water balance. |
For Chlorine & Bromine Users OnlyWhen buying test strips, make
sure they measure Total Bromine and/or Total Chlorine. Not all brands
of test strips do. Total bromine/chlorine is the sum of free
chlorine/bromine and combined chlorine/bromine. Our test
strips test for total.
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
 OxySpa. You need test
strips which test Total Bromine. Old technology strips which test only
free bromine can falsely indicate the need for adding more bromine, when there
is plenty of combined bromine still present in the 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 odor. Make sure your test strips measure both
free and total chlorine, so you can determine the amount of combined chlorine
present.
[Total
Chlorine] - [Free Chlorine] = [Combined Chlorine]
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The Spa Depot's
wide variety of
test
strips including AquaChek, are the finest quality, most accurate spa and pool water
tests you can buy. A full range of tests at reasonable
prices including our new Water Safe
bacteria
check. |
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