How To Test Salt Level In The Pool?

As a father, it is my primary duty to ensure the health and well-being of my kids. I am ready to take on the entire world to safeguard my kids. Which father won’t do the same, right? The pool that brought smiles to the faces of my family members was also responsible for a lot of pain and tears.

 I must admit it was my fault. I should have been more careful about maintaining the chemical balance in the pool. Remember how my youngest daughter loves the pool? A slight imbalance in the pool salt level gave her an eye infection.

My baby was unable to sleep for two nights. We took her to the doctor, but only a father knows how it hurts when you see your daughter suffering, and you cannot do anything to comfort her.

Automatic pool chlorine generator

I used to add chemicals and chlorine manually to maintain the pH level in the pool. But recently, I installed a pool chlorine generator. The main function of the machine is to create chlorine in swimming pool directly.

 The device automatically maintains the level of adequate chlorine in the water. Due to this, I could save a lot of money and space on the purchase and storage of chlorine-based product containers respectively.

Never rely on the machine blindly

Even experts make mistakes. I made the mistake of trusting the machine blindly. You should not do the same. If I had checked the chlorine level manually, my daughter would not have suffered so much.

 One cannot predict when a machine will malfunction. Thus, you must always keep a manual salt level test kit handy. You can either purchase a Taylor Test Kit as I have or bring home any of the portable modern salt testers. TekcoPlus 6 in 1 or the LaMotte Pocket Tester are two of my favorites. Chlorine balance has several advantages. It prevents the growth, and multiplication of germs.

It also keeps water discoloration at bay. If the level of salt in pool water is correct, then it will discourage the growth of fungi and algae as well.

Anyhow, here, I will give you a step by step guide to test the salinity level of your pool water. If you have any pocket tester, then all you need is to take some water in the tester cup and dip the sensor.

The readings will appear on the display monitor. As per my experience, these testers are very accurate and consistent. I am rather an old school and like to depend on numbers and my senses.

Step 1 – Collect a water sample

Whether you have a pool cover or not, you should never collect water from the water surface.

I went towards the deeper end of the pool and immersed my hand around 12 to 18 inches below the water line. It is the ideal depth to collect the water sample. It allowed me to obtain uncontaminated water from the pool.

Step 2 – Prepare the Taylor Salinity Test Kit

The Taylor Test Kit comes is a cute blue box. It purchased it from an online store, and the delivery rather quick. As soon as I got the kit, I got down to business. I know that the ideal salt balance in the pool water should be anything between 3000 ppm to 3500 ppm.

The box contains a small jar, where the testing will take place, a small bottle of Chromate Indicator, and a little container of Silver Nitrate reagent. Make sure you are out of the house when doing this test. If the chemicals get in touch with your clothes, the stains will never come off.

Step 3 – Prepare the water sample

Once I placed all contents of the test kit on the table, it was time to start the test. I poured the water sample that I had collected from the pool into the jar. The test can be performed with just 10 ml of water.

Once I poured the water into the testing jar, I poured only one drop of Chromate Indicator in it. Then I shook the water in a circular motion so that the two liquids mix well. It has a pale yellow color.

Step 4 – Adding Silver Nitrate to the water

It is mandatory that you add the Silver Nitrate, drop-wise in the water, and keep shaking it after adding two drops. Keeping an accurate count is also imperative.

These numbers will determine the salt level in the pool water. So, I kept on adding two drops of the reagent, and the mixed the liquid, by moving the jar in a circular motion.

Step 5 – Change in the watercolor

After adding 21 drops of the reagent, the clear liquid changed into a milky white salmon flesh color. The change in tint is the indicator that the test is complete. Remember I told you that it is mandatory to keep count of this? Well! Now it will come to the forefront.

Step 6 – Do the number crunching

As it took 21 drops of the reagent to turn the transparent water into a milky white salmon flesh tint, I multiplied 21 to 200. It is the basic calculation technique to figure out the salinity level in the pool. The product of the two numbers is 4200.

 Thus, the salt level in my pool was 4200 ppm, which was way above the normal level. My friend has a pocket tester. I borrowed it and checked the salinity level another time. The machine also gave me similar reading. Thus, I concluded the water sample testing.

I did not wait for long to correct this mistake. I called the mechanic and got the machine repaired pronto. When the health of my family is on the line, I don’t want to take matters in my hand and acquire experience.

 I can do that in future as well. The experts used their professional tools to measure the salinity again, before adding necessary chemicals to make the water pH neutral. I will never forget the sight of my daughter sobbing. I will purchase a mini salinity tester to keep the same situation from reoccurring.

Conclusion

It is not difficult to maintain the Chlorine balance if you make use of the right products, at proper intervals. Apart from chlorine, other dirt participles can contaminate the water as well.

Using a pool cover keeps these issues at bay, and your pool water will be clean and hygienic. Chemicals and chlorine balance is a must for the upkeep of pool water quality.