Using test strips in your hot tub is the greatest method to understand and check the chemistry of your water, which may easily be underdosed or overdosed and must be properly balanced.
Maintaining water chemistry not only ensures optimum enjoyment and chemical efficacy. but also allows for the reduction of unfavourable chemical effects. Testing hot tub water on a regular basis is essential for avoiding peaks and valleys in sanitation and water stability, which might create difficulties for the hot tub or your body, and is essential for good health.
Testing on a regular basis is unnecessary until your spa is used on a daily basis. Check the water 2-3 times each week, or more frequently if the spa is used regularly.
Spa test strips are designed to operate with hot water and have been “calibrated” specifically for use in spas. They are affordable, simple to use, and provide a variety of options based on your need. You may use test strips that only check at one part of your spa water, such as bromine levels, or you can use a multi-test strip that looks at six (or more) components of your spa water.
Many individuals use test strips to maintain their hot tub water balanced since they are both practical and inexpensive. However, when compared to other forms of hot tub water testing, their broad range of findings and difficult-to-determine colour matching scale can make them less precise and dependable.
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Tips for Accurate Spa Water Testing
It’s not as tough as you may imagine, especially with so many testing choices available:
- For quick and simple results, use spa test strips.
- For more complete findings, use a liquid test kit.
- For the most complete and accurate findings, take a water sample to your local spa dealer or pool store.
- The essential, regardless of the testing method used, is to ensure that the water sample is taken appropriately.
How to Take a Water Sample from a Hot Tub
What is important, just as much as how you take the sample, is that it comes from the centre of your hot tub.
- Use a clean cup or bottle (preferably one with a cap if you’re going to a store).
- Turn it so that the opening faces the hot tub floor.
- Insert the vessel elbow-deep into the water, then flip it right side up to collect the water.
- It is critical that the sample not be taken near any of the jets. Get as near to the centre of the hot tub as possible.
Spa Test Strips: How to Use Them
Although it may appear paradoxical, test strips can sometimes be more accurate than liquid test kits since matching the colours with the chemical drops might be challenging. They’re also a lot simpler to utilise.
Furthermore, hot tub test strips are normally less expensive than liquid testing kits, but you’ll probably use them up faster, so cost may not be a consideration in which one you select.
To utilise spa test strips, follow these steps:
- Take a water sample.
- Dip a strip into the water and take it out immediately; it does not need to soak for around 15 seconds, keep it still. Don’t jiggle it!
- Match the colours on the strip to the directions on the packaging.
- Balance the water accordingly.
Professional Water Testing
To take a water sample to a dealership for testing, collect the sample the same way you would if you were going to perform spa water testing at home. They may take walk-ins, but call ahead to make sure they’ll be able to help you.
When to Test Hot Tub Water
To make sure the water stays sanitized and that alkalinity and pH are always in balance, perform hot tub water testing at least once a week. If your spa gets a lot of use, it’s been rained on, test it more often. And of course, test it whenever you add chemicals.
We highly recommend you take a sample to a store once a month for a professional test, as well as when you open and close your hot tub.
Are Hot Tub Water Test Strips Accurate?
Although very accurate, hot tub test strips can become unstable if not properly preserved. They can become ineffective if exposed to dampness or lengthy periods of direct sunshine. They also have a date of expiration. As a result, stocking up when they are on sale is rarely a good idea. And, because test strips require the user to match the colours on the strip to a colour chart on the box, some subjective computation is required. If the lighting conditions are poor or the tester is colour-blind, the findings may be erroneous.
Our Best Hot Tub Test Strip Options
First on our list is the Clearwater CH0043. Don’t mind the incredibly catchy name reminiscent of a 1990s Sony video camera.
Clearwater is a BISHTA member and is recommended by companies such as Bestway and Lay-Z-Spa for dependable, safe, and high-quality water treatment. This product includes 50 clearwater dip test strips to make pool maintenance quick and uncomplicated.
Chlorine, PH, and alkalinity are all measured: Measures the quality of swimming pool or spa water to determine whether chemicals are required to prevent hazardous microorganisms from entering your water.
All what you need to do is to dip the strip and remove it immediately; keep the strip level for 15 seconds; and read the findings using the easy directions on the bottle. Simply dip the test strips into the water and examine the findings on the convenient printed colour chart.
These strips are commonly used to evaluate the chemistry of water in swimming pools, spas, baths, and hot tubs. According to studies, you should test your pool and spa at least twice a week in order to keep track of the water quality at regular intervals!
Each test strip is constructed of high-quality fibre paper and a NON-BLEEDING pad, resulting in a quick and accurate result.
These tests for elements such as free chlorine (bromine), total alkalinity, and pH levels will provide you with an accurate reading of your water’s quality. Each strip checks for all outcomes in an easy-to-read format. To give you an accurate measurement of water conditions, measure bromine, total alkalinity, and pH levels. Each strip checks for all outcomes in an easy-to-read format.
EFFECTIVE EXTEND SHELF LIFE: These test papers are stored in a tightly sealed bottle with a 2-year shelf life.
3.Perfect Test 4 Swimming Pool and Spa Test Strips for Chlorine or Bromine 2 x 50 – Spa, Hot Tub and Swimming Pool Testing – 4 in 1
MSRP:£15.04
2 x 50-strip packs
Test strips for swimming pools and spas
Chlorine/Bromine, pH, and Alkalinity Tests
A simple and quick way to test your water.
Each test strip is constructed of high-quality fibre paper and has NO COLOR BLEEDING pad, providing a stable quality for your professional pool test.
A total of 150 swimming test strips are available. A pool water test kit includes a bottle with 100 test strips and a sealed aluminium foil bag with 50 refills. STORAGE PERIOD The pool chemical test strips have a 2-year shelf life from the date of production, and the expiration date is marked on the bottom of the box.
QUICK AND APPLICABLE: Simply submerge a strip in water for 2 seconds before removing it. For 30 seconds, hold the strip horizontally. Within 30 seconds, compare with the colour chart and read.
Tests PH, Total Chlorine, Free Chlorine, Total Alkalinity, Cyanuric Acid, and Total Hardness all at once, making it more functional than 5- or 4-way pool test strips and liquid test kits.
TESTING IN 17 SECONDS: Submerge pool test strip in water for 2 seconds, hold it motionless in the air for around 15 seconds, then match the strip’s colours to the back of the bottle to get your readings. Even for beginners, pool test strips are simple to use.
ECONOMICAL: Pool water should be examined at least once a week. Our test strips come in a pack of 50 and are well-sealed in 5 distinct moisture-proof containers for long-term storage.
POOL AND SPA REQUIREMENTS: The test strips are used to evaluate the water quality in pools, spas, and hot tubs so you can be sure you’re keeping the appropriate amount of chemicals in your pool and avoiding health risks.
6 INDIVIDUAL TEST STRIPES: At the same time, test for PH, Total Chlorine, Free Chlorine, Total Alkalinity, Cyanuric Acid, and Total Hardness.
Advantages: Our dipping test is free of VC interference.
Drinking water, aquariums, swimming pools and spas, industrial water, ponds, and hot springs are all good candidates.
Easy to store: 50 count water quality test strips, sealed in a plastic bottle with 5 individual moisture-proof packaging to ensure the test strips endure for two years.
Note: The optimal colourimetric time is 60 seconds, and readings can be influenced by using a longer or shorter time.
Pool and Spa Centre – LaMotte’s official stockist – sells this item.
50 strips in a pack of four
Test strips for swimming pools and spas
Chlorine/Bromine, pH, and Alkalinity Tests
A simple and quick way to test your water.
Test for PH, Total Chlorine, Free Chlorine, Total Alkalinity, Cyanuric Acid, and Total Hardness with these 6 in 1 test strips.
Exceptional Quality: The 200-count pool test strips are produced from high-quality imported filter paper. Each hot tub test strip has six different colour indicators for a more accurate and dependable result.
Dip the pool test strip in water for 2 seconds, then remove it and hold it horizontally for 15 seconds before comparing the results to the colour chart on the bottle.
Pool and Spa Essentials: The test strips are used to test the water quality of your pool, spa, or hot tub so you can be sure you’re keeping the appropriate quantity of chemicals in your pool and avoiding health risks and device damage.
This portable bottle is very easy to transport. There are 100 test strips in each container, for a total of two bottles.
Suitable for drinking water, aquariums, swimming pools and spas, sewage, and other liquids can all be tested with hot tub test strips. It can also be used to test the water in a hot tub, and it will function normally.
For first-time users, it’s also quite simple: simply dip a piece of test paper in water for about 2 seconds, remove it and lay it flat, then compare the reading to the colour card after 15 seconds.
The dip test strips 100 have been modified to include a 6 in 1 feature that allows you to test six different parameters at once, including PH, total chlorine, free chlorine, total alkalinity, cyanuric acid, and total hardness. Other spa test strips are less effective.
The 100-count pool test strips are constructed of premium imported filter paper.
Each test strip has six different colour indicators for a more accurate and dependable readout.