Which Taylor Reagents Affected by Cold Weather?

[DBissett]

Today I tested my water after leaving it alone for a month (was told the the low water temp would prevent algae, which is didn't) and got it tested at Leslie's too. Some of the numbers and recommended solutions are so different it got me wondering if my Taylor reagents were harmed by leaving the kit outside by the pool. (Here in Houston we're in 50s-60s mostly, but the air temp has dipped well below freezing a couple of times here for a few days, once to 19 degrees.) Here are my numbers in the left column and Leslie's on the right.....

FC - 6.8 6.98
pH - 7.4 7.2
CH - 260 214
TA - 70 31
CYA - 40 80

The very different results dictate very different solutions, so should I replace any of the Taylor reagents to get more accurate readings before treating the water? Which ones? Thanks.

 

[mknauss]

What was your last test result for CYA prior to this one - with your own kit.

 

[DBissett]

12/28 - CYA=25
12/30 added 64 oz CYA
1/4 - CYA=50
1/15 CYA=50
2/21 CYA=30
2/22 added 67 oz CYA
2/23 - CYA=40
2/24 - CYA=40

 

[Texas Splash]

Even in our more mild seasons, I would not recommend storing reagents outside. There are just too many variables that could effect their reliability. Keep them somewhere in the house in a cool/dry place. As for the testing itself, the CYA test might be skewed a bit by cold water. That's why we recommend bringing a water sample from chilly water inside for a while to allow it to get up to room temperature. But the CYA (I believe) is really the only one effected by the cold water. In regards to comparing your tests to the pool store, most of the time it will just add confusion and skepticism to your testing since their testing will almost always be off the mark - just like their advice. Trust your own testing.

By the way, there is no need to test the CYA so frequently. Once or twice a month should be plenty unless you exchange a large amount of water. CYA just doesn't change that quickly. Hope that helps. Have a nice weekend.

 

[DBissett]

The only reason I got Leslie's testing was that Poolmath said to add 37 lbs of calcium chloride to achieve a reading of 450, which I targeted after reading all I could about the ideal range. Before adding that much I was looking for confirmation that my testing was accurate. Then Leslie's results suggested the TA was just way off and confusion set in! I've never tested my fill water and will do that today, but in Houston it's generally quite hard so I don't know what's caused the CH to decrease so much...it stayed at 350 for months. I ordered some new reagents last night because I'll need more soon anyway, and will do tests comparing results with the old/new reagents to see if anything's deteriorated to the point of no good, then keep the kit indoors in the future.

Regarding the temperature, I wasn't concerned about the water temp so much as it stays above 50 degrees, but the air temp dipping to well below freezing damaging the reagents was a concern.

 

[Texas Splash]

A CH of 350 is fine. The Poolmath APP provides general feedback based on ideal ranges, but it mat understand all of your scenarios, so in some cases it's good to check back with us based on your local conditions and such, especially with locally hard water. A TA of anywhere between 50 - 80 should work well for you. Hope that helps.

 

[DBissett]

350 was a previous CH reading. It had decreased to 250 recently.

 

[Texas Splash]

It had decreased to 250 recently.

Just no lower. For a plaster pool I'd be more comfortable in the 300-350 range, but you can get by with 250. Just don't let the pH fall too low now. If the pH is at 7.8 or even 8.0 with chilly water it's fine.

 

[DBissett]

I'm going to add some calcium chloride today and bring the CH up to 350-400 and retest everything to get things back in balance. The chemistry got out of whack when I left the new solar cover on the pool for a month and thought I could go without checking the water due to the lower temps. Not so. Prior to that everything was balancing great. It's a slow process getting back to that point.

 

[Texas Splash]

If your local water is really hard, a CH of 300 or so is fine as we would expect your CH to climb during the summer with evaporation and topping off the pool. Certainly your call though.

 

[DBissett]

Ok, thanks. I'll shoot for a little lower. And test the fill water to see what I'm getting.

 

[proavia]

Regarding the temperature, I wasn't concerned about the water temp so much as it stays above 50 degrees, but the air temp dipping to well below freezing damaging the reagents was a concern.

Reagents need to be stored inside, in a climate controlled environment. Temperature extremes - hot or cold - can compromise the reagents.
Many of us store our test kits in an indoor laundry room or in a kitchen cabinet. Even if you do all your testing outside, only take the test kit outside to test and then return it to inside, climate controlled storage.