New pool owner... Stupid question - but we should trust our test kits ( i have the K2006C) more than what is reported at a pool store, correct? I ran a little test... I tested water with my kit: FC 10.5 ppm (I shocked on Monday, and its taking a while to dissipate to to heavy cloud cover in my area); Alk: 80; CH: 280 - 290; CC: 0.5 ppm; CYA: 55 - 60; pH 7.7. I had my wife run a sample down to the pool store and they came back with: FC 9.55 ppm (TC: 10.26); Alk: 80; CH: 247; CYA: 69; ph 7.7. Just trying to interpret my variations.
Pool Store vs Home Test Kit
- Thread starter atxjmy512
- Start date
You should only trust your kit. The free water test at the pool store is designed to sell you things.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Your testing results are just fine and well within normal testing variance. Trust your testing.
Hitting exact numbers do not matter. Anywhere within ranges is equally good.
www.troublefreepool.com
Hitting exact numbers do not matter. Anywhere within ranges is equally good.
What Are My Ideal Pool Levels?
Use our tool to find ideal chemical levels for any swimming pool. Check TFP recommended levels on pH, free chlorine, cyanuric acid, and more.
www.troublefreepool.com
- Jul 3, 2013
- 9,027
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool SJ-40
You hit a store with one fairly good test. That's rare. You can take a sample to 3 different stores and get different results at each place. (Don;t go to 3 Leslie's....I would assume they'd look you up in the computer and see what results you last got).
I want to see the same store repeat it 3 times in a row. If they want to use 3 decimal places or claim Calcium/CYA down to a single ppm, then they should be able to reapeat their own test immediately. Unless. Of course. The test is only supposed to *look* accurate so you go along with whatever 'the professional' says.
And by professional I mean the teenager who was hired 2 whole months ago.
And by professional I mean the teenager who was hired 2 whole months ago.
I've experienced that already, lol. They did look it up, but I told them the numbers didn't look right and they ran it again and... got different results.
Then what else did you possiblly expect from them this time ? For real.
If you want to have it tested for fun, mail me a sample and I'll take a swig and swish it around like a fancy wine tasting. Then I will jot down #s for you.
Stop wasting your time at the pool store.
kul
Bronze Supporter
- Oct 1, 2021
- 1,434
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I feel this advice is especially helpful as you become more comfortable testing. When I first started testing, it took me a while to recognize that I was doing just fine. You will too.
I just wanted to see how far off they were. Call it morbid curiosity.
Send it to me next time. At least it will be fun. Argueably more accurate as well.
