How to Test the pH in Your Pool

Do you ever get confused about why your pool looks crystal-clear one day and becomes a cloudy mess the very next day? And why do your kids experience stinging eyes after swimming in pool water?

The main culprit in these situations is the imbalance in water's pH. Therefore, keeping a close check on the water’s pH and chemical levels is very important.

A pool pH test is more than just dipping a strip. Instead, a pro-level approach for pool care is accuracy. The right testing kit will not only save you money but also ensure a comfortable swimming experience in a clear pool.

Within this guide, we will walk you through the best pool pH testing methods for 2025 and reveal how to test pH in the pool without those costly mistakes that waste chemicals and time.

Choosing Your pH Test Kit

Mastering pool pH testing requires making smart adjustments and accurately interpreting the results. Here are the three primary pool testing methods to fit your budget needs.

1. Liquid Test Kits (The Pro's Choice for Accuracy)

Liquid reagent kits are the most accurate form of these tests for home pool owners to solve their water balance problems. They work by adding a certain number of drops of the indicating solution (usually the Phenol Red Reagent), stirring, and matching the resultant color to a standard. However, drop tests involve many steps with more attention to detail. There are also chances of human error in color matching.

2. Test Strips (The Quick & Convenient Option)

Test strips are quick, easy, and cheap to use, and therefore, the best choice for regular testing on hectic days. Dip the strip, wait 15 seconds for the color change, and compare it to the color-coded pads. However, accuracy tends to be compromised, and environmental factors such as heat or humidity can influence readings.

3. Digital Testers (The High-Tech Approach)

Now comes the most accurate testing, best suited for owners who desire lab-grade results without color-matching guesswork. Digital meters use an electronic meter with a probe to provide a direct numerical pH reading. They require regular calibration using buffer solutions and probe maintenance for accurate results. If you are willing to pay the higher upfront cost, then these are for you.

Are Pool Test Strips Accurate Enough?

Although test strips are great for rapid, everyday monitoring, liquid kits are a more popular choice among professionals. This is because they provide results with high precision, especially in situations where chlorine levels are not very high. This helps to avoid repetitive fluctuations in pH measurement and overcorrecting chemicals to fix the problem, saving you time and money.

How to Test Pool pH in 5 Steps (Using a Liquid Kit)

Precisely follow these steps to get an accurate reading of pH during every measurement:

Step 1: Get a Proper Water Sample

Always collect water from the pool’s main body, from elbow-depth in the pool (approximately 12–18 inches down from the surface), away from jets and skimmers. Unlike warm surface water that is full of contaminants, the deep water in the middle reflects the pool’s true chemistry.

To guarantee you're testing the right water sample, test after your robotic pool cleaner has completed its cycle. Its rotation stirs up water from the floor to the surface, producing a more even water chemistry around the pool.

Step 2: Fill the Comparator Vial

Begin by rinsing the vial with pool water to prevent residues from distorting results. Next, fill it to the marked line.

Step 3: Add the Phenol Red Reagent

Phenol Red is a chemical indicator that changes color based on the pH of your pool water. Just add the five drops of the Phenol Red Reagent by keeping the bottle upright. Adding more or less amounts can yield false readings.

Step 4: Cap and Gently Invert to Mix

Place the cap tightly and gently hold the vial upside down a few times to get a uniform color. Also, avoid shaking it hard.

Step 5: Read the Results Immediately

Place the comparator in front of a white, neutral surface having adequate light in its surroundings. Match the color of the sample to the pH scale and read the results within a minute. If the samples remain sitting for a prolonged time, the chemical reaction may be altered.

What is a Good pH Level?

The optimum value for a pool’s pH has a range from 7.4 to 7.8. This is not only excellent for maintaining the efficiency of chlorine but also safe for the eyes of swimmers. If your pool’s pH does not lie in the permissible range of 7.2 to 7.8, you need to change it immediately. You can find out more about keeping your pool's pH balanced.

Maintaining the pH of a pool also guarantees the right operating conditions for extending the life of your cleaning supplies. For example, Dreame pool robots perform safely and effectively in water with a pH range of 7.0 to 7.8.

The Role of Total Alkalinity (TA)：Checking the Total Alkalinity is a must before making any pH changes in your pool’s water. The reason is that Total Alkalinity is like a buffer that helps in keeping pH levels stable. It should lie between a range of 80 to 120 ppm.

What Happens When Your Pool pH is Wrong

Your pool’s pH gets affected by many things in its surroundings, such as temperature, rainfall, chemical treatments, or frequent use of the same water. The following are among the most common effects:

1. Swimmer Comfort

A wrong pH of water can affect a swimmer’s comfort. A highly acidic or alkaline pH can cause dry hair, skin irritation, and severe eye and skin infections.

2. Sanitizing Capability (Chlorine Efficiency)

When the pH of water goes high (more than 7.8), it becomes alkaline in nature. This affects the effectiveness of chlorine and makes it absorb more chemicals, which creates cloudiness in water and also causes algae to grow more. However, if the pH levels of water go down (less than 7.2), it becomes acidic in nature. This makes chlorine aggressive, and it evaporates very quickly.

3. Pool & Equipment Health

Low pH increases the acidity of water and makes it corrosive for metal ladders, vinyl liners, and other equipment. While high pH makes water alkaline and leads to scale build-up on surfaces, which in turn reduces water clarity.

Conclusion

To control the pH of a pool, knowing the proper use of all the necessary tools is more important than merely owning fancy equipment. Therefore, always use high-quality test kits and follow the proper sampling guidelines.

Regular pH testing, 2-3 times a week, is the secret to maintaining balanced, healthy pool water. Test the water the very next day after heavy use or rain to ensure that your pool remains safe and welcoming. A highly acidic or alkaline pH can cause eye irritation, make swimming uncomfortable, and damage equipment. Thus, always measure your total alkalinity before making any pH changes to avoid the never-ending process of pH bounce

Take the kit to balance out your water and splash into summer with sparkling clear water because you deserve it.