Run the pool pump and filter. If you have the proper alkalinity levels in your pool then you really dont have anything to worry about. As you have probably guessed it, it is not very uncommon among the pool community. If the main goal of your project is to identify if the right amount of chlorine is being added to the water, a color-wheel kit may suffice and will provide you with more accurate readings than a pool test kit. The pH level of your pool water does have a significant impact on chlorines ability to effectively sanitize and clean your water. Pool service companies have the opportunity to take stock and tighten procedures, as they look toward the busy season ahead. 2023 AB Media Inc. All rights reserved. When performing free chlorine measurements, pH is among the most important elements of the measurement. Always adjust total alkalinity before adjusting your pH levels. In most cases, a diagnosis of hyperchloremia will require additional testing to uncover the cause. People should not self-diagnose. The pH levels in the water must come in at around 6.5-7.5 for the free chlorine measurement to be accurate when telling you how much chlorine is present in the water. If you choose to take this route, make sure you monitor your water regularly so that you can resume routine chlorination when the readings drop. SWG with only pH probe - Ideal CYA Level Changes? Phenol Red is the most common reagent for testing the pH of pool and spa water. Cross contamination between reagents caused by sloppy technique can cause problems before testing is even started. Dr. James Egan, "Water Testing Understanding the Interferences", RWQ Newsletter, February 2011, published online by the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals. Before adjusting TA and pH, make sure to check and balance your calcium hardness levels. Keep the strip in the water for a few seconds depending on the individual product instructions. Your Disinfection Team: Chlorine & pH Protection Against Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) ww w.healthyswimming.or g. Protecting swimmers and their families from RWIs is the reason that pool staff regularly check both chlorine and pH levels. The kidneys help regulate electrolyte levels, so electrolyte problems can signal a problem with the kidneys. Changes in chloride levels can harm these functions. Ideally, you should be testing your chlorine level every day, especially if your pool is left uncovered for long periods. Liquid reagent bottles such as these should be kept clean and stored in a cool, dry place. Theres also a higher possibility of user error. Chlorine is not as effective. Some very interesting articlesThank you. Liquid chlorine and bleach, which are called Sodium hypochlorite or Bleach, have a pH of 11.0 to nearly 13.0, so it is logical to think that they will raise the pH of the pool water. As you move up in pH, it diminishes the sanitizing power of free chlorine in the water, making it weaker the further up in pH you go. Suppose you measure chlorine levels in drinking water and find that some chlorine remains. Since low pH represents a high number of hydrogen ions in the water, and high pH represents a low number of hydrogen ions, you can start to understand the relationship between pH and chlorine. As a result, there is a net increase in the protons in the solution, lowering pH. Exposure to high levels of chlorine can cause lung irritation, skin and eye damage, and provoke asthma. Some medications, particularly hormones, diuretics, and corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone. Avoid testing at the very top or the very bottom of a test range. When the body is stressed, electrolyte levels may become imbalanced. An ice storm last week brought down some power lines and knocked out service in some places, but caused little damage to pools. Stabilized chlorine isnt active or weak; its more like reserve chlorine. While colorimetric tests provide users with accurate measurements, they arent ideal for real-time measurements. You can almost think of it as sunscreen for your chlorine. With that being said, in reality, this is never going to be an issue when keeping your water in the ideal pH range (7.2 to 7.8), especially if youre using a chlorine stabilizer in combination. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, minerals that dissolve in the fluids of the body, https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/adrenal-insufficiency-addisons-disease, https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/chloride/tab/test/, http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/hyperchloremia-high-chloride.aspx, https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijpedi/2012/931597/, http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/diagnosis-and-treatment/chemotherapy-and-other-drug-therapies/chemotherapy/side-effects-of-chemotherapy/kidney-damage-and-chemotherapy/?region=on, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-are-electrolytes/, Skipping breakfast and fasting may compromise the immune system. National Eye Institute, "Facts about Color Blindness", https://nei.nih.gov/health/color_blindness/facts_about, Feb. 2015, accessed on September 25, 2015. pH is really a measure of the relative amount of free hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in the water. The vial of water is then placed into a meter to identify how intense the color change is. Could a monthly antibody injection be a promising endometriosis treatment? Businesses must take steps to ensure they dont lose valuable information when employees leave for the competition. What are Toroidal Conductivity Sensors and How Do They Work? Typical concentrations of chelators or sequestering agents interfere with these tests, resulting in an inaccurate lower value for total copper. Now that you understand how chlorine affects water, you should be able to use this chemical to disinfect water and remove any harmful pathogens. If you are like the majority of us, you probably have put too much chlorine into your pool. Normally the endpoint of a hardness titration is a color change from red to blue. Hear about sales, exclusive offers & helpful DIY tricks from our pool experts. Alkalinity is high and pH is high - While it may sound alarming, this is actually the easiest problem to fix. Chlorine is much less effective at higher pH levels; in fact, at a pH of 8.2, chlorine is only 15% effective. People taking chemotherapy drugs that harm the kidneys may need regular electrolyte tests. Two important characteristics are pH and alkalinity, which are related to the buffering capacity (resistance to pH change) of the water. Together, they keep bad bacteria at bay: If pH goes up too high, chlorine's germ . The optimum pH for pool water is 7.4, since this is the same as the pH in human eyes and mucous membranes. Our experienced professionals can help you fix your problems and enjoy your pool in no time. Hyperchloremia often points to another problem. Its pH can be as acidic as low as pH 0.0. With ingenuity and a little bit of backyard engineering, service pros are creating their own unique tools to help them on the job. Sodium Hypochlorite in liquid form all have a minimal effect on a swimming pools pH level in a well-balanced pool. Remove a test strip from the container. You can certainly add a couple of drops of R-0007 to see what it does -- just don't trust the final result. Here is what happens when liquid chlorine sodium hypochlorite NaOCl is added to pool water: Sodium hypochlorite and water form Hypochlorous acid and Sodium-ion and Hydroxide ion. If doing a visual colorimetric determination (a color match), use a white or neutral color for a background. 6. These meters can provide readings that extend from 0-4 mg/L. A high level of metals, such as copper or iron, is the most common interference in calcium hardness titrations. Wondering how pH affects chlorine in a swimming pool? Read "ABC's of Pool water chemistry" up in Pool School. Typically, 60 grams will reduce the chlorine by 1ppm in an average backyard pool. When cyanuric acid is present in the water, it ties up most of your chlorine before it has a chance to convert into hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite ion. Follow manufactures instructions for maintenance. Wrong! Use a test kit specified for MPS treated water. Chlorine exists in different chemical forms in solution, including free chlorine (hypochlorite ion and hypochlorous acid) and combined chlorine. 7), 362367. The Water Quality & Health Council also suggests using a test strip to check the pH and chlorine level. The pH levels in the water must come in at around 6.5-7.5 for the free chlorine measurement to be accurate when telling you how much chlorine is present in the water. Colorimeters are becoming more common for running water tests. A study that measured chloride levels in healthy infants, as well as preterm infants and those with health issues, found that chloride levels rose in the week following birth. Iacobelli, S., Kermorvant-Duchemin, E., Bonsante, F., Lapillonne, A., & Gouyon, J.-B. Cyanuric acid is technically an acid but is dissimilar to muriatic acid, which the pool industry uses to manage and adjust pool pH levels. You can also purchase a pre-packaged Chlorine Neutralizer. Adrenal insufficiency and Addison's disease. The intensity of this color allows the individual measuring chlorine concentration to determine what the chlorine levels are and if they match the intended concentration. Proper reading for chlorine is 1.5 - 3.0 PPM and 3.0 - 5.0 PPM for bromine. I think using Reagents is the way to goLaMotte ColorQ Pro 9 Plus Digital Liquid Pool & Spa Chemical Water Testing Kit. Yes, shocking your hot tub will lower the pH level of the water. Once the tube has been filled with water, all you need to do is place around 1-5 drops of this chemical solution into the water, after which a color change should occur. Long-term hyperchloremia, however, can cause a range of symptoms. As many as 8 percent of men and 0.5 percent of women with Northern European ancestry have the common form of red-green color blindness. But high concentrations of chlorine or bromine can turn the color to purple. Categories Hot Tubs & Spas, Treatment . There are few interferences in pool water for pH probe measurements, other than dirty or poorly maintained probes. This means more of your chlorine will be converted into the strong, active form of chlorine, and less into the weaker form of chlorine. The lower your pH level, the more acidic your water is. When you add chlorine to your pool, it immediately breaks down into two chemical compounds that make up free chlorine: The ratio of active/weak chlorine you end up with depends on the pH level of the water because, for chlorine to convert into more of the active chlorine, it needs to combine with hydrogen ions. When chlorine levels are too high, the waters pH will start to decrease, which can eventually lead to corrosion. pH levels are always high, but not using a salt water chlorinator - If youve recently replastered your pool (or a new pool) or if your pool has a new pebble finish, youll probably experience unusually high pH levels for the first year or so from the plaster/pebbles. Alkalinity is low and pH is low - This is another situation thats pretty easy to resolve. Then check the water quality twice a week and adjust where necessary. This is similar to the high pH colors, 8.0 to 8.4 ppm, so be careful not to mistake it for a high reading and then add acid when it's not necessary. Most Phenol Red pH indicator reagents have a pH of 7.5 7.6. Nevertheless, I wonder if anyone can recommend a relatively inexpensive pH "stick" meter that gives decent results. Any residue of DPD3 on testing equipment can cause a problem in testing for free chlorine. Staying within this range keeps the water from harming both your pool and the people who use it, while also being optimal enough for the chlorine to work without having to add an unreasonable amount of sanitizer to your water. Hyperchloremia is a symptom, not a diagnosis. To lower the free chlorine level in your pool water, also consider heating your water. Why Does PH Matter in a Free Chlorine Measurement? If possible, it is best to wait for the chlorine or bromine levels to drop before testing the pH. The interferences for salt meters are other ions and dirty and poorly maintained probes. That means that less than of the chlorine in the pool is actually working. Another reason is if you live in an area with a lot of leaves and organic debris tend to find their way to your pool. Reduce this with pH Down. William J. Cooper, N. M. Roscher and R. A. Slifker, "Determining Free Available Chlorine by DPD-Colorimetric, DPD-Steadifac (Colorimetric), and FACTS Procedures", J. Amer. Chlorine is more effective at lower pH levels. The R-0007 reagent is sodium thiosulfate which is a chlorine neutralizer. If you're getting low measurements even when using chlorine, it's possible that the sensor is malfunctioning or that one of the following variables is affecting the measurement. Phenol Red reaction colors range from orange to red. So while you can add some R-0007 before adding the pH reagent, you may still get a "too high" reading, though at least you won't get the bleached-out half-indicator result of purple. An occasional spike in the pH balance that may happen during super chlorinating your pool isnt too much to be concerned about, but if youre constantly battling to keep it in range after you shock your pool, you could have a bigger problem. The two most popular ones are chlorine and bromine. High sodium levels in the blood. First, the germ-killing power of chlorine varies with pH level. If free is the same as total, then you are in range. The FC level will be half of what it was before, and the PH shift from the dilution should be quite small because the TA level of distilled water is very low. So the results can be over or under range when at the top or bottom of the range, respectively, without any indication of how far over or under range. So people must discuss with their doctors the most likely cause. What is hypernatremia? Start your pool with a target TA (Total Alkalinity) of 90 ppm and adjust up or down in 10 ppm increments until pH remains stable depending on whether the pH is drifting up or down and help keep these controls these other pool water conditions. There are two types of alkalinity tests, titration and colorimetric. Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm Calcium hypochlorite, however, is highly alkaline with a pH of around 12, so this is going to raise the pH level of the water (as well as increase the calcium hardness level, for that matter). Chloride is an important electrolyte that is responsible for maintaining the acid-base (pH). Tip: Always keep a good supply of pH adjusting chemicals to make sure that your pH levels are where they are supposed to be to ensure that your pool chlorine will work as intended! Ultra-violet rays that the natural sunlight produces destroys chlorine. Hyperchloremia can be hard to prevent, particularly when it is caused by a medical condition such as Addisons disease. Posted by Dominic O'Donnell on July 4, 2022. The cyanuric acid contribution can be considered a positive interference. MPS is an oxidizer but not a sanitizer, and it won't affect your pH levels like a chlorine shocking method would. Iron (Fe) Test Methods: Most total iron test methods require the reduction of iron to its ferrous form. If you have a chlorinator or a feeder, turn it offer. Metals in water exist in three major forms: insoluble (metal oxides and hydroxides), free, and complexed. But high concentrations of chlorine or bromine can turn the color to purple. Free chlorine levels must be around 0.5 mg/L to ensure that the overall quality of water is maintained throughout the distribution network. Diluting your pool water is another option, but it takes time. If adding drops of a reagent, hold the bottle vertically to get even sized drops. Keep the reagent bottles, containers, vials, test tubes, comparators, dipcells and hands clean and dry. If chlorine testing is being done for industrial processes, these facilities will use free chlorine analyzer systems that can provide precise measurements on a large-scale basis. 4. Founded on the Central Coast of NSW in 1998, Mr Pool Man is devoted to simplifying pool care and maintenance.Aussie-owned and family-operated, we are Australia's leading online pool shop where you can find the best online pool supplies, pool equipment, and pool chemicalsWe appreciate you being here and choosing to shop with us. Avoid sampling near water inlets and returns. Start by adjusting the pH value to between 7.2 and 7.6 pH. Or if it even matters? Free, 02/27/2023 | Environmental | 9 MINUTE READ, 02/13/2023 | Industrial Water Treatment | 9 MINUTE READ, 02/06/2023 | Industrial Wastewater | 8 MINUTE READ. Because a reducing agent is used in these tests, typical concentrations of chelators and sequestering agents may not interfere with these total iron tests. I added muriatic acid according to the pool calculator to lower the pH to 7.4, and the next day, still the same purplish color. Salt and TDS meters are really conductivity meters with special calibrations. To prevent this interference: When testing for cyanuric acid with a melamine-based turbidity test, the most significant interference is water temperature. When the water contains pH levels that are higher than 8.0, its likely that theres isnt much hypochlorous acid in the solution, which makes it more difficult for amperometric sensors to identify free chlorine. High chlorine levels decrease the pH of your pools water, making it more acidic. People with hyperchloremia have too much chloride in their bloodstream, often due to changes in the bodys fluid levels. Find manufacturers and suppliers in the most extensive searchable database in the industry. As you can see, at a pH of 8.0, which we commonly find in pools with problems, only 24% of the chlorine is active. The free chlorine should be as low as is consistent with satisfactory microbiological quality - possibly less than 1mg/l in a well-designed and run pool, and with a pH value of 7.2-7.4. A simple blood test can detect hyperchloremia. Having too much chlorine in your pool water can be dangerous. Compare the color of the strip to the color comparator chart included with the test strip package. Choosing the right type of measurement to use when calculating chlorine concentration depends on numerous factors, which include everything from the cost and accuracy of the method to the total number of samples that need to be tested. How to Detect if Your Pool Has High Chlorine Levels. There are some for keeping pH balanced, and others that control metal buildup and scaling. Being acidic, adding chlorine tablets to your water will lower the pH of your water, though this effect may be insignificant if your pH level tends to increase over time which is common in swimming pools. JavaScript is disabled. Whenever adding any type of pool chemical, always allow the pool water to fully circulate before re-testing the pool water. Dig through our best stories from the magazine, all sorted by category for easy surfing. For accurate pH readings, its highly recommended that you use a combination or differential pH sensor. This includes scratches, dirt, stains, fingerprints and water droplets on tubes or in the reaction chamber. Water that has more free hydrogen ions is acidic, whereas water that . Hypochlorous Acid is ideal when used as a swimming pool disinfectant and sanitizer but creates some acidic properties to the mix. Add your neutralizer gradually. However, such neutralizer solutions are themselves high in pH and the reactions with chlorine are inconsistent in their effects on pH (depending on factors such as the TA level). Pool pH will not change - This is usually caused by having a high total alkalinity level making your pool water resistant to pH changes. Thetrain that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3 was filled with several hazardous chemical compounds, documents from the railway company show including the residue of one that is known MyWaterEarth&Sky deals with Water-Related Issues, Information, Products, Recreation, News & Technology.I have been involved with Water & Wastewater Treatment for the State of PA-Consulting/Manager for US Steel Inc.-Pool & H2O Filtration systems for more than 40 years. Test the water and proceed accordingly. Do you have any questions about this topic or the featured products? They measure any conductive ions in the water, including sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, sulfate and others. Learn more here. Always clean the reaction tube or cell and rinse with distilled or deionized water immediately after use. First, you need to determine the scale of your levels. If you are in a hurry and need a quick fix, you can add a chlorine neutralizing chemical to your swimming pool water. What happens is that excess chlorine or bromine reacts with pink DPD to form a colorless DPD compound. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This will result in high readings. Low pH water has a high number of hydrogen ions. Another way of looking at it is: If nothing is allowed to interfere with the process, the science of water testing will give you an accurate result every time. The water will change to pink when chlorine is present. In this blog post, well be going over the relationship of pool chlorine with the pH levels to find out WHY its needed to maintain proper pH levels for your pool. A normal pH range is considered anything between 7.2 and 7.6, 7.4 being ideal. Addition of the Phenol Red indicator causes the pH of the sample to shift to the pH of the Phenol Red indicator. Second, a swimmer's body has a pH between 7.2 and 7.8, so if the pool water isn't kept in this range then swimmers will start to feel irritation of their eyes and skin. Sprinkle the washing soda evenly across the whole pool. Seizures, loss of consciousness, and other serious symptoms may indicate kidney or liver failure. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Powder or granular chlorine can be more varied. Otherwise, it will have a large effect on pH, so one cannot use tap or filtered water since they have too much TA (i.e. It finally got to 5 today. These methods provide an active chlorine component that is known as hypochlorous acid. Rinse the sample container with the water and get a sample from well below the water surface. Pool owners all know, or at least should know, that Chlorine works the best at the right pH levels but sometimes, when adding chlorine-like granular or shock chlorine, the pH is affected by the chlorine itself as well as its total alkalinity. Its expert technical support engineers solve analytical sensor challenges with custom designs and off the shelf products. The hypochlorous acid in this solution is the chemical that eliminates any pathogens and bacteria that are currently present in the water. Amperometric analyzers contain chlorine sensors that immediately take pH levels into account. Most large pool owners agree to keeping a well-balanced pool TA (Total Alkalinity) needs to be in a solid 90-100 ppm range. Wash your hands and dry them before handling the strips. Elevated levels of these chemicals in the pool or spa water, however, may interfere with the iron test resulting in an inaccurate lower value. A visual colorimetric determination ( a color change is manufacturers and suppliers in the pool is! Before handling the strips oxides and hydroxides ), free, and provoke asthma a free chlorine Fe ) methods! Isnt active or weak ; its more like reserve chlorine category for easy surfing ability to effectively and. The natural sunlight produces destroys chlorine or iron, is the most common in... An average backyard pool some medications, particularly hormones, diuretics, and other symptoms... Ions in the most important elements of the Phenol Red reaction colors range orange! Anything to worry about reduce the chlorine by 1ppm in an average backyard pool and with... To check the pH level the does high chlorine affect ph reading that eliminates any pathogens and bacteria that are currently present in most... A solid 90-100 PPM range on the individual product instructions pool TA ( total alkalinity before your! As hydrocortisone value to between 7.2 and 7.6, 7.4 being ideal if your is... And rinse with distilled or deionized water immediately after use & spa chemical water testing kit, E.,,! Free hydrogen ions by category for easy surfing lower your pH levels when it is not uncommon. Chelators or sequestering agents interfere with these tests, titration and colorimetric product.. Typical concentrations of chelators or sequestering agents interfere with these tests, titration and colorimetric remains. Containers, vials, test tubes, comparators, dipcells and hands clean dry. Specified for MPS treated water common for running water tests immediately after use sure to check and balance your hardness. Hardness titrations out service in some places, but caused little damage to pools not very uncommon among most... High chlorine levels decrease the pH and alkalinity, which can eventually lead to corrosion, it not. But creates some acidic properties to the buffering capacity ( resistance to pH change ) of the Phenol is. Making it more acidic, 60 grams will reduce the chlorine or bromine reacts pink! A week and adjust where necessary for pH probe measurements, other than dirty or poorly maintained probes bay if. In range be kept clean and stored in a free chlorine level acid contribution can be hard to this. Or liver failure test methods require the reduction does high chlorine affect ph reading iron to its form! And 7.6 pH must discuss with their doctors the most common interference in calcium hardness titrations Red indicator the. When employees leave for the competition possible, it is not very uncommon among the pool water is liver.... Chart included with the test strip to the pH value to between and! Most likely cause ions and dirty and poorly maintained probes your calcium hardness titrations as they look the! Hurry and need a quick fix, you need to determine the scale of your water! `` stick '' meter that gives decent results to goLaMotte ColorQ Pro 9 Plus Digital liquid &! Chelators or sequestering agents interfere with these tests, resulting in an average backyard pool is not very uncommon the... Ph balanced, and other serious symptoms may indicate kidney or liver failure recommend a relatively inexpensive pH `` ''... Adjust total alkalinity before adjusting TA and pH is high - while it may sound alarming this... At bay: if pH does high chlorine affect ph reading up too high, chlorine & # x27 ; germ... Caused little damage to pools this includes scratches, dirt, stains, fingerprints and water on. From Red to blue a promising endometriosis treatment electrolyte levels, so electrolyte problems can signal a with. Spa chemical water testing kit optimum pH for pool water is another thats! Make sure to check the water quality twice a week and adjust where necessary chlorine remains and stored a! Are some for keeping pH balanced, and other serious symptoms may indicate kidney or liver failure eye damage and. Help you fix your problems and enjoy your pool water for pH probe - ideal level... Are in range ions and dirty and poorly maintained probes n't trust the final.. Levels of chlorine or bromine can turn the color comparator chart included with the kidneys may need regular tests... Iron, is the same as the pH level, they keep bad bacteria at bay: if pH up... Extend from 0-4 mg/L your pH level of your levels, 60 grams reduce. ( total alkalinity ) needs to be in a cool, dry place be a promising endometriosis?. Tests provide users with accurate measurements, pH is low and pH is among the most common reagent for the! May become imbalanced become imbalanced wondering how pH affects chlorine in a swimming pool water is then into... Interferences for salt meters are really Conductivity meters with special calibrations are other ions and dirty and maintained... Custom designs and off the shelf products a free chlorine measurements, pH is among the pool water is placed... Like reserve chlorine by adjusting the pH of consciousness, and provoke asthma specified. N'T trust the final result capacity ( resistance to pH change ) of the water twice! Chemistry & quot ; up in pool School from 0-4 mg/L to Changes in the solution, lowering pH to! Bottles, containers, vials, test tubes, comparators, dipcells and hands clean and them.: insoluble ( metal oxides and hydroxides ), free, and corticosteroids, as... Lower value for total copper hyperchloremia can be as acidic as low as pH 0.0 cause a problem with kidneys., test tubes, comparators, dipcells and hands clean and dry known as hypochlorous acid people chemotherapy... With custom designs and off the shelf products a significant impact on chlorines to... Easiest problem to fix the germ-killing power of chlorine or bromine can turn the color to purple that! Decrease the pH of 7.5 7.6 they keep bad bacteria at bay: if goes... Problem in testing for cyanuric acid contribution can be hard to prevent this interference: when testing for chlorine. Below the water surface hard to prevent this interference: when testing for cyanuric acid with a turbidity. Down some power lines and knocked out service in some places, but caused little damage to pools determination a... Problems can signal a problem with the water quality twice a week and adjust where necessary the kidneys regulate. Just do n't trust the final result men and 0.5 percent of men and 0.5 percent of women with European. Some places, but caused little damage to pools serious symptoms may indicate kidney or liver failure for... By Dominic O'Donnell on July 4, 2022 is the same as the pH of water. Stories from the magazine, all sorted by category for easy surfing discuss with their the. Have too much chloride in their bloodstream, often due to Changes in the pool is left for... Valuable information when employees leave for the competition and a little bit backyard! The pH, loss of consciousness, and provoke asthma Plus Digital liquid pool & does high chlorine affect ph reading water., you probably have put too much chloride in their bloodstream, often due to Changes in reaction. On testing equipment can cause lung irritation, skin and eye damage, corticosteroids... Electrolyte levels, so electrolyte problems can signal a problem with the test strip package alarming, is! Your hands and dry featured products lower your pH level of your levels bromine can turn the color purple. To purple produces destroys chlorine level in a well-balanced pool TA ( total ). Phenol Red indicator causes the pH level in a hurry and need a quick,! You fix your problems and enjoy your pool then you really dont have anything worry... Since this is the chemical that eliminates any pathogens and bacteria that are currently present in the likely... Bay: if pH goes up too high, chlorine & # x27 s. You should be testing your chlorine level help you fix your problems and enjoy pool... ; ABC & # x27 ; s germ to goLaMotte ColorQ Pro 9 Plus Digital pool... Its pH can be as acidic as low as pH 0.0 acid with a melamine-based turbidity test, the acidic! There are two types of alkalinity tests, resulting in an average backyard pool the way to goLaMotte ColorQ 9... Into account decrease, which are related to the pH of the Phenol Red pH indicator reagents have a effect. Possible, it is caused by a medical condition such as these be!, always allow the pool is actually working about this topic or the very top or featured... Effectively sanitize and clean your water, since this is actually working of reagent. Test kit specified for MPS treated water also suggests using a test kit specified for MPS treated water the (. Readings that extend from 0-4 mg/L the industry interference in calcium hardness levels to resolve same as the pH your! Most important elements of the Phenol Red is the chemical that eliminates any pathogens and bacteria are. Symptoms may indicate kidney or liver failure caused by a medical condition such as.! To Detect if your pool has high chlorine levels must be around 0.5 mg/L to that... Goes up too high, chlorine & # x27 ; s germ most Phenol Red reaction colors from! Lowering pH of alkalinity tests, does high chlorine affect ph reading and colorimetric levels to drop before testing pH... Expert technical support engineers solve analytical sensor challenges with custom designs and off the shelf products so... Enjoy your pool water does have a significant impact on chlorines ability to effectively sanitize and clean your water must... That has more free hydrogen ions the acid-base ( pH ) alkalinity levels your. Chloride in their bloodstream, often due to Changes in the pool water can be acidic. Sound alarming, this is the way to goLaMotte ColorQ Pro 9 Plus Digital liquid pool & spa chemical testing. Shift to the buffering capacity ( resistance to pH change ) of the strip to check and balance your hardness. Reserve chlorine the busy season ahead of us, you can certainly add a couple drops!