What a Water Test Actually Tests
When we test your pool, this spinning disc test reads six numbers at once. Each one tells us something different about your water. First, free chlorine. That is the chlorine ready to work right now, killing germs and algae. It is the number we protect.
Combined chlorine is chlorine that already fought and lost. It makes that sharp pool smell, and it tells us the water needs help. pH tells us if the water leans sour or sweet, acid or base. Out of balance, water stings eyes and eats at equipment.
The Anchor and the Balance
Alkalinity is the anchor for pH. Keep it steady and the pH stops bouncing around from week to week. Calcium hardness is a balance too: too low and water pulls minerals out of plaster, too high and it leaves white crusty scale.
Last, CYA, the sunscreen for chlorine. A little shields it from the Texas sun. Too much and chlorine slows way down. Six numbers, one clear next step. That is why we never guess with chemicals. We read the numbers, then we dose.
Key Takeaways
Free chlorine is the chlorine ready to work right now, killing germs and algae; it is the number we protect.
Combined chlorine is chlorine that already fought and lost; it makes that sharp pool smell and tells us the water needs help.
pH out of balance stings eyes and eats at equipment, and alkalinity is its anchor, keeping it from bouncing week to week.
Calcium hardness is a balance: too low pulls minerals out of plaster, too high leaves white crusty scale.
CYA is sunscreen for chlorine; a little shields it from the Texas sun, too much slows it way down.
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