Guide
How Often to Test Pool Water
How often to test pool water in season — FC and pH most visits, TA weekly, CYA and CH on a slower cadence — plus why a test log beats memory.
How often to test pool water depends on weather, bather load, and whether you have a saltwater chlorine generator — but “whenever I remember” is how FC crashes on a hot Saturday.
A practical cadence
| Parameter | Typical cadence (in-season) |
|---|---|
| Free chlorine (FC) | Several times per week; daily when hot, busy, or clearing algae |
| pH | With FC most visits |
| Total alkalinity (TA) | About weekly |
| Calcium hardness (CH) | Monthly, or after big water replacement |
| Cyanuric acid (CYA) | Monthly, or after big fills / trichlor use |
| Salt (SWG) | Monthly, or when the cell complains |
Off-season and covered pools can slow down. Opening week and heat waves speed up.
Why strips vs drop kits
Strips are fast for a vibe check. Drop kits (Taylor-style) are better when you’re dosing acid, raising FC precisely, or running a SLAM. Whatever you use, same kit, same method makes trends meaningful.
What “good” looks like in the log
A useful pool test log answers:
- Did FC hold overnight?
- Is pH drifting up after every sunny day?
- Is CYA creeping from trichlor tabs?
- Did that acid dose actually move pH, or only TA?
Memory lies. Numbers don’t — if you save them.
The 15-second habit
- Test.
- Enter only what you measured.
- Dose if the verdict says so.
- Save.
That’s the whole product loop in Pooldex. Pair it with the weekly checklist so the habit sticks when the season gets busy.