How to Use Hot Tub Test Strips?

If you have never owned a hot tub before, one of the things you will get used to quickly is using test strips to test your hot tub’s water.

These tiny strips of paper are a quick and easy way to find out what chemicals need to be added to the pool to keep the water fresh, clean and healthy.  

Although there are other ways of testing your pool water, test strips remain the most popular method due to their low cost, accuracy and availability. For most people, they are the best choice to monitor their hot tub’s water.

In this article we’ll go over the process of testing hot tub water with test strips, and answer your questions, including:

• Are water test strips accurate?
• What do test strips actually test?
• How do I use hot tub test strips?
• Do hot tub test strips expire?
• Are pool and hot tub test strips the same?
• What other methods of hot tub water testing are there?

Hopefully, by the end you’ll have a strong sense of how to use your water test strips.

 

 

Are Hot Tub Test Strips Accurate?

The answer is yes, hot tub water test strips are accurate enough for people to be able to adjust their water chemistry levels to ensure your hot tub is both safe and well-looked after. That’s why they are recommended.   

They are not 100 percent accurate, as you will see if you ever try and use two different brands in the same hot tub: you can end up with slightly different results in that case. Things like excessive humidity or drops of water or exposure to extreme sunlight may make them inaccurate.

But they are sufficient as a guide for most hot tub owners: If your test strips are coming out okay and showing that your water is balanced, your hot tub is generally safe to use.  

How Do I Use Hot Tub Water Test Strips?

This part is straightforward. One of the biggest advantages of hot tub test strips is their ease of use. Within 15 seconds you’ll be able to ascertain what needs to be done with your pool water to get it back into balance. You don’t have to worry about measuring reagents or taking your water sample down to the local spa dealer. Test strips are perfect for DIY enthusiasts. Test strips are also very cheap. You can get a pack of 50 for around $12.  

• First, you purchase either bromine or chlorine test strips, depending on what type of sanitizer you have in your hot tub. They generally cost about $12-$15 for 50, depending on what kind you get.
• Many test strips offer several separate tests on the same piece of paper. You’ll typically get results for pH balance, total alkalinity, chlorine, bromine and total hardness. You can also get test strips that measure for cyanuric acid, total dissolved solids, phosphates and more
• Once you have the kind you want, take the test strip and dip it into your hot tub water for a few seconds. Then you remove the test strip from the water and wait, sometimes for up to 10-15 seconds.
• Next you line it up against the container you took it from, usually along the back or the side. It will have a series of colors, matching specific elements in the water – you place your test strip against that to see how it compares.
• The colors on the strip compared to the container will tell you if you’re out of balance or not. If you’re balanced, great! If you’re not, you then need to balance your water, using the test strip as a guide.

As simple as it is, this is the kind of thing more easily viewed than explained. Have a look at this video here:

What Should I Do if I am Confused About the Results on a Water Test Strip in My Hot Tub?

Your local retailer can help here. One of the biggest complaints about test strips is trying to decipher the colors: Is my green bright enough? Is my orange too dark?

A good retailer can tell you what to do – often even if you send them a picture of the test strip.

In most cases, a local retailer will also offer you complimentary water testing, often using a more sophisticated device such as a LaMotte WaterLink Spin Touch, which provides a more accurate and detailed description of your water quality. If you bring in some of your water, a dealer can do a more accurate test for you to give you the best advice possible on how to correct your balances.   

Once your water is re-established by using the more advanced testing, then you can go back to using test strips. The device your dealer has costs around $2,000, so we don’t recommend them for the average homeowner.

Do Hot Tub Test Strips Expire?

Yes hot tub test strips expire over time. So there is little to be gained with stockpiling. Prepare to order them every few months or so, or swing by your dealer or local store to pick some up. Places like Home Depot, Canadian Tire and Amazon sell test strips as well.

Are Hot Tub and Pool Test Strips the Same?

Yes, hot tub and pool test strips work the same way. Many test strips designed for pools have more detailed information than what is normally required for test strips.

Are There Any Other Ways to Test Your Water?

There are multiple other ways to test your water should you choose to go that route. Digital pH testers can be found in pool stores and online. Taylor is a water-testing brand that supplies water testing kits. In these, you blend your water with another liquid known as a reagent which reveals your water own properties.

All of these are generally more than what the average person requires to keep a hot tub functioning well with balanced water. So we’d recommend going this route if you’re having particularly stubborn problems you can’t resolve on your own using test strips or if your local retailer advises you to purchase one. Water is different everywhere and in special circumstances more advanced testing may be required.

Are Hot Tub Test Strips Good?

We find that hot tub test strips for water testing hot tubs are sufficient for most people to keep their hot tub balanced and safe for usage. Test strips are easy to use, taking just seconds to deliver you the results that let you know how to balance your hot tub water. They are inexpensive, costing significantly less than $20 for 50 strips.

Other testing exists. You can buy more expensive home kits. Or you can visit your local retailer for more accurate water testing if you’re in a situation you can’t resolve.

We hope this guide has been helpful as you navigate water testing for your hot tub! If we left anything else out you’re interested in, please don’t hesitate to contact your local retailer.