Poolmaster 22260 5-Way Swimming Pool or Spa Water Chemistry Test Kit with Case, Essential Collection

I was using the test strips when I first got my pool and all the chemicals were off so I remembered my husband would get the test kit with the drops so I ordered them and since I’ve been using that I have had no more chemical issues. I test 3 times a week and I’m still using the first test drops but I ordered a back up just to have it. Great product, it comes with step by step instructions and gives an Accuret reading.

I’ve been using the Poolmaster 22260 test kit for a few weeks now, and it has made checking my pool water much easier. The instructions are simple to follow, and the color readings are clear enough for routine maintenance. I like that it tests multiple water chemistry levels in one kit, which saves time and helps keep the pool balanced. The carrying case is also a nice touch because it keeps everything organized and protected between uses. The kit feels durable and works well for both pools and spas. Overall, this is a dependable and convenient option for anyone wanting to maintain clean, balanced water without a lot of hassle.

Works well. More accurate for drops and color match than others I’ve used.

This is a great basic test kit. The tests for ph, alkalinity, etc are relatively easy and completely effective. The quick instruction card is clear and concise (although it would be nice if they put all target values on the card--some are only in the larger booklet which is a pain if you forget). It would be nice if there was a white background behind the vials and color standards, but it's not hard to hold up a piece of paper. I also wish the instruction card was laminated. That's not a big deal, though. The only major problem is the lack of a FAS-DPD chlorine test (never included in basic tests like this). If you keep free chlorine no higher than 3ppm, you can get by the the OTO test that this kit includes, however, there is no accurate way to measure higher chlorine levels. Even with a target level of 2-3ppm, you will need to raise the FC level much higher and keep it higher to effectively shock the pool (sure, you can just dump a bunch of chlorine in and wait until it comes back down, but if you have a serious problem with algea, you will need to raise the chlorine and the maintain it at shock level until it stops dropping overnight, and to do this, you need to be able to read the free chlorine at shock levels). Even when your not shocking, if your stabilizer gets high (and it will if you use tablets) you will need to maintain higher free chlorine levels than this test can read. This kit doesn't claim to include the FAS-DPD test, so I can't take off too many stars, but if you are serious about maintaining your pool, that test is absolutely critical. This kit plus a stand-alone FAS-DPD test and a CYA (stabilizer) test kit should be sufficient for most people. You may want a hardness test kit, too, particularly with plaster pools (not as important with vinyl liners). No matter what kit you choose, as long as you learn how to use it correctly, it's a much better option than taking water to the pool store for testing. Sure, that's free, but it's rarely accurate. I figured that since they test water all day long they should be pretty good at it, but I was amazed at the inaccuracy when I asked them to test two identical samples (I said they were from different pools, but they were taken from the same pool at the same time/place). One sample they said the hardness was too low (100) and the other was too high (400). On one, the pH was 7.4 and the other was 7.8. They said free chlorine was 4ppm for both samples, when in fact, it was around 25ppm (very misleading, but not completely their fault--they use an OTO test like this kit has, not the FAS-DPD test, so they had no way to know what the chlorine really was).

Okay, I've had this kit for about 7 months now, including through a summer season. Last spring I decided to fire the pool guy and start maintaining my inground pool myself. So ordered this kit (and various other needed pool maintenance accessories) from Amazon. Soon thereafter I discovered the "Trouble Free Pool" (TFP) method of pool care & maintenance. Anyone doing their own pool cleaning/maintenance should check out TFP. Anyways, back to the Poolmaster 5-way kit...... GREAT!! Easy to follow instructions. More than enough chemicals to last a busy pool season. Accurate.....how do I know this you ask? Well when I started following TFP I ended up also purchasing a highly recommended, more complete pool testing kit (TF-100). It includes several additional chem tests, including a more accurate test for chlorine (including levels above 5 ppm---the max on the Poolmaster kit). I checked my Poolmaster results against the TF-100 results and they were always virtually identical. Plus I took them to a local Leslie's Pool Supply to have them checked a few times and again........Poolmaster results matched the pool shops. I believe the 3 most important chemicals to monitor for your average pool owner are: (1) chlorine, (2) pH, and (3) Total Alkalinity. Keep those three in their proper ranges and you will likely have a safe and chemically stable pool. Now other pool owners are going to scream about other chem's you should be monitoring, such as calcium and cyanuric acid (CYA). Those should also be checked occasionally (in my opinion). But most pool supply stores will check your chemicals free of charge. So you can have those chems checked by them occasionally. Average pool owners should focus on regularly checking (and adjusting as needed) chlorine, pH and TA. This Poolmaster kit does well in all of those. Plus, it has an acid demand test for determining how much pool acid (MA) to add if your pH is low. All you need to know is approximately how many gallons your pool is. For less than $20 you can't go wrong with this Poolmaster kit. The amount of chemicals should last a full season, unless you are checking constantly. Some chems you use more and will likely run out of before others. I suppose you can re-order those, or just order a new kit every year. Plus that ensures your chem's are "fresh". They do have a shelf-life you know.......

Can't find it at big box store. Great price and works great.

I purchased a home with a 15,000 gallon swimming pool. After spending the first week, learning my pool equipment, filtration, and how to program my VSP, I moved onto the chemicals. This test kit is awesome, much better than the test strips I saw in the pool store. It has a little instructional card that is very easy to use. My first water test, everything was perfect, except for my alkalinity being way too high, 300 ppm. This is my fault as I added, those Armand Hammer pool baking soda tablets several days before. I added three, that was overkill, although that was the recommended number for the size of my pool in the instructions. Going forward, one will suffice. The little plastic card tells you how much muriatic acid to add to bring it down, and how to adjust your levels based on the size of your swimming pool in gallons. Comes with a nice little carrying case. And a booklet that contains all the information you need. Very easy to use. Highly recommended. I am now very confident at pool maintenance.

Disadvantages: (1) testing takes far longer than with strips. (2) Total alkalinity consistently reads 30 -40, less than half of the readings given by 2 brands of test strips. This reading seems unbelievable.The other readings are clear and credible. (3) expensive compared to test strips.

I bought this kit to keep track of water quality in our in ground pool. The price was quite reasonable. After using the kit, I took a sample to our local pool store where they have a sophisticated computer system that analyses your sample and gives a print out of your water sample analysis. I was pleasantly surprised to find their printout agreed exactly with the readings I got from the kit. I was originally concerned that there wouldn't be enough of the reagents to last the entire season, but there should be no problem doing analysis once or twice a week for the whole summer season. The reagents should be replaced each season anyway and they have a reasonably priced pack of replacement reagents. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. Knowing your chlorine, pH, and total alkalinity will keep you on top of water quality issues. Having this kit has saved me constant trips to the pool store, and when I do go I know exactly what I need.

I've been using Test strips for two seasons and always wonder how accurate they are once you've broken the seal... i.e. the more exposed to the atmosphere do they depreciate... Hence, I went for this kit. Initially, I compared the results between the Aqua Check Test strips and this kit; pH: kit read one step higher (6.8 & 7.2), Chlorine read the same, Free Chlorine the same, Alkalinity the same, Citric Acid the same. Bromine not available on Aqua Check strips I had. Since the solution bottles are only open a short time and virtually no air can enter the solution I believe the solution should maintain accuracy better than test strips. I intend to still compare the kit with the strips periodically however, I will be testing with the kit everyday - that's always what I prefer to do anyway - hence, I think having a kit will be a much cheaper option. I highly recommend purchasing this kit as I am very pleased with the results and confident it is a good solution. My only hope is that I can get the replacement solutions easily - instead of buying the whole kit again.

Pretty comprehensive test kit. Works as described.

This is the third summer I’ve been using this kit - I know it says to replace yearly, but my readings are still accurate. It’s finally time to look for refills. The price has almost tripled since I bought the first kit - but still worth the investment. Only takes a few minutes every day until you have your water balanced. And then test once every 2-4 days after. My water sparkles! I can feel the difference when it’s perfectly balanced and it’s something people notice. (Although they don’t seem to be sure what they’re noticing, they just really like how clean the water is.) I use this kit religiously. I make sure I always have adequate chemicals on hand to tweak it if necessary - usually after we’ve had 2-3 days of nonstop rain. I get my numbers bang on at opening and then just drop a puck in the basket every few days. Dip strips never gave me this much control.

So much happier using this from the dip stick style. Good product. Wish they would laminate the instructions or make it a sticker on the case!