Pool Water Test Strips Vs. Liquid Drops (Testing Kit): Which Is Better?

Test strips are an easy method of getting a water reading. They require little setup and time as you typically just dip the strip in the water, remove it, and compare results to the guide on the bottle.

Drop-based liquid tests typically come with testing tube reagents that react to the sample water. You count the number of drops and wait for a color change based on the tested chemistry level.

Simply put, pool test strips offer convenience and rapid testing, but they lack accuracy. Liquid drop test kits are more accurate, reliable, and can test a broader range of chemical parameters.

Let’s dive into which type of testing is better for you and your pool.

Comparing Test Strips vs Liquid Drop-Based Testing Kits

When it comes to the comparison of the two kinds of testing methods, it can fall into four main criteria (click to jump ahead to each section):

1. Cost
2. Ease of use
3. Accuracy
4. Reliability

Cost

Most test strips will run you about $2 to $3 per test. When buying in bulk, like 100 at a time, that can be about $25. Depending on how frequently you test (which should be a few times a week minimum), this can cost less than $50 per season.

Test kits generally have a higher upfront cost, ranging from $90 to $150 for the kit itself. Also, a complete re-supply of reagents can range from $50 to $60 per season, depending on how often they are used and if they are stored in the correct conditions.

Winner: Test Strips. While the kit is a one-time payment, strips will almost consistently be a cheaper option per swimming season.

Ease of Use

Test strips were created to be super user-friendly and fast. The test itself lasts less than 30 seconds, and that includes finding the chemistry ranges. It couldn’t be easier as all chemistry levels are done simultaneously.

Testing kits do require a little more time to complete accurately. Each chemistry test must be performed correctly and consistently to get accurate results.

Since tests are drop-based, you need to count and swirl between each drop until that test is completed. Fortunately, there are solutions to speed up the process in the form of a SpeedStir magnetic stirrer, but it still doesn’t even come close to the time of a testing strip.

In total, the time to complete a round of tests takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

Winner: Test Strips. In reality, 10 minutes doesn’t seem too long to do a full set of tests, but considering test strips take a shorter time than reading this sentence, the choice is obvious.

Accuracy

Most test strips are conducted with a color-coded system. After the test is completed, you compare it to the test’s color chart, and that will determine the chemistry levels of the water.

This leaves some inaccuracies as it can be difficult to compare the colors. Also, most testing levels will provide parts per million (ppm) range rather than an actual number.

Testing kits, however, are very accurate if done correctly. Because it is a drop-based system using reagents, numbers will naturally be more accurate, and you can be more certain that the readings are correct. This makes adding the necessary chemicals much easier because it takes most of the guesswork out of the equation.

Winner: Testing Kits. Kits are by far the better choice when it comes to accuracy. There are just too many uncertainties when using test strips that can lead to incorrect readings of the chemistry levels.

Reliability

While some better strips provide the necessary chemistry parameters to test, they also lack some of the most important levels.

For example, strips test total hardness, typically a combination of calcium and magnesium in water. However, they don’t provide calcium hardness (CH) tests, which is a critical component in determining overall water saturation and if there is a need to worry about scaling or etching of plaster walls.

They also can’t provide acid or base demand tests after testing pH.

On the other hand, test kits provide a much wider range of chemistry levels and can provide a much clearer look at overall water balance. After all, that is the goal here.

Winner: Testing Kit. While strips can provide some of the basic tests, the need for a full chemistry readout can’t be understated. Testing kits are the better choice here.

Verdict: Which is Better?

If you are serious about testing and getting the best results, a testing kit is the better option. The accuracy and reliability overshadow the bigger learning curve and higher upfront costs.

With that said, strips can certainly be used to supplement any test done with a kit. They are too cheap not to have around, and sometimes you want a quick read rather than a full set of levels, and that is OK!

The bottom line is that testing requires accurate readings, and a kit provides that. And the more you test, the more accurate your results will be on a week-to-week basis!