the most trusted name in water testing

Blogs

Learn more about water testing with Taylor products


We have had many pool/spa water testing experts at Taylor throughout the years, and here you can explore a collection of their blogs! Learn more about testing techniques, Taylor products, and water chemistry.

Strike First Against Algae

Strike First Against Algae

High temperatures, a sunny day, and plenty of company — factors that make for a great pool party — also can energize a group of nasty intruders: algae.

Winterizing Your Pool/Spa

Winterizing Your Pool/Spa

Winterizing/closing a pool or spa is not difficult, but it is necessary if you want to protect your investment. Who wants to find major issues when the next swim season rolls around?

Let’s Hit the Mailbag of Pool/Spa Questions

Let’s Hit the Mailbag of Pool/Spa Questions

As the person who handles hundreds of tech calls and e-mails here at Taylor each month, I get a lot of interesting questions…some great, some not so great, and some that are really out there!

Why is My Pool Water Cloudy?

Why is My Pool Water Cloudy?

Without any hesitation, I can tell you this is the number one tech question I get, almost daily. The frequency of this question causes me to see cloudy water in my sleep.

Total Alkalinity Simplified

Total Alkalinity Simplified

The subject can be intimating and a bit confusing. That’s why whenever I talk about total alkalinity I like to use a visual—an umbrella!

Tackling Metals and Algae in Your Pool/Spa

Tackling Metals and Algae in Your Pool/Spa

The general rule regarding discoloration goes like this: If the discoloration is clear, it’s usually a sign of metals (e.g., copper, iron, etc.) in the water. A murky/cloudy discoloration indicates the presence of algae (mustard/yellow, green, black, etc.).

How Wait Time Effects Water Test Results

How Wait Time Effects Water Test Results

Mom always said, “patience is a virtue.” But is it? In the world of water testing for instance, patience is not always an advantage. In fact, patience can end up causing some odd and potentially incorrect results.

Tips for a Successful Pool Opening

Tips for a Successful Pool Opening

You might compare opening presents on Christmas morning to the feeling you get when opening your pool at the beginning of the season: Sometimes you get what you had hoped for (no algae, crystal-clear water, no staining, etc.), but sometimes you don’t (green water, algae growing all over the place, staining, unidentifiable animal carcasses floating on the surface [okay…I added that one for dramatic effect]).

Obtaining a Proper Water Sample

Obtaining a Proper Water Sample

Ideally, you should obtain a sample at least 18" below the water’s surface (your elbow is a good stopping point) and away from any return lines.

Monopersulfate — the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Monopersulfate — the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly about a treatment product being used in the pool/spa industry that has gained tremendous popularity in the past 10-ish years: potassium peroxy-monopersulfate (KHSO5), aka monopersulfate or non-chlorine shock.

10 Features to Look for in a Test Kit

10 Features to Look for in a Test Kit

Deciding which test kit has the right features for your specific needs may be best determined by talking with an expert at your local retailer about these top ten features to consider when deciding which test kit is right for you!

Cyanuric Acid: Good or Bad?

Cyanuric Acid: Good or Bad?

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is a chlorine stabilizer that is widely used in residential and commercial pools and spas. So why are so many people, including health officials, split on whether it is beneficial or harmful?

The Retail Store Advantage

The Retail Store Advantage

In my opinion, the experience and the knowledge of the pool store professional makes the difference between a happy customer and a frustrated pool/spa owner.

Why Water Balance is Critical to Your Pool and Spa

Why Water Balance is Critical to Your Pool and Spa

Water balance is the dynamic interaction of five specific chemical parameters that must be tested on a regular basis to ensure that water in a pool or spa is neither corrosive nor scaling-forming.

Water Testing Myth: Smelling Chlorine?

Water Testing Myth: Smelling Chlorine?

Chloramines are responsible for the typical “chlorine smell” we find in pool and spa waters. This is NOT a good thing, especially in indoor environments where the exchange of fresh air is poor or non-existent.

Your Spa Is Not Just a Small Pool

Your Spa Is Not Just a Small Pool

Remember the old adage: A square is a rectangle but a rectangle is NOT a square? Well, the same is true in the pool and spa industry.

Why Storage Matters for Your Reagents

Why Storage Matters for Your Reagents

We get a lot of technical calls and e-mails here at Taylor. And the clear majority of those technical questions revolve around reagent freshness or “shelf life.”