Summer is a time for fun in the sun, and what’s more fun than taking a dip in your pool? However, it’s important to make sure that your pool is safe before you take a dip. One of the most important safety measures is checking to see if the water is electrified. In this blog post, we will teach you how to test pool water for electricity so that you can swim safely!
How to test pool water for electricity
Because of the growing number of people who are entering the pool business, more and more of them are looking for ways to make a profit. One way is to open up your own pool store and sell chemicals like chlorine and salt as well as vending machines with snacks and soda. However, you will also need to master testing the water quality in pools because this directly affects how to clean swimmers can be when they enter your pool or spa. Here is what you should know about testing water for electricity:
Assess The Need To Test The Water For Electricity
Because it seems like such an easy thing to do, many people who don’t really understand how each chemical works end up testing their pool’s electrical conductivity (EC) too often. This is not only a complete waste of time but also very costly. You should consider if the water in your pool really needs to be tested for electricity or if you can just rely on your chemical readings to ascertain its quality. For example, if the chlorine level in the pool is at 1 pm and all other relevant chemicals are within tolerance limits, then there’s no need to test the electrical conductivity because it is already good enough without having to add more salt just so that you can get rid of that pesky question mark beside EC on your test kit.
Get The Right Test Kit
To measure how much electricity there is in water, you’ll have to get hold of a suitable tool for this job. You can either use an EC test kit to measure the conductivity of your pool’s water or a TDS meter for this purpose. You’ll have to be familiar with these readings as well as those from other tests that you made so as to know whether it is time to add more salt or chlorine into the water.
Know Where To Test The Water For Electricity In Pools
Testing electrical conductivity in pools should ideally be done at least twice a week, but not during peak hours when there are many swimmers using the pool. Usually, testing should be done between 10 am and 4 pm – preferably toward the early afternoon when most people have gone home for the day.
Test Pool Water For Electricity At The Right Time
sure that you also check the EC of the pool water early in the morning before any swimmers get into the water to ensure that it is still within its normal range. If you’re finding that there’s little or no chlorine left even if you just put some in, then the water may have been standing for too many hours and this allows bacteria to form which can irritate your swimmer’s eyes. On another note, do not test the pool’s EC immediately after shocking it with chlorine because this will distort your results.
Know-How To Recognize When There Is Electricity In Pool Water
You are already aware that electricity in water is usually measured using millivolts/cm (mV/cm). This basically means how many volts per centimeter of pool depth. For example, if you get a reading of 30 mV/cm or 30 millivolts per centimeter, then that means that the water’s electrical potential is as much as that of regular tap water. When you have too much salt in your pool, this voltage becomes higher and can even be up to about 70 mV/cm – well beyond what is considered safe for swimmers so it is important to address this problem right away. However, a high level of chlorine will result in a lower EC reading which is good because it signals cleaner pool water for swimmers. So remember, regular testing allows you to realize these changes quickly and let you know when something requires your attention. Don’t wait long though because even the slightest change can affect the pool’s water quality.
What You Need To Test Pool Water For Electricity
The electricity in a swimming pool is supplied by the power company, but it’s up to the homeowner to make sure that there is enough electricity for all of their needs, including proper water filtration. All too often homeowners do not take care of this important detail and end up with dirty or even dangerous pool water because of insufficient power.
There are several things that you need to test pool water for electricity. Here are 5 important reasons why you should understand your electrical needs as well as how they are tested.
1. Pool Filters
The main component in most swimming pools is the filter, which keeps debris out of the water and ensures that it remains hygienic. Doing so requires an electrical system capable of moving approximately 80 gallons of water per minute through the filter. If this rate is not met, the water in the pool will become full of debris and dirt.
2. Hand-Held Remote Control
The hand-held remote control for your pool’s motor works by sending a signal to turn on or off the filter pump. This electronic signal requires electricity in order to send. Without it you will be unable to change any settings on your own and may end up with dirty or even dangerous pool water if left in one spot too long.
3. Chemical Feeder System
Another device that needs power is the chemical feeder system, which controls how much chlorine and other chemicals are added to the water so that it remains safe for swimmers. This system also prevents the need to manually add chemicals, which could expose you to dangerous levels of chlorine gas.
4. Other Electric Appliances
Of course, there are other electric appliances in a typical pool: lights, pumps, and miscellaneous toys such as water slides and diving boards. All of these require electricity and will not work without it, so make sure that your power company can provide enough electricity to meet all of your needs!
5. More Frequent Use
Finally, pools that are used more frequently than others may be at risk of using up their allotted electricity too quickly. If you plan on opening your pool for more than just weekends or holidays but less than daily use then you may want to consider a bigger electrical plan from your power company, since it’s the only way to ensure that all of your equipment stays functional.
Tips For Keeping Your Swimming Pool Electrically Safe
Pool owners often do not give electrical safety enough thought when it comes to their pool, but it is important that swimming pool owners follow certain safety guidelines for the protection of both their family and property.
With the summer heat upon us, more people are spending time in their pools rather than at the local neighborhood park. A wonderful way to spend a hot summer day with your family or friends is to relax in your backyard pool on one of these days. It’s also an essential safety practice to have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) receptacles near your outdoor pool equipment. This will protect you from being exposed to any potentially harmful electrical currents should there be a problem with any of your electrical devices.
One way to ensure you and your family stay safe is to hire a professional electrician to install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) receptacles for your entire home. This will allow you to plug in all of your electrical devices near your pool, such as the pump and filtration system, without having to worry about any potentially dangerous shocks or accidents.
Here are six tips that can help keep your swimming pool electrically safe:
- Pool electrical equipment should be plugged directly into GFCI receptacles, not extension cords when outdoors. Extension cords should only be used indoors when the distance between the GFCI receptacle and outdoor equipment is too far for a corded connection.
- Turn off and unplug all electrical devices when you’re not using them, such as the pool pump and filtration system. Never assume that weatherproof covers protect these items from rain or moisture, and never run an extension cord through a window or door where it can be exposed to water or other elements.
- Be aware of how much time your electrical equipment is being used to avoid overloading outlets. If you have any concerns about the functionality of your electrical outlet, contact a licensed electrician immediately for professional advice.
- Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) receptacles should be installed in outdoor locations where water is likely to splash onto electrical connections, such as near water faucets, water hose connections, and pool pumps.
- Make sure outdoor electrical equipment is positioned in a way that keeps the cord away from potential moisture or standing water. Never allow cords to run through openings where they may be exposed to rain or other forms of moisture.
- Keep your swimming pool equipment at least 10 ft away from any high voltage power lines.
