The Best Water Test Kits
This Old House Reviews Team
Water kits give you peace of mind that your water is safe for drinking, bathing, cooking, and cleaning. This review examines the best water test kits on Amazon.
Water testing kits use test strips or drops to quickly and easily test your water for potential contaminants. The This Old House Reviews Team has researched the best water test kits on Amazon to help customers who are worried about the cleanliness of their water. Here are our top five kit recommendations.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036UNV8E
AquaChek Salt Water Swimming Pool Test Strips
What We Like: Designed with saltwater swimming pools in mind, this testing kit measures sodium chloride to ensure your pool has the proper salinity level. The kit comes with 10 test strips and clear instructions. The instructions include useful tips, such as testing both ends of the pool twice a week.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073713G5F
HoneForest Water Quality Tester
What We Like: This water tester produces results in seconds and displays them on a backlit LCD screen for easy interpretation. This kit uses Automatic Temperature Compensation technology to ensure accurate readings every time.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B31M49N
JNW Direct Total Water Hardness Test Strips
What We Like: If you struggle with hard water and want to see if your softener is working properly, this kit is a reliable testing option. The kit comes with 150 easy-to-use strips that can measure water hardness levels between zero and 425 parts per million with a color-coded chart.
Buyer’s Guide
Read our guide below to ensure you’re purchasing the right test for the type of contaminant you’re worried about and the type of water source you’re testing.
Type
Water test kits typically come in one of the following types.
Strips
Strips are dipped into the water. They change color to indicate what contaminants and how much of those contaminants are present. Test strips are the most common type of at-home water testing kit because they’re convenient, but they don’t always produce accurate results.
Discs
Discs are usually more accurate than strips, but they can be more expensive. The discs run a series of tests at once. You drop water into each reagent-filled compartment. The reagent changes colors to indicate the presence of a contaminant.
Digital Readers
A digital reader displays results on an LCD screen. These devices can typically measure temperature, total dissolved solids, and electrical conductivity. Though they can’t test for specific contaminants, they can be reused.
Water Source
Choose a kit that specifically tests for the elements pertaining to your water source. For example, if you’re testing tap water, you may want a testing kit that catches elevated chlorine levels. However, if you’re testing well water, you may be more focused on catching iron and bacteria. Some kits test for multiple types of contaminants in many water sources.
Contaminants
Common contaminants that kits test for include lead, bacteria, pesticides, chlorine, copper, nitrates, nitrites, and iron. Make sure that the kit you choose can test the contaminants you’re looking for, especially if the contaminants are highly specific. A multipurpose kit that can test several parameters is always a safe bet because it can look for contaminants that you may not know you should be worried about.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are at-home water test kits?
The accuracy of water testing kits varies widely depending on the brand, test type, and water source. To ensure your testing kit is as accurate as possible, read the instructions closely, and check that the kit has been verified for accuracy by the EPA.
What should I test my water for?
Check to see what contaminants or issues are most common where you live. For instance, choose a hard water testing kit if you live in an area with a hardness problem. You can also choose a kit based on the water source you’re testing. For example, if you’re testing pool water, look for a kit that measures chlorine, salinity, and pH levels.
How often should my water be tested?
Test your water at least once a year for common contaminants, such as iron, bacteria, and lead. If you’re concerned about the safety of your water, consider testing it more frequently or getting certified lab results instead of a home test. Finally, if there has been a recent change to your environment, such as nearby land development, it may be a good time to get your water tested.
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The This Old House Reviews Team provides overviews of select products that are top-selling on Amazon and/or popular in consumer searches. Our team evaluates the products based on industry research, consumer reviews, pricing data, hands-on testing in select cases, and other objective criteria unique to a given product line. Unless otherwise noted, these product reviews are intended to help inform buying decisions for DIY or other non-pro users only. Editor’s picks are made by members of the This Old House Reviews Team.