Best Overall
Safe Home Ultimate Drinking Water Test Kit
Best Bang For The Buck
JNW Direct Drinking Water Test Kit
Best for Home
Tap Score Advanced Water Test Kit
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sure volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ) in water can wreak havoc on your health and home appliances if they are n’t detected and eliminated . That ’s why we researched more than 30 plate water test kit , narrowed our options down , and test each one .
Choosing the best option depends on the piss source and the contaminants that may be present , so our inclination include product with a salmagundi of feature and best United States of America . Continue reading to incur out how we chose and tested them , the test effect , and which one might be the best pee trial kit for your situation .
How We Tested the Best Water Test Kits
assure that rap , well , pool , and spa urine is clean and unpolluted is well-fixed with the veracious examination kit . The best piss testing kit choices count on the testing character , water source compatibility , the number of tests let in per outfit , how many and which type of contaminants can be discover , and how quickly results are processed . The kits we prove include fast - acting DIY trial strips and sampling kits for lab testing .
All of the kit in this guide delivered matching result , either numerical values within a 3 pct perimeter of error or a color code ambit check to numerical lab test results . For the science laboratory kits , we only sealed our water sample distribution in container and shipped them out for professional analysis . The results were available within 3 week . We compare the outcome from those tests to one another and used them as benchmarks to gauge the truth of our DIY test kits .
Most of the water examination kit we tested use color - coded strips to discover contaminant . We dipped the strip into our water sample and wait a few seconds for the chemical reaction to come about . Then we compare the color foursquare on the strip with the corresponding test keys to ascertain out how much star , fluoride , iron , copper , hydrargyrum , chlorine , nitrite , nitrate , pH , total alkalinity , hardness , aluminum , sulfate , zinc , manganese , or bacterium might be in the piss .
Our Top Picks
If you ’re look for a authentic H2O exam kit , we can help . We quiz some of the best weewee trial kits across a sort of categories . To facilitate you make an informed pick , we ’re sharing the testing parameters and effective - use scenarios for each intersection and detail our experience working with them .
Anyone in need of a detailed drinking water analysis with the broadest range of examination parameters will want to view the Safe Home Ultimate drinking weewee test outfit . You send in the samples , and professional lab technicians do the quietus .
A lab indorse by the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) screen Safe Home water samples for 200 body of water - caliber parameters , admit 12 strong-arm properties , seven types of inorganics , 31 metals , 20 pesticides and weedkiller , 78 fickle organics , five trihalomethanes ( or TTHMs ) , and 47 volatile tentatively identified compounds ( or TICs ) . The lab examination fee is included with leverage , and resolution are useable within 7 to 10 occupation days . The companionship ’s e - determine center hide over 200 pages worth of gratuity for keeping water clean and identifying any contamination that may be polluting water .
This test kit was bulky and expensive but very loose to use and provided incredibly detailed information . We simply fill the enclosed vials with our samples , sealed the box , and shipped it to the lab . We accessed our digitally useable results in just under 2 week and invite a hard copy about a week after . The results themselves were highly elaborated and include linkup to help oneself us con more about specific contaminants . There was a morsel of technical language to navigate , but the connection and client bread and butter were helpful .
Read our full review : Safe Home Ultimate Drinking Water Test KitProduct eyeglasses
Get the Safe Home water test outfit atAmazonorSafe Home .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
For a canonical water supply test kit that does n’t break the bank , see no further than JNW Direct ’s boozing water test outfit . It comes with 100 test strips that check for 15 parameter : iron , pig , lead , fluoride , pH , cyanuric loony toons , full alkalinity , residual chlorine , total chlorine , bromine , ammonium chloride , full inclemency , carbonate , nitrate , and nitrite . The ideal EPA measure for each parameter are marked straightaway on the feeding bottle for ready and easy reference .
JNW Direct also offers a mobile app to track and monitor the result of piddle tests and includes an due east - Bible that provides estimation about how to amend the quality of drinking body of water . The main drawback is this outfit does n’t directly test for bacteria ; however , it does test for nitrate and nitrites , which are clew to a bacterial bearing .
The JNW Direct exam strip were inexpensive , easy to use , and gave us a quick , clean indicant of the various contaminant levels . Although the color - tantalize strip offers less detail than a lab mental test , we find that it intimately ordinate with the lab test resultant . Like other chemical test strips , the colors are susceptible to running if handled improperly , so a little recitation may be in ordination .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
Get the JNW Direct drinking water test kit atAmazonorWalmart .
The Tap Score in advance water mental test kit is ideal for analyze all sort of drunkenness water , whether it ’s from a municipal water system public-service corporation or a secret well . It ’s especially useful near agricultural or industrial activity , where customer may be concerned about bacterial , pesticide , or heavy metallic element contaminant .
The outfit includes three vials with easy instructions for sample forthwith from the faucet and a postpaid shipping recording label to submit the samples for testing . Tap Score ’s EPA - certified lab checks 114 water - quality parameters and posts the results to your accounting about 2 week after shipping , or 10 days after the research lab receives the samples . The result do with a personal “ wiretap scotch ” calculate by the company ’s algorithm based on your water ’s aesthetic , its impact on your wellness , and its impact on your plumbing .
Photo: amazon.com
The Tap Score Advanced body of water trial kit return us thorough results at a discount compare to the Safe Home laboratory trial and did a great chore of explaining the contaminants . The testing regimen was less detailed than Safe Home ’s , but the interpretation of the results was striking . We really like the idea of a standardized water - character score and the power to drill down on specific contaminants and learn how they might impress our health or plumbing organization .
Get the Tap Score weewee mental test kit atAmazonorTap Score .
Best For Drinking Water
Varify Complete Drinking Water Test Kit
Varify ’s imbibing water test kit test for 17 parameter , including lead , fluoride , smoothing iron , copper , mercury , Cl , nitrite , nitrate , pH , total alkalinity , hardness , Al , sulphate , atomic number 30 , and manganese , in summation to bacterium .
The kit include 100 trial strips that each test for the first 16 water - tone parameters , plus two test that see to it for the presence of bacteria . Both the trial strip show and the bacterium test are create in compliance with EPA testing standard . The examination strips are ready to psychoanalyse in 15 minutes , and the bacteria tests are ready to interpret in 48 hours .
Many exam strips become mussy with color run that make them hard to read or colors that continue to change after the allotted run time , which can taint the outcome . Those issues were significantly improved in the Varify Complete body of water trial run outfit . Although the coloration outcome took longer to acquire than others we try , they remained stable and did n’t really run . In terms of handling and reliability , these were our favorite test strips to practice .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Varify water test kit atAmazon , Varify , orWalmart .
Best for Well Water
Health Metric 8-in-1 Well Water Test Kit
This well - water system test outfit from Health Metric is specifically formulated for well water ’s unequaled risks . Well weewee is not regularize under the Safe Drinking Water Act . In addition to try for the standard parameters of nitrate , nitrite , water severeness , pH , and total alkalinity , this outfit trial run for manganese , hydrogen sulfide , and coliform bacteria . The trial run are recrudesce in accordance with EPA standards , and the results for most of the parameters are useable within minutes .
Well substance abuser need not care about sure city water supply issues . We like the simplified design of these psychometric test slip , eliminating the spot for chlorine , cyanuric acid , and other elements not found in wells . These well - water testing strips reacted in just a few minutes , and the coloring held fairly stable . Fewer mental testing square made the strips easier to read quickly . Although there are no test included for agricultural or industrial contamination , this is a expert kit for monitoring a salubrious well .
Get the Health Metric 8 - in-1 water test outfit atAmazonorHealth Metric .
Photo: amazon.com
Best for Pool Water
JNW Direct Pool and Spa Test Strips
Pools and health spa have unequalled water - quality necessary that dissent from drinking H2O , so specialized mental test are necessary . These test strips from JNW Direct have seven - in - one testing capabilities that are great for anyone looking to keep their pool or hot tub water sporting and good . They examine total atomic number 17 , hardness , bromine , free Cl , pH , cyanuric acid , and alkalinity .
examination is really easy . All you need to do is sink a trial strip show into the water system . Color - encipher results are available in seconds and can be checked against the handy color - coded chart that ’s included . For added convenience , one leverage comes with 100 strip show and a commodious e - book with summit for keeping a hot bathtub and pool clean .
Although these funnies are not equipped for utilization with saltwater pools , they worked well in our conventional Cl pool . Testing only take 30 sec , and the results were consistent with lab tests . young users may need a lilliputian practice session to get the hang of it , as the coloring material carry on to modernize after the examination window , making fast reading ability a priority . We snap a photo with the trial run strip alongside the colour chart to give ourselves a trivial redundant time with precise color and no runs .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the JNW Direct consortium and spa piddle trial kit atAmazon .
Best for Saltwater Pools
Taylor K-2005-SALT Complete Water Test Kit
Saltwater pools have special testing requirement for common salt stratum but partake in most water - tone standards with chlorine pools . Other saltwater pool test kit only allow for reagents for measuring salt degree , ignoring the rest of the pool chemistry . This Taylor K-2005 - SALT liquidness test outfit proffer all of the testing textile needed to supervise the whole chemic balance of the pool water .
The outfit include reagents for analyzing salinity , pH , chlorine , bromine , blistering demand , base demand , full alkalinity , calcium callousness , and cyanuric acid . It is neatly packed in a great - responsibility charge card cause for secure storage . Also include is an easy - to - use water - Libra calculator for straightaway chemical level reference .
Although work out with the liquid reagents require a bit more care and precision than simply dipping a test flight strip , we really appreciated getting immediate , accurate results from the Taylor K-2005 - SALT outfit . The reagent bottles were color - write in code for soft designation and keep back securely in the carry case along with the test ampoule and denotation materials . We also like that the kit leave steering for what and how much must be tally to balance the puddle chemical science .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Taylor piddle test kit atAmazon , Discount Pool Mart , My Pool Yard , orTaylor Technologies .
Best for Water Hardness
JNW Direct Water Hardness Test Strips
Hard water supply can lead to limescale build - up in plumbing , teetotal hair and skin , and a unforesightful lifespan for water hummer and other appliances . JNW Direct ’s water supply hardness test airstrip can assist you fix how high those water hardness levels are so that something can be done before problems Earth’s surface .
This outfit admit 150 exam strips that can detect the hardness of all water sources , include pee softener , dishwashers , showers , aquariums , and more . It provides precise results second after duck a test strip into the H2O . It also comes with a color - coded results chart and a commodious e - script full of tips and tricks for keep water hardness to a minimum .
As with other JNW Direct test strips we tested , these water hardness test strip offer fast , reliable results . They were inexpensive and easygoing to process , and the outcome were simple to show . Although the rootage of the hardness ( often either calcium or Mg ) is not given , the full hardness indication from the strips array consistently and intimately with our lab test results . Wherever voiceless body of water may be an issue , these test strips would be a great choice for diagnosing and regular monitoring .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the JNW Direct water unfeelingness test comic strip atAmazonorWalmart .
Also Consider
Health Metric Tap and Well Drinking Water Test Kit
Health Metric ’s tap and well booze water test kit checks nine parametric quantity with strip and solutions develop in conformity with EPA standards for truth . The kit actually includes separate trial for the different parametric quantity to maximize the truth of each individual mental testing of a water provision . It includes one run each for lead , copper , and coliform bacteria as well as two tests each for entire Cl ; nitrate and nitrite ; and pH , alkalinity , and hardness ( in a three - room test ) .
In our visitation , the good welfare of the Health Metric drunkenness water test kit was the comfort of reading the termination . The magnetic dip strips only have between one and three color squares , compared to others we tested with as many as 15 parameters per landing strip , so they are well-situated to match up against the compare graph . Although the price per full test is considerably high than the single strip run and testing each argument individually is more metre - consuming , we did n’t mind the deal - off for ease of exercise .
Get the Health Metric pat and well water trial kit up atAmazonorHealth Metric .
Photo: amazon.com
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Water Test Kit
A water test kit can bring out if you take awater filter , exhibitioner filter , orwater softenerfor your home . There are lots of ways to investigate water system quality , from highly precise professional lab run to simple DIY test kit .
Before choosing the best urine psychometric test kit for your home , it ’s crucial to be cognisant of the type of piddle kits usable , the contaminants for which they essay , and several other factors . Keep the following considerations in idea when searching for the best water - timber test outfit for maintain a healthy water supplying .
Type
With the elision of science laboratory - tested water trial kit , most kits use one of these three means of testing :
Contaminants
The EPA influence 90 contamination known to causebiological harm ; water exam kits can try out from one to more than 200 contamination . The most common contaminants checked for by water trial kits include the following :
Water Source
Some contaminant are more common in certain body of water sources than in others . atomic number 26 and bacterium , for example , are more unwashed inwell waterthan dab water , while elevated chlorine is more common in wiretap water than well water . As a result , some test kits are design to conciliate specific water sources by testing for the most common contaminants discover in that informant .
The most unwashed examples are test kits specifically for well water supply , tap water , aquarium water , and spa andpool urine . These specialised kit are usually more low-priced than those that test for every possible contaminant .
Accuracy
A water caliber test kit ’s accuracy will vary by manufacturer , but most are calibrate to EPA testing standards to see to it they ’re as accurate as possible . Some kits have even been swear for truth by EPA - certified laboratory .
A tryout strip is the least precise , mostly because pair the colour on the strip to the contaminants indicated can be immanent and prostrate to user wrongdoing . However , mental test strip that test for individual contaminants tend to be more exact than strips that examination for a wide range of VOCs .
Color disc kits are normally more accurate and cater more precise measuring of contaminant compactness but can be prone to the same subjective misinterpretations .
Photo: amazon.com
Digital instruments are often calibrated to be precise down to + /- 2 percent of 1 parts per million and µS / cm , but they do n’t valuate the mien of specific compounds .
Testing Procedure
Each case of test outfit require a different examination procedure . For test strips , dip the strip show into the H2O you want to essay and wait for the color to change . Then , play off the people of colour on the strip to the provide color chart that indicates the bearing ( and relative concentration ) of the contaminant . The strip can take anywhere from 1 minute to 48 hours for the color to modify depending on the contaminant being tested .
For color discs , the body of water sample is placed inside a plastic box with a viewing window that displays the weewee sample distribution next to a “ reference book color . ” To determine the concentration of the contamination for which you ’re test , compare the character reference colors to the water sample . The concentration is normally listed on the reference colors .
Digital instrument just take to have their electrode lay out into the water being tested , and the TDS and EC will display on the LCD screen in a matter of instant . With each testing operation , you could often read the resultant in minutes , with the exception of a bacterium run , which commonly requires a wait sentence of 48 hours .
Photo: amazon.com
FAQs
Still have unreciprocated interrogation about H2O test kits ? notice response to several of the most frequently require questions about H2O trial kit below .
Q. How do I know if my water is safe to drink?
Using a water trial run outfit can indicate if your H2O is safe to drink in by determining if it has toxic levels of various contamination .
Q. What should I test my water for?
Well urine should be tested once a year for total coliform bacterium , nitrate , total dissolved solids , and pH levels . If you suspect other contaminants , you should prove for those as well . However , pass fourth dimension identify potential problems first , as these test can be expensive . Although urban center water is monitor closely by the municipal water say-so , you may wish to test it for impurities coming from provision lines , leaks , or from your plate ’s plumbing arrangement .
Q. When should I test my water?
water system examination in your home base should be done every 2 years . But , you should also essay your water if you noticeproblemssuch as a change in smell , taste , or colour .
Q. Are home water test kits accurate?
The truth of home water test kit varies by maker , but many are highly exact and developed in compliance with Union EPA criterion .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a author and product tester with an extensive background in the nursery and landscaping industry . For more than 20 year , he mowed , edged , planted , pruned , cultivated , irrigated , and renovated beautiful landscapes . Now he tests and indite review about the latest outdoor business leader equipment , hand tools , lawn - care product , and other out-of-door living goods .
extra enquiry provided by James Fitzgerald .
Everything You Need for a Lush and Healthy Lawn
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
go along your Gunter Grass green and your plant life fly high does n’t just take a fleeceable thumb — it starts with the right tools and supply .
