HTH 1173 6-Way Pool Water Test Kit Instruction Manual

Introduction

The HTH 1173 6-Way Pool Water Test Kit provides a quick and easy method to assess the chemical balance of your swimming pool or spa water. Regular testing is crucial for maintaining optimal water quality, ensuring the effectiveness of sanitizers, and preventing issues like skin and eye irritation. This kit allows you to test for six key parameters:

• Free Available Chlorine / Bromine
• pH
• Total Alkalinity
• Total Hardness
• Cyanuric Acid (CYA)

This kit is compatible with all pool types, including chlorine, bromine, and saltwater systems.

Image: HTH 1173 6-Way Pool Water Test Kit showing the reagents and test cells.

Safety Information

Always handle pool chemicals with care. Before working with any chemicals, ensure you have appropriate personal protective equipment.

• Keep out of reach of children.
• Danger: Causes severe burns and serious eye damage.
• Flammable: Contains products that may be flammable.
• Read warnings on each bottle. Store between 35-85°F (1-30°C).
• Never mix different chemicals or dissolve them before use.
• Always follow label instructions for all pool products.

In case of contact with skin, eyes, or mucous membranes, rinse immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if irritation develops. If inhaled, move to fresh air. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting; contact a physician immediately.

Setup

Before beginning any tests, ensure your test kit components are clean and ready for use. The kit includes various reagents, test cells, and a color comparator.

1. Rinse Test Cells: Rinse all test cells and tubes thoroughly with pool water before and after each test.
2. Collect Water Sample: Collect water samples 18 inches (45 cm) below the water surface, away from jets or return lines, to ensure an accurate representation of your pool's overall chemistry.
3. Dispensing Drops: Always hold reagent bottles vertically when dispensing drops to ensure consistent drop size and accurate measurement.

Image: Components of the HTH 6-Way Test Kit, including reagent bottles and test cells.

Operating Instructions: Performing Tests

Follow these step-by-step instructions for each water parameter test. For best results, hold the test cell up to natural light when comparing colors.

1. Total Chlorine / Total Bromine Test

1. Rinse and fill the Cl/Br test cell (left side of comparator) to the indicated mark with your collected pool water.
2. Add 5 drops of OTO (Orthotolidine) reagent.
3. Cap the cell and invert to mix the solution.
4. Match the resulting color to the closest standard on the color comparator for Chlorine (Cl) or Bromine (Br). Record the reading in parts per million (ppm).

2. pH Test

1. Rinse and fill the pH test cell (right side of comparator) to the indicated mark with your collected pool water.
2. Add 5 drops of PHENOL RED reagent.
3. Cap the cell and invert to mix the solution.
4. Match the resulting color to the closest standard on the color comparator for pH. If the sample color falls between two values, use the average of the two.

3. Total Alkalinity Test

1. Rinse and fill a separate sample tube to the 25 mL mark with your collected pool water.
2. Add 5 drops of ALKALINITY INDICATOR while gently swirling to mix. The sample should turn green.
3. Add ALKALINITY TITRANT dropwise, counting each drop. Swirl to mix after each drop until the color changes from green to red.
4. Multiply the number of drops used in Step 3 by 10 to record the total alkalinity in ppm.

4. Total Hardness Test

1. Rinse and fill a separate sample tube to the 25 mL mark with your collected pool water.
2. Add 5 drops of HARDNESS INDICATOR while gently swirling to mix. The sample should turn red if hardness is present.
3. Add HARDNESS TITRANT dropwise, counting each drop. Swirl to mix after each drop until the color changes from red to blue.
4. Multiply the number of drops used in Step 3 by 10 to record the total hardness in ppm.

5. Cyanuric Acid Test (CYA)

Note: This test typically uses a separate view tube and reagent.

1. Rinse and fill the CYA dispensing bottle (Part #9191) to the 7 mL mark with your collected pool water.
2. Add CYANURIC ACID REAGENT to the 14 mL mark. Cap the bottle and mix for 30 seconds.
3. Slowly transfer the cloudy solution from the dispensing bottle into the CYA view tube until the black dot on the bottom of the view tube just disappears when viewed from the top.
4. Match the liquid level to the markings on the CYA view tube. Record the CYA level in ppm.

Maintenance: Achieving Balanced Water

After testing, compare your results to the acceptable ranges below. Adjust your pool chemicals as needed to maintain a healthy swimming environment.

Key Considerations:

• pH: pH indicates whether water is acidic, neutral, or basic (alkaline). At a value of 7, pH is neutral; from 7 to 14, water becomes more basic; such as high or low alkalinity, pH control is important because pH affects bather comfort, sanitizer efficiency, and overall water balance.
• Total Alkalinity: Total alkalinity is the measurement of the alkaline materials in your pool/spa water that act as buffering agents to avoid rapid pH changes which could result in corrosion and staining. Maintaining the correct total alkalinity in your pool/spa water will help prevent cloudy water, scale formation, corrosion, staining, costly equipment repairs, and the extra expense of additional treatment chemicals. It will also keep the water's pH more consistent while allowing for economical pH adjustments when necessary.
• Cyanuric Acid (CYA): CYA maintained at the correct levels may allow chlorine to last three to five times longer in the presence of sunlight. CYA can only be lowered by partial draining and refilling the pool with fresh water. Maintain CYA levels between 20-40 ppm to prevent the degradation of free available chlorine (FAC) caused by the sun's UV rays. High CYA levels (above 90 ppm) may diminish the sanitizing capabilities of chlorine, therefore making chlorine less effective.

Troubleshooting Common Pool Issues

Use this guide to identify common pool problems and recommended actions based on your test results.

Specifications

• Brand: HTH
• Model Number: 1173
• UPC: 073187011732
• Tests For: Free Available Chlorine, Bromine, pH, Total Alkalinity, Total Hardness, Cyanuric Acid (CYA)
• Recommended Uses: Swimming Pool
• Unit Count: Equipment for up to 100 tests (reagents may vary)
• Item Weight: 0.09 Pounds
• Manufacturer: Innovative Water Care

Support & Contact

For further assistance, questions, or to purchase refill reagents, please contact HTH customer support or visit our official website.

• Helpline: 1-866-HTH-POOL
• Website: www.hthpools.com

HTH® and the HTH logo are trademarks of Innovative Water Care, LLC. All rights reserved.