Easy Ways to Test Your Home’s Water Quality

We live in an age where having doubts about the water that comes through your tap or showerhead makes perfect sense.

Some of the potential contaminants found throughout the US and worldwide for that matter can be pretty dangerous. It’s better to be cautious than to have an unpleasant surprise down the line. For this reason, we will guide you on how to test your home’s water quality in a simple manner.

Lab Water Testing

The EPA certifies laboratories that test water. As such, the easiest and most accurate way would be to search for a laboratory that tests water near you and follow the instructions on the lab’s website. Or call them and ask for specific directions on how much water should you bring for the test.

The downside is that a lab analysis can be quite expensive. How expensive? Upwards of $200 for a single water sample and a few basic tests. Ouch. However, if you can afford it, testing your water at a laboratory is worth it simply because you’ll get the most accurate analysis that experts and professional equipment can offer you.

Home Water Testing

There’s a lot to learn and a lot to take in about water quality. With so many possible pollutants out there, regardless if we’re talking about city water or a private well, you’re going to need some time, patience, and a little knowledge when testing your water.

We recommend reading as much as you can about the water’s quality and ask your local authorities about spills and other things that might’ve affected your water supply recently. But if you want to keep it short and simple, read on through to see what types of tests you should consider regardless of where you live.

Multi-Pack Test Kits

If you want to go the easiest route of testing your own water at home, getting a package with multiple water testing strip kits is the best option.

You’ll have to be aware, however, that these aren’t necessarily 100% accurate. They are meant more for getting a bigger picture about the overall quality of the water you’re drinking.

The tests you should perform straight out of the box are TDS (total dissolved solids), bacteria and pathogens, heavy metals, VOCs (volatile organic chemicals), sediment testing, and tests for inorganic chemicals. Optionally, you could also test your water’s pH level if you’re thinking about switching to alkaline water in the future.

Test Kits for a Single Type of Contaminant

If, somehow, you’re sure that your water’s generally safe to drink but you are afraid there’s a single type of contaminant dwelling in it because of a recent spill or power shortage at the water plant, you have the option of ordering a test specialized in a single type of contaminant.

You’ll generally find these tests in the form of strip kits, pen kits, or vial kits. Prices differ depending on the brand, types of test, and their overall accuracy. Always make sure to read user and expert reviews for the test that caught your attention. The New York Times have also released a list of the best water test kits you can get right now.

Final Thoughts

Testing your water’s quality is the best way to ensure that you won’t contact any nasty disease and that your water has the best possible taste and smell.