5 Best Water Test Kits (2023 Guide)

Water testing kits use test strips or drops to quickly and easily test your water for contaminants like lead, other heavy metals, dissolved solids, bacteria, and more.

Our Reviews Team has researched the best water test kits on today’s market to help customers worried about their water’s cleanliness. Here are our top five kit recommendations.

Top 5 Water Test Kits

• Best For Pools: AquaChek Salt Water Swimming Pool Test Strips
• Best Digital Tester: HoneForest Water Quality Tester
• Best For Hard Water: JNW Direct Total Water Hardness Test Strips
• Most Versatile: VARIFY Premium Drinking Water Test Kit
• Best For Well Water: Health Metric Well Water Test Kit

Best For Pools: AquaChek Salt Water Swimming Pool Test Strips

Pros and Cons

✔ Measures salt levels in minutes
✔ Can measure levels from 400 to 7,000 parts per million
✔ Comes in a pack of 10 strips

✘ Won’t work properly if it’s submerged in too much water
✘ Doesn’t test for other chemicals besides sodium chloride

What Customers Are Saying

According to our verified-buyer research, customers who liked this product said it had easy-to-understand directions and produced fast, easy-to-read test results. However, those who didn’t like this testing kit claimed that it sometimes gave inaccurate readings, with multiple strips giving different results for the same pool.

Best Digital Tester: HoneForest Water Quality Tester

Pros and Cons

✔ Measures total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, and temperature
✔ Works in seconds
✔ Comes calibrated

✘ The auto shut-off function can sometimes kick in before the readings display
✘ Doesn’t test pH levels

What Customers Are Saying

Our team noted that satisfied customers said this testing kit was simple to use. They also liked that it could keep track of their reverse osmosis systems. However, those unsatisfied with the product said that the instructions were difficult to understand and that the screen sometimes displayed inaccurate readings.

Best For Hard Water: JNW Direct Total Water Hardness Test Strips

Pros and Cons

✔ Also keeps tabs on water conditioning and reverse osmosis systems
✔ Comes in a large 150-strip pack
✔ Comes with a downloadable app to track your results

✘ Has a color chart that can be confusing to understand
✘ Some customers had issues with the strips expiring even though they don’t have an expiration date

What Customers Are Saying

We found that numerous pleased customers said that this kit was easy to use and produced accurate results. However, some reviewers claimed that the strips stopped working despite not having a listed expiration date.

Most Versatile: VARIFY Premium Drinking Water Test Kit

Pros and Cons

✔ Includes tests for lead, bacteria, fluoride, iron, pH, copper, and more
✔ Comes with an easy-to-follow color-coded chart
✔ Comes with a test tube

✘ May be too comprehensive if you’re only testing for one or two specific elements
✘ The strips’ colors sometimes vary slightly from the colors on the chart

What Customers Are Saying

By and large, customers were pleased with the number of contaminants that this kit tests for and the easy-to-follow instructions. However, we did note some customers claimed that the bacteria tests often produced false negatives and that the strips sometimes gave the exact or similar results for multiple unique water sources.

Best For Well Water: Health Metric Well Water Test Kit

Pros and Cons

✔ Developed in accordance with EPA standards
✔ Includes comprehensive directions
✔ Includes tests for hydrogen sulfide

✘ Doesn’t include tests for lead, which is another common contaminant in well water
✘ Only includes one bacteria test

What Customers Are Saying

We noticed several positive customer reviews for this kit that remarked on how quickly it rendered results. They also liked that the kit came with multiple tests for most parameters. However, those who left negative reviews claimed that reading and understanding the results was sometimes difficult. Others said that the kit sometimes arrived with missing parts.

Water Test Kit 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 don’t always produce accurate results.

Discs

Discs are usually more accurate than strips but 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.

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 you may not know you should be worried about.

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.

Common Contaminants to Look Out for in Water

Using a water test kit is a great way to catch potential contaminants that could be affecting your home’s water. Here are some of the most common contaminants our team found are most important to look out for when using a water test kit. 

Microorganisms: Bacteria, viruses, and parasites can be present in water sources and can cause waterborne illnesses. Common examples include E. coli, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia.

Heavy metals: Metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, and copper can enter the water supply through corroded pipes, plumbing fixtures, or industrial discharges. These metals can pose health risks if consumed in high concentrations over time.

Chlorine and disinfection byproducts: Chlorine is commonly used to disinfect water, but it can react with organic matter to form disinfection byproducts (DBPs) like trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). These can have potential health effects with long-term exposure.

Nitrates and nitrites: These compounds often come from agricultural runoff or septic systems. High levels of nitrates or nitrites in drinking water can be particularly harmful to young children and pregnant women, potentially leading to a condition called methemoglobinemia.

Pesticides and herbicides: Agricultural and residential use of pesticides and herbicides can lead to contamination of water sources. These chemicals can enter groundwater or surface water and enter drinking water supplies.

Industrial chemicals: Depending on your proximity to industrial areas, certain chemicals and pollutants used in industrial processes can contaminate water sources. Examples include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PCBs, dioxins, and various solvents.

Radon: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can dissolve into groundwater. When you use water containing radon for activities such as showering or washing dishes, radon can be released into the air, creating health risks.

Water Testing FAQ

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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has verified the kit for accuracy.

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 test your water.

How We Chose the Best Water Test Kits

To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.

Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of test kits with a significant number of verified-buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers. 

Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.

Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for a variety of buyers, budgets, and scenarios.

Why You Can Trust Us

This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. 

Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and backyard fencing to pool vacuums and snow blowers.

Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.

Questions or Comments?

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