Poolmaster’s swimming pool test kits are among the most popular – and the best – in the industry. The 22260 stands out as one of their top products and is one of the most popular on our site, as well. With that in mind, we decided it deserves an article of its own that addresses all the pros and cons of this package.
What It Does
The Poolmaster 22260 offers the five essential pool water tests at an affordable price. There are no bells and whistles here, but you’ll be able to check the water quality and show whether it’s within healthy parameters.
You can test for chlorine and bromine, acid demand, pH, and total alkalinity.
What’s Included
When you buy this kit, you’ll get:
- 1 oz. (30 ml) of solution for the Chlorine/Bromine test
- 1 oz. (30 ml) of solution for the pH test
- 1 oz. (30 ml) of solution for the Acid Demand and Alkalinity test
- ½ oz. (15 ml) of solution for the Free Chlorine test
- ½ oz. (15 ml) of solution for the Total Alkalinity test
Each bottle is marked with a color-coded lid; the name of the test printed in a large, clear font; and a number corresponding to the test is printed even larger.
- Test tube unit that has two tubes and a color guide on the side of each
- 15-page instruction manual (available online here).
- Carrying Case
Why It’s Worth It
This kit is easy to use and helps you cover the basics when it comes to keeping your pool healthy. We’re impressed by a number of its qualities.
Covers The Basics
The tests in this kit help you keep tabs on the most important factors in water quality for your pool, spa, or pond. The five tests provided are the most important ones. And everything you need to use them comes in the kit!
Easy-to-read Tests
Unlike some other water test kits, this one is relatively easy to read. The labels on the bottles and the tube set are large and clear. You won’t have to squint to figure out what they say.
It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between the colors that result when you add the reagents to your water. But this set is as good as any at helping you identify your readings.
Can Order Replacement Solutions
At some point, you’re going to run out of reagents. Fortunately, you don’t have to buy a whole kit. Poolmaster offers a replacement pack that includes just the chemicals; you can hold on to your old tubes and case.
The replacement kit currently costs about 40% of the price of the full kit, so you’ll appreciate the savings!
We know you’re wondering, so we’ll answer: a set of reagents generally lasts 1-2 years, but it varies depending on how often you test the water.
No Strips Needed
Many people prefer strips for testing their spa, jacuzzi, or pool. But we know that it’s easy to run out of strips quickly.
This test only requires you to get a water sample and add drops of the appropriate reagent. Eventually, you’ll need more reagents, but you don’t need any strips for these tests, at least.
Good Price
Price is always important, especially nowadays! And the price point of this pool test kit is much more comfortable than many of its competitors. You may not get any extras, but you can’t beat the cost.
Sturdy Case
The case that comes with your Poolmaster 22260 is pretty solid. No, it won’t stand up to a gorilla tossing it around. But when used properly, it will hold up without cracking or otherwise breaking.
It’s sufficiently large to easily hold all the test items without feeling like you’re solving a puzzle to fit everything in. And it fits nicely on a shelf in the garage.
Decent Instructions
The 15-page instruction booklet offers a basic introduction to what each of the tests is for, why it’s important, and how to do each test.
The intro section is a bit awkward in places; it’s clear but seems to be written by a non-native English speaker or a mediocre AI. On the other hand, it’s just awkward in spots; it’s not riddled with grammatical errors or other issues that would make it unreadable.
The Drawbacks
Of course, no product is perfect, so we have to address some of the drawbacks of this kit. Fortunately, there aren’t many cons to it. These are our biggest concerns – and for the average pool owner, they’re not a big deal.
Only the Basics
For the best water, you should do tests that aren’t available in the Poolmaster 22260 kit. This kit covers the most important ones, and that might be enough. But if you want the best results, you should invest in a more complete kit, despite it costing about two to three times more.
A Little Weak on Precision
This style of kit can be somewhat imprecise for a couple of reasons. First, the reagents can be contaminated or negatively impacted by outside factors like temperature. Also, there’s a risk of human error in comparing the color of the water to the guide.
The latter usually leads to a slight but not important difference in readings; you may be off by 2-3%. However, that could lead to not making the best decisions for your water at the right time.
Conclusion
Keeping your pool healthy requires frequent testing to guide you on when it needs treatment. If you want to concentrate on the most important tests at a reasonable cost, you should consider the Poolmaster 22260 kit. It’s easy to use and will help you check the most important factors. It’s not the most complete kit around, but you’ll be able to meet the minimum requirements at a reasonable cost. And that means you can enjoy your swimming pool even more!
