If you get your water from underground or from a private well, it is important to test it first to find out what sort of impurities and contaminants live in it through a water test it. It also lets you know how acidic your water is and what sort of microorganisms and contaminants possibly live in your water source. That will help you in finding the right water filtration system that will work best for the kind of water you have in your home. Not all water test kits are created equal though so make sure you get the right one for your needs. Check out our best recommendations below.
In This Guide
Best Water Test Kit Reviews
Find out what is in your water with these test kits:
- NovoBlue 14-in-1 Water Test Kit Tester Strips
- HoneForest Water Quality Tester
- HealthSnap 10-in-1 Water Test Strips
- Watersafe WS425W Well Water Test Kit
- Health Metric Water Hardness Test Kit
How different are these water test kits from each other? Find out below:
1. NovoBlue 14-in-1 Water Test Kit Tester Strips
This complete kit tests your water for pH level, hardness, hard metal content and mineral content. One pack comes with 100 strips that should last you for a long time. You can use this not just for your drinking water but also for your bath water and even for the food and drinks you consume. You will know what contaminants are in your water with the colors that will appear. The back of the package indicates what contaminants are present based from the colors.
You can get quick and easy results all the time. Get a sample of the water and dip the strip in it. It is FDA-approved. You can use it not just for well water but also for spa water, aquarium water or pool water. Bring it with you when camping to test the water in your camping area.
Pros:
You get a lot of flexibility from this water test kit. It can be used for all sorts of water. Whatever your needs are, it can work for you. It also does more tests than the others in this list, so it will tell you more about the things in your water than other test kits.
It is very accurate, and it works fast. It makes quick work of determining what contaminants are in the water. You don’t need to get samples of the water and send it to a laboratory for testing.
This is the closest thing you can get to a lab testing.
It has a substantial number of strips. One pack can last you for a long time. Some people need to test their tap water daily since the types or number of contaminants tend to change every day. This test kit can help.
The price of this water test kit is reasonable.
It can also test the pH level of your water. It also lets you check if you have hard water, which will help in finding solutions such as using a water softener.
Cons:
Some said the colors have a tendency to run off.
2. HoneForest Water Quality Tester
Get this reusable digital water test kit so you never have to worry about running out of water test strips again. It works as a temperature pen, a TDS and an EC. It is made from titanium alloy probe, one of the most durable materials around. For its temperature function, it has been equipped with ATC or Automatic Temperature Compensation, so that you get the most accurate results no matter what the temperature conditions are.
It is easy to use. Just turn it on and use it to stir the water. The tool will automatically get readings and display the readings on its LCD screen. If you have a reverse osmosis system at home, you can also use this to test whether your filtration system is working well.
Pros:
It is easy and convenient to use with its pen-like appearance and functionality.
It gets accurate and quick readings all the time. After stirring the water with it, it immediately displays its readings.
It has a backlit LCD, so you can read it with ease.
It has an auto-lock function. It does not flit from one reading to another. Once it gets the reading, it stabilizes automatically.
This tool is ready to be used right off the box. You don’t need to calibrate it because it has been done in the factory.
It has a long battery life. The unit also automatically turns off after 2 minutes of not detecting any activity.
This comes with a protective case that prevents this tool from getting damaged.
Your purchase is backed by a 3-year warranty. The manufacturer also offers a 90-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with your product.
Cons:
This isn’t the most durable. You need to be carrel not to drop it or it might get damaged easily.
3. HealthSnap 10-in-1 Water Test Strips
You can make 10 different tests with this kit. It tests for alkalinity and pH and detects the presence of hard metals and minerals. One package contains 100 test strips, so if you intend to do a lot of water testing, this is a good buy. It shows results accurately. The rests are easy to interpret as well. You don’t need the help of a lab to learn more about what is in your water.
These test strips have a long shelf life, so even if you don’t use them right away, you can still store them and reserve them for later. They are resistant to moisture as well. This product is also approved by the CE and FDA.
Pros:
It lets you make 10 different tests. You can see results in just seconds and interpret it easily with the guide provided. The manufacturer also included a manual that you can refer to when needed.
The strips are easy to use. Many people have used them for a variety of purposes and did not find problems with it.
It comes handy during those camping trips as well. You can test the water quality in your camping area.
They are of good quality. The strips are thick and sturdy, so they won’t tear easily. They are also resistant to moisture, so even if the weather is humid, you know they won’t deteriorate easily.
Comparing the readings is easy as well. The variations in color are good.
It lets you test how acidic or alkaline your water is, so you can make a decision on what filtration system to get that will improve your health.
These strips are fairly-priced. And since one package comes with 100 strips, you can get more uses out of it.
Cons:
There were those who complained about the results looking the same with all the samples they have taken.
4. Watersafe WS425W Well Water Test Kit
This water test kit allows you to test your water for the existence of hard metals like lead, copper and iron. It also accurately determines whether you have unhealthy levels of nitrites/nitrates in your water. You can also use this to check whether your well water contains harmful bacteria or pesticides and fertilizers have leaked into it. It also has the ability to check for the pH balance of your water and shows results of how hard your water is. It can be used for pool as well because of its ability to check for unsafe chlorine.
Pros:
This product is a great choice for people who draw their water from underground. It tests for a lot of metals, minerals, bacteria and unsafe components.
It has a good accuracy. It tells you what you need to know, and the results are easy to read.
You can also tell how acidic or base your water is. This is very important when it comes to drinking water. Acidic water might be good for bathing but not for drinking. If you want to drink well water, turning it more alkaline is the best way to go as it delivers more nutrients and antioxidants. This strip can help you in testing whether your filtration systems work.
It is inexpensive and easy to use. It shows results fast. The results are straightforward unlike others with a lot of color differences.
5. Health Metric Water Hardness Test Kit
If you are looking for an inexpensive alternative, consider this one. It comes with 50 strips that should suffice in making a variety of tests from water samples around your home. It has a large color chart, so determining results isn’t difficult. Within mere seconds, it will show you the results you need to know.
All of the 50 strips included in this are high quality. When unused, they remain dry and airtight, so they can still be used in the future. They have a shelf life of up to 10 months after you have opened the kit.
Pros:
This is great in measuring the hardness of water. This makes it easier for homeowners to determine the water softeners that will work in solving their hard water problems.
50 strips are more than enough to last you for a long time. And since this is inexpensive, you should have no problems buying more in the future.
The readings are clear and big. You should be able to make comparisons in the readings without problems. The results show up after a few seconds of sticking this in your sample water.
The strips are all high quality. They are thick and should withstand excess moisture.
The readings are very accurate.
Cons:
Some said they had a hard time comparing their results to the chart.
Which Water Test Kit is the Best Choice?
Extensive Testing: NovoBlue 14-in-1 Water Test Kit Tester Strips. Get accurate results all the time with this water test kit. It does 14 different tests, so you don’t need to buy them separately. This test kit has everything you need. It is easy to use and delivers the most accurate results. This is an inexpensive buy and one package comes with a lot of strips.
Has Digital Functions: HoneForest Water Quality Tester. If you want a reusable water test kit, get this one. It has digital functionality so you can get accurate and fast readings. It is not difficult to use. It is also equipped with a lot of features that make testing your water easy. It is battery-operated but has energy-conserving benefits.
Shows Quick Results: HealthSnap 10-in-1 Water Test Strips. Save time and money with this water test kit that enables you to test samples and get results fast. It is fast-acting and can deliver accurate results. It only makes 10 tests as opposed to the 14 of the first brand but should be a handy kit to have for your home or when you are outdoors.
Simple and Easy to Use: Watersafe WS425W Well Water Test Kit. A water test kit is pretty straightforward to use but this one from Watersafe makes your work even easier because of the easy to read results. You can get accurate readings all the time. Comparing the readings and determining what is in your water is also easier.
Inexpensive Hard Water Tester: Health Metric Water Hardness Test Kit. If you only need to check your water source for its level of hardness, get this one. It is one of the most affordable test kits around and has a good reliability and durability. It also displays results accurately and comparing it to the back chart shouldn’t be a problem. It contains 50 test strips, so you can use this for a long time to test your water source for hardness and become your ally in calibrating your water softeners at home.
Conclusion
Making sure that you have safe and quality water is our aim. This is why we review the best products out there that help improve the quality of household water. Check out the best water filter options here!
