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Taylor Test Kits Advice

  • February 6, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 69 views
Bluewaterpools
Rookie Member

Hope everyone is doing well and having a safe season. (Ai did help me write this more efficiently)

I’ve been in the pool service industry for about 10 years, starting with a single route and building it into a successful, family-run operation in NW Peoria, AZ. Over the years, I’ve trained with other professionals, earned my licenses, and continuously worked to improve our service quality and consistency.

This year, we upgraded our weekly testing process by switching from basic test strips to the Taylor K-2005 liquid test kit for our service routes. The accuracy and repeatability of the results are noticeably better, especially for chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. However, the reagent consumption is significantly higher than anticipated, and the ongoing cost of replacement reagents is becoming difficult to justify for high-volume weekly service work.

I’m currently evaluating a hybrid testing approach:

  • Full Taylor K-2005 testing on a scheduled basis (monthly or bi-monthly)

  • Routine weekly checks using high-quality test strips for trend monitoring and maintenance dosing

For those running medium to large service routes:

  • How frequently are you performing full drop-based testing?

  • Have you found a cost-effective balance between accuracy and reagent consumption?

  • Are there alternative professional-grade kits, photometers, or testing workflows that have proven both reliable and economical?

Appreciate any insights, best practices, or data-driven approaches you’re willing to share. Thank you in advance.

BLUWAT

      4 replies

      Bluewaterpools
      Rookie Member
      • Bluewaterpools
      • Author
      • Rookie Member
      • February 7, 2026

      Oh, I also have and use a Spin Touch when meeting new potential clients, showing them what it will take to get their water where it needs to be and maintain.  

      BLUWAT
        Bluewaterpools
        Rookie Member
        • Bluewaterpools
        • Author
        • Rookie Member
        • March 6, 2026

        Soooooo, I must be the only one who uses Taylor Test Kits.

        BLUWAT
        M
        New Member
        • mbandca
        • New Member
        • March 9, 2026

        Hello there. I also use a Taylor Test Kit -- the K-2005C and am doing a drop test every time -- I like the accuracy. I am new to the business, so apologies, can’t really help you with regard to alternate testing practices. Further, I don’t have enough clients quite yet to experience rapid reagent consumption. Hopefully that will be a nice-to-have problem soon.

        I do like your idea of a hybrid approach. Something I may consider for future customers.

        Bluewaterpools
        Rookie Member
        • Bluewaterpools
        • Author
        • Rookie Member
        • March 9, 2026

        Thank you. Currently, we are servicing approximately 160 clients per week, and with that volume we could easily go through nearly an entire test kit in a single day. For that reason, we presently use our Taylor test kits on an as-needed basis. While test strips are not quite as precise, they do eliminate some of the uncertainty that can occur with drop testing—such as whether a drop was complete, whether the reagent bottle was held perfectly vertical, or whether the drop size was consistent.

        That said, I do appreciate the level of professionalism a Taylor test kit represents. Recently, I have been considering the idea of providing a new Taylor test kit as part of a welcome package and leaving it at each client’s pool. In this scenario, every client would have their own dedicated kit, which in theory could last an entire year (approximately 52 weekly services).

        However, as you can imagine, it can be difficult to find a client who is willing to purchase a full test kit outright. One idea we have discussed is offering a package that includes a 50-lb bucket of chlorine tablets along with a Taylor test kit. While the additional product sales would certainly be beneficial, asking a customer for $350–$400 upfront can be a challenging proposition—even when you are providing what we believe to be the most reliable and professional weekly pool service in the area.

        BLUWAT
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