{"title":"Water Test Kits","description":"\u003cp\u003eTest your water before you buy a filter, because the right system depends on what is actually in it. City water customers can start with the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report. Well owners and anyone worried about lead, PFAS or bacteria should use a certified laboratory test, since home strips only screen.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eWhich test do you need?\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003ePrivate well: EPA and CDC recommend testing at least yearly for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, TDS and pH.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eLead: use a certified lab test, especially in homes built before 1986.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eHardness: test strips are fine for sizing a softener.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eTDS: a meter checks reverse osmosis performance, not overall safety.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePFAS: requires a lab test that reports parts per trillion.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eCertified labs: your state can list accredited drinking water labs.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eShop Well Water Test Kits, Lead Water Test Kits and TDS Meters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFAQs\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow do I test my home water quality?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you are on city water, read your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report first. For specific concerns such as lead or a private well, use a certified laboratory test; many mail-in kits include lab analysis. Home test strips and TDS meters are useful screening tools but less precise.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAre home water test strips accurate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eTest strips give approximate readings for hardness, chlorine, pH, iron, nitrates and some other parameters. They are good for screening and sizing a softener, but are not precise enough for health decisions about lead, bacteria or PFAS. Use a certified lab for those.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow much does a water test cost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBasic test strips cost a few dollars per test. Mail-in laboratory kits range from roughly $30 for a single contaminant such as lead to several hundred dollars for comprehensive well panels. Some states and local health departments offer low-cost or free well testing.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/homesupplieshub.com\/collections\/water-test-kits.oembed","provider":"Home Supplies Hub USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}