[ccfoo242]

I'd like to periodically make sure my carbon filter is still good. I see lots of chlorine test strips on Amazon but are these the right test for checking for chlorine in tap water?

[mabrungard]

Section 4.1.6 on Bru'n Water's Water Knowledge page presents all you need to know about chlorine testing.

[ccfoo242]

That's what I needed to know, thanks!

[Steve Ruch]

If your filter wasn't removing the chlorine/chloramine you'd probably be able to smell and/or taste it. Which one does your water have? If it's chlorine, like mine, you can just leave your water out uncovered in a bucket overnight and the chlorine will be gone. Campden tablets also work if you have chloramine.

[ccfoo242]

If your filter wasn't removing the chlorine/chloramine you'd probably be able to smell and/or taste it. Which one does your water have? If it's chlorine, like mine, you can just leave your water out uncovered in a bucket overnight and the chlorine will be gone. Campden tablets also work if you have chloramine.

I think just chlorine.

I just figured this would be an easy way to see when I need to change my carbon filter.

[Whiskers]

I don't remember the brand, but the chlorine test kit I used before wasn't sensitive enough to detect an amount of chlorine that was in the water in the municipality where I used to live.  It was a colour/strip-type kit and I'm pretty sure I bought it at an online homebrew site.  I can't see pool kits as being the best option as the levels generally used in swimming pools are a lot higher than what's in treated tap water. 

[mabrungard]

I find that the liquid test kits for Total Chlorine are better than test strips. While it will always be difficult to measure a contaminant that is at near-zero concentration, its better than doing nothing.

Just remember that we really need the level of chlorine compounds to be zero since it only takes teeny levels of those compounds to create perceptible chlorophenol levels in beer.

[Whiskers]

Perhaps there is an easy way to force the chlorine into a chlorophenol or the like and test organoleptically.  I suppose though that getting a better kit than the one I had is a better way. 

[ccfoo242]

I'll test unfiltered tap water first. If it doesn't detect it then poop.

[Steve Ruch]

I think just chlorine.
I just figured this would be an easy way to see when I need to change my carbon filter.

I use a Brita filter for drinking water and used to treat my brewing water with it. You can tell when the filter needs to be changed by the way the water begins to taste off, which is way more gallons than the manufacturer recommends.

[Stevie]

I use a Brita filter for drinking water and used to treat my brewing water with it. You can tell when the filter needs to be changed by the way the water begins to taste off, which is way more gallons than the manufacturer recommends.

I think that depends heavily on the source water. Our Brita has an indicator on the top that works based on number of pours and I find our water often starts to taste funny before it tells us to change the filter.

[Steve Ruch]

I use a Brita filter for drinking water and used to treat my brewing water with it. You can tell when the filter needs to be changed by the way the water begins to taste off, which is way more gallons than the manufacturer recommends.

I think that depends heavily on the source water. Our Brita has an indicator on the top that works based on number of pours and I find our water often starts to taste funny before it tells us to change the filter.

Yes it does, we have real nice water in my neck of the woods.

[Pinski]

You could also call your water provider and ask them if they use chlorine or chloramine. They should also be able to tell you; a) their target residual for either throughout the distribution system, and; b) the levels that their water quality techs are seeing in the field near your location.