Australia's Best Free Pool Water Tester (And How to Use It)

Published July 2026 · 6 min read

You don't need a pool shop, a test kit, or a chemistry degree to know exactly what your pool needs. In July 2026, Australia Post named our free online pool water testing tool the Small Business Innovation Award winner for 2026. For a family-owned and operated business on the Central Coast, going up against some of the country's most innovative companies and taking home a national award was a moment none of us will forget.

But the award isn't really about the trophy. It's about what happens when a small, customer-obsessed team decides to solve a problem that every pool owner faces. No agency. No outside consultants. Just our own people, listening to thousands of customers, and building something that makes pool care simple.

Here's how the tool works, why it flips pool shop testing on its head, and how to get your free test strips with every order.

How the free pool water tester works

It takes 30 seconds. Here's the entire process:

1. Dip a test strip. Use a Water TechniX 7-in-1 test strip (you get a free 12-pack with every order). Dip it in your pool, hold it horizontally for 15 seconds. Don't shake off the water.
2. Match the colours. Open the free water tester on your phone. Tap the colour swatch that matches each pad on your strip: Free Chlorine, pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, Cyanuric Acid, and Total Chlorine.
3. Get your exact dose. Select your pool volume, and the tool instantly calculates exactly how many grams of which chemical to add. No "add a capful" guesswork. No upselling. Just precise, volume-adjusted dosing.

Every free 12-pack of test strips includes a QR code on the packaging. Point your phone at it and you're on the tester in one tap. No app to download, no account to create.

What makes this different from pool shop water testing

We built this tool because the traditional pool shop water test has a problem, and pool owners know it. You drive 20 minutes with a water sample, wait while someone runs a test, and walk out with $80 worth of chemicals you're not sure you actually needed.

The tool flips that model entirely:

That quote from the judging panel sums up exactly why the tool exists. Pool chemistry isn't complicated. But it's been made to feel that way for a long time. When you test at home with a strip and get an instant, numerical dose recommendation, there's no room for "maybe try adding a bit more chlorine and see how you go."

The story behind the award

The tool wasn't built by an agency or a software company. It was built in-house, by our own team, after we noticed the same pattern repeating thousands of times. Customers would buy the right chemicals but add the wrong amount. Or add the right amount at the wrong time. Or skip a critical step entirely because the instructions on the bottle were vague. As a family-owned business, we hear these frustrations directly. There is no corporate filter between our customers and our team. When something isn't working, we know about it fast.

Our founder, Nat, watched the support team field hundreds of chemistry questions every week. "How much pH Down do I add to a 40,000-litre pool?" The answer always depended on what the test strip actually showed. So Nat sat down with the team and mapped out exactly what a tool would need to do: read the strip, factor in the pool volume, and output an exact gram dosage for every major Water TechniX chemical. No chemistry degree required. No confusing charts. Just a clear answer.

That customer-first mindset, where every decision starts with "what would actually help someone standing next to their pool right now," is what set the tool apart. It wasn't built to win awards. It was built because our customers needed it. The award came later, and it belongs to everyone on the team who contributed, from the customer service reps who flagged the problem to the developers who turned a sketch on a whiteboard into a working tool.

On Thursday 24 July 2026, at ICC Sydney, the ORIAS judging panel named it the Small Business Innovation Award winner for 2026. The award recognised the tool that finally made pool chemistry accessible to every Australian pool owner.

The numbers since launch tell the story:

• 13,600+ users since December, and growing every week as word spreads
• 23,000+ tests completed, each one a pool shop trip avoided
• 40% drop in chemistry-related support enquiries. Customers don't need to ask us because the tool tells them exactly what to do
• 41.2% return visitor rate (vs 31% site-wide). People come back to test again because it works

How to get your free test strips

Every order from Mr Pool Man ships with a free 12-pack of Water TechniX 7-in-1 test strips. The QR code on the pack links directly to the water tester, so you can go from unboxing to testing in under a minute.

The strips test seven parameters in one dip:

• Free Chlorine
• Total Chlorine
• pH
• Total Alkalinity
• Total Hardness
• Cyanuric Acid (Stabiliser)
• Bromine

If you're already stocked up on chemicals and just need strips, you can grab a full pack of 100 strips here. If you're ordering anything else (chlorine, pH Down, algaecide, whatever), the free 12-pack is automatically included.

Try the Free Water Tester

Frequently asked questions

Is the water tester actually free?

Yes. No login, no email, no credit card. Open the page, match your strip, get your dose. We built it to solve a real problem for pool owners, not to gate content behind a sign-up wall.

Are pool test strips accurate?

Yes, when used correctly. Our Water TechniX 7-in-1 strips use the same reagent chemistry as professional test kits. The key is to dip without shaking, hold the strip horizontally for exactly 15 seconds, and match the colours immediately. Don't let the strip sit. The colours will continue to develop and give a false reading. For more on strip accuracy, check out NSW Health's guidelines on private pool water quality.

How do I get the free test strips?

Every order from Mr Pool Man automatically includes a free 12-pack of Water TechniX 7-in-1 test strips. No code needed, no minimum spend. If you need a full supply, our 100-strip pack is available here.

What if I have a saltwater or magnesium pool?

The tester works for all pool types: saltwater, magnesium, chlorine, and above-ground. The chemistry parameters are the same. Select your pool volume and the tool adjusts the dosage accordingly. If you're new to pool ownership and want a full rundown on chemistry basics, our New Pool Owner guide walks through everything step by step.

Can I trust the dosing recommendations?

Yes. The tool uses the same pool chemistry calculations that professionals use. It factors in your actual test strip reading, your pool volume, and the concentration of each Water TechniX chemical to output a volume-adjusted dose in grams. Always read the product label and follow safety instructions. The tool gives you a precise starting point. The label gives you the safety parameters.

What if my test results show a problem?

The tester doesn't just tell you what's wrong. It tells you exactly which product to use and how much to add. If your pH is high, it recommends pH Down and calculates the dose. If your chlorine is low, it recommends stabilised chlorine and tells you how many grams. You can shop the full chemical range here. If you've got a green pool on your hands, we've got a dedicated guide for that too.

Ready to try it?

30 seconds. No login. No email. No pool shop required.

Grab a test strip, open the tester on your phone, and get exact dosing recommendations tailored to your pool. Every order ships with a free 12-pack of strips, so you'll always have one on hand when you need it.

Try the Free Water Tester Now Shop Pool Chemicals