Water testing is pretty straightforward, but knowing where to start can be challenging. If you’re wondering what the difference is between an at-home water test kit and a professional lab test, or if you’re thinking about ordering one or the other—we’ve got answers for you. We’ll explain exactly what these tests look for and how they work so that by the time we’re through here, you’ll be an expert on all things water testing!
You’ve probably heard that your drinking water must be tested for lead and other contaminants, but you may need help figuring out where to start.
Lead is a toxic substance that can cause serious health problems, especially for children. Lead gets into drinking water when it leaches from lead pipes or plumbing fixtures. Most homes built before 1986 have some lead in their piping system, but the good news is that most cities have replaced those pipes with non-lead ones over the last few decades.
It’s important to know whether your water contains more than what the EPA allows because various water sources contain different levels of lead contamination. If you’re unsure how much lead is too much for your home, it might be wise to research and find out if you need an at-home test or professional testing done first—it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
You’re in the right place if you’re wondering what the difference is between an at-home water test kit and a professional water test.
Let’s start with what you’re looking for in a water test: accuracy. You’re in the right place if you’re wondering what the difference is between an at-home water test kit and a professional water test.
At-home kits are more convenient than professional tests because they don’t require any expert help or extensive testing equipment. They also tend to be cheaper than professional tests, which can cost several hundred dollars per test, depending on your location and the nature of your plumbing system. But these benefits come at a cost—they aren’t as accurate as their pricier counterparts. While home testing kits help get an idea of your levels, they won’t provide a precise reading of what’s going on with your pipes under all circumstances (and sometimes even when there isn’t anything wrong).
Professional tests take longer than most home tests. Still, they offer a more precise reading of what’s happening inside your plumbing system so that if there is any damage present, it can be identified immediately rather than waiting months until something breaks down unexpectedly and causes major problems for homeowners and plumbers alike!
There are a few different types of water quality tests; the most common are testing kits and sampling kits.
There are a few different types of water quality tests; the most common are testing kits and sampling kits.
- Testing kits can be done at home with minimal effort, but they give a different level of accuracy than professional lab tests. If you’re looking for scientific accuracy and are okay with spending more money on your water quality test, consider getting a professional lab test instead of using a DIY kit.
- Sampling kits require sending in samples from your tap or faucet to get tested in a lab. The results usually come back within 24 hours, so if you need fast answers about whether or not your water is safe to drink, this may be better than using an at-home kit that takes days for results.
Each has its pros and cons, and it’s important to understand how they differ when deciding which is right for you.
The pros and cons of each type of test are important to understand to make the best decision for your needs.
At-home test kits often offer a faster turnaround time than professional water tests but may need to be more accurate and comprehensive. Professional tests are more expensive and time-consuming, but they provide more in-depth information about your water quality.
If you’re looking for fast results on whether or not you have bacteria in your tap water, an at-home kit could be just what you need; however, if there are certain chemicals or heavy metals that concern you more than bacteria alone (such as lead), then it’s probably worth getting a professional test done instead.
At-home testing kits are more affordable and convenient than professional lab tests. Still, it’s best to use them with lab tests, especially if your at-home test results show high levels of lead or other contaminants.
At-home water test kits are the most affordable option and can be completed in just a few minutes. They’re also convenient since you don’t have to leave your home or office to take a test. However, at-home tests can only detect contaminants that are at high levels; they won’t pick up traces of chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals that may be present in your tap water. In addition, because these tests do not require expert interpretation of results like professional lab tests do (which means they don’t use standards), they can often provide inaccurate results—with false positives or false negatives—if you’re not careful when interpreting them yourself.
If your at-home test shows high levels of lead or other contaminants that could potentially affect your health if consumed regularly over time (e.g., microorganisms), it’s best used in conjunction with more accurate professional lab testing rather than as the sole basis for determining whether or not your home has safe water quality.
Professional water tests generally provide more accurate results than DIY kits because they detect low levels of contaminants like lead that are hard to find at the tap.
The most important difference between an at-home and a professional test is accuracy. Professional tests can detect contaminants that are hard to find at the tap, and lead is a dangerous contaminant that can be found in drinking water. At-home kits generally don’t test for low levels of contamination like this because they need to be more accurate.
Professional water testing also comes with higher costs than at-home kits. While DIY tests are cheaper upfront, they generally don’t give you access to information about your water’s quality level—you’re just told whether or not it meets standards set by EPA or other governing bodies (which may not accurately reflect what your health needs).
Get both types of test results before deciding how much money you want to spend on treatment or whether you plan on moving house as part of your long-term plan for clean water.
In the case of at-home tests, you can get a general overview of what’s in your water and how much it would cost to fix. However, professional lab tests will give you more accurate results if you’re looking for very low contaminants (like 0.1 ppb arsenic) or non-chemicals (like chlorine).
Suppose you are concerned about both cost and time constraints. In that case, we recommend getting your at-home test results and a professional lab test so that you have all the information available before making any big decisions about treatment or moving house.
Both professional lab tests and at-home water testing kits can provide valuable information about what is in your drinking water.
At-home water testing kits and professional lab tests both offer valuable information about what is in your drinking water. The main difference is that at-home kits are less accurate but can be used to confirm results from professional lab tests or additional research by experts.
Professional labs produce more accurate results using high-tech equipment and scientific methods to test your water samples. This process takes time and costs money—at the same time, most people will have their drinking water tested professionally once or twice a year. Those who have seriously contaminated wells may need more frequent testing (or continuous monitoring). In addition to being more accurate than DIY kits, professional laboratory reports provide a lot more detail about the contaminants found in your well so you can make informed decisions about how you might treat them or prevent them from occurring in the future.
We hope this article has helped you understand the difference between at-home water testing kits and professional lab tests. If your results show high levels of lead or other contaminants, contact c and j water— we can test for these pollutants and much more!
