It’s important to test the tap water in your home to make sure it’s safe to consume. One way to do this is with a TDS meter. A TDS meter is used to detect dissolved, inorganic materials like ionized salts, calcium, and potassium that may be in your tap water. Read on to learn about what a TDS meter detects and how it can be useful.
In this Article:
- What Is TDS?
- How Do You Test with a TDS Meter?
- Other Uses for a TDS Meter
- TDS Levels and Water Quality
- What Does a TDS Meter Not Measure?
- Do You Need a TDS Meter or a Water Testing Kit?
- Get Your Water Tested Today
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is TDS?
TDS stands for “total dissolved solids,” which are concentrated, dissolved compounds in water, like salts or minerals. Water tests like TDS meters can determine how many harmful (or non-harmful) dissolved solids are floating around in your home’s tap water. If your water is very hard (i.e., water with high mineral content, like magnesium or calcium), your TDS meter will detect high levels. It’s important to keep in mind that water softeners will not eradicate the presence of TDS.
Some of the commonly indicated TDS materials found in tap water are:
- Calcium
- Chloride
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Sulfate
How Do You Test with a TDS Meter?
A TDS meter tests the levels of total dissolved solids by passing a (harmless) electrical current between its two electrodes while in the sample water. This electrical conductivity will give the meter an idea of how many dissolved solids there are in the sample, resulting in a “TDS level” reading. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the safe TDS level for drinking water is below 500 mg/L or 500 parts per million (PPM).
There is some correlation between TDS and hard water. While high TDS is often accompanied by hard water, it’s important to have a water expert check. In some cases, you can have a high TDS and not hard water.
What does a high TDS mean?
One of the many signs of hard water is a high TDS reading. While hard water isn’t necessarily unsafe, it can create issues like spots or a film on dishes and glassware, clothes not feeling clean after a wash, white deposits on shower heads and faucets, and more.
At higher TDS level readings, you may experience tap water with a metallic smell or taste. Plus, depending on which dissolved solids are present, the readings may indicate unsafe drinking water conditions.
Other Uses for a TDS Meter
The most common use for a TDS meter is to check for drinking water quality. However, there are several other helpful uses for it as well. A TDS meter can be a great way to ensure the water quality of pools and aquariums is up to the standard level needed for safety. It can also be used to control mineral concentration in hydroponic gardening.
TDS Levels and Water Quality
When evaluating your home’s water quality with a TDS meter, an ideal PPM reading ranges from 50-150, which is considered “excellent.” A “good” range is 150-250 PPM, while 250-300 PPM is considered “fair.”
What Does a TDS Meter Not Measure?
As helpful as TDS meters are, they aren’t perfect. A high TDS reading indicates there are dissolved solids in your water, but some are harmless, like calcium and magnesium. Others may be harmful. There are some harmful contaminants that a TDS meter won’t catch. A water test from an expert will provide more in-depth information on exactly what’s in your water.
Other contaminants a TDS meter cannot measure include:
- Arsenic
- Chromium
- Pharmaceuticals
- Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or PFAS (“forever chemicals”)
Do You Need a TDS Meter or a Water Testing Kit?
Both a TDS meter and a water testing kit help determine the safety of your home’s water in different ways. A TDS meter will alert you to high levels of dissolved solids, but it will not tell you exactly what those dissolved solids are. Water tests, on the other hand, will be more precise about exactly what and how much of a contaminant is present in your tap water so you can treat it accordingly. Having a water test done by a professional will give you the most information about your tap water.
Get Your Water Tested Today
Having an expert come to your home to test your water is an effective way to examine what’s in your drinking water. Experts will explain their findings and help you determine a custom filtration plan to make your water safer for drinking.
Contact our water experts at Leaf Home today to schedule your free water test!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a TDS meter tell you?
A TDS (total dissolved solids) meter indicates the water contamination level marked by certain materials like chloride, calcium, and ionized salts. The reading from the meter will translate the contamination into parts per million (PPM). According to the EPA, water is considered safe to drink if the TDS has a reading of 500 PPM or lower.
What is a good TDS level?
The ideal TDS level is 50-150 PPM, which indicates some dissolved solids but not enough to be worrisome. (Unless you are testing distilled water, it is not possible for water to get a zero rating.) A reading of 150-250 is considered good, and 250-300 is considered fair. Anything below 500 PPM is technically safe to consume, but it would be safer for you and your family to invest in a water purification system if your water reads above 250.
What is the difference between a TDS meter and a pH meter?
A TDS meter measures the amount of dissolved solids in water. A pH meter specifically measures the acidity or alkalinity of water.
What testing method can I use to get the most accurate results about my water quality?
Your best bet for an accurate, specific measurement of water quality is to arrange for a professional to conduct a water test for your home. You can also purchase a water test kit and perform the reading on your own, if preferred. With either option, a water test will determine exactly what contaminants are found in your water rather than just receiving the levels provided by the TDS meter.
Is a high reading with a TDS meter a strong reason to filter your drinking water?
TDS meters let you know how many total dissolved solids are in your water, but some of the dissolved solids it may detect—like calcium, for example—are not necessarily harmful to you. If you get a mid-level or high reading with a TDS meter, it’s best to arrange a professional water test so you can become aware of exactly what is in your water as you determine the right water purification system to meet your home’s unique water needs.
