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How often should I calibrate my pH probe?

- Categories : Questions about RedOX probes
Whether you have a salt water chlorinator coupled with a pH regulator, or an automatic pH regulator alone, you should check and calibrate your pH sensor at least once a year (at the start of each season). Indeed, the most important reason for a properly calibrated pH sensor is safety.
But if you have the slightest doubt about the proper functioning of your pH regulator. Note that you can identify if the problem comes from the pH sensor by carrying out the tests below .
What can happen with a pH sensor?
The last thing you want to do is spend a lot of valuable time optimizing your pH levels only to find out that your sensor is faulty. Undetected faulty sensors can be a huge waste of money and waste precious time that could have been spent on something more useful for you or your family.
3 things can happen
1) Faulty pH probe
To check this, just:
  • Disassemble the probe
  • Rinse the probe
  • Put the probe in a glass of tap water
  • Read the value displayed by your regulator
  • The PH value should be between 6.5 and 7.5
  • Add table vinegar to the glass of water
  • Read the value displayed by your pH regulator
If the value displayed moves by 1 pH at most, your pH probe is probably working. Example initial value of 7.6 pH, new value 5.2 pH.
If the value displayed does not move or moves by 0.1 or 0.2 pH, your pH probe is out of order or "dead".
2) pH probe requiring calibration
To check this, just:
  • Remove the pH probe
  • Rinse the probe
  • Put the pH probe in a standard solution
  • Read the value displayed by your pH regulator
If the displayed value is equal to the value of the standard plus or minus 0.1 pH then there is no need to perform a calibration. (You read 7.1 for a pH7 buffer)
If the displayed value is far from the buffer value (You read 7.5 for a buffer at pH7) then a calibration is not necessary.
3) pH probe tired
This is more difficult to detect, but in general you have an erratic functioning of your pH regulation system.
  • Remove the pH probe
  • Rinse the probe
  • Put the pH probe in a glass of tap water.
  • Read the value displayed by your pH regulator
  • Note the value
  • Come back every hour and see if this value moves by more than 0.5 pH
If the value moves then your is tired, your pH sensor no longer provides a stable signal and therefore prevents your regulation from operating normally.