Frequently
Asked Questions
We’ve compiled a list of questions & answers to help make your shopping experience easier. If you have any additional questions or need more information, our Safe Home® Client Relations department is happy to answer any questions! We are available to chat Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time at our toll-free number 888-932-6699 or by email at support@envirotestkits.com! Voicemails and emails left on weekends and holidays will be answered the following business day.
General FAQ:
The easiest way to choose the right kit is to call our Safe Home® Client Relations department toll-free at 888-932-6699 and we would be happy to help you decide which kit best fits your testing needs!
If you need assistance interpreting the results of your DIY or in-Lab kit, give our Safe Home® Client Relations department a call toll-free at 888-932-6699 and we would be glad to discuss your results!
Our DIY test kits are performed 100% at home. With some of our DIY kits, you will get immediate results; however, they will be reported in “range” form. This means you will have a range of the concentration for the parameters tested. For example, Total Hardness has range blocks of 0-24, 25-49, 50-119, 120-249, 250-424, and 425+ parts per million (PPM). You will not be given exact concentrations.
Our in-Lab Kits are shipped to you upon purchase. Once you receive your kit, you will follow the instructions for filling up the bottles/vials. You will ship your samples back to our EPA-certified laboratory for analysis. Once the analysis of your samples is complete, we will send you an in-depth water report via email. If you have questions about your report, we are happy to go over those results with you.
We can provide digital copies of paperwork and instructions by request. Simply email us at support@envirotestkits.com or call our Safe Home® Client Relations department toll-free at 888-932-6699 and we can get those sent to you! Please include the name of the kit you are requesting documents for in the email/phone call.
We do sell our kits in bulk! Please call our Safe Home® Client Relations department toll-free at 888-932-6699 or email us at support@envirotestkits.com and we would be happy to provide assistance with bulk orders.
DIY Kits FAQ:
There are a couple of different reasons a test strip may not match the color chart. The most common reason is background interference in your water. This could be something not being tested for at the time, or a parameter that is being tested that is either too low or too high concentration for the test strip. The best way to check to see if it is background interference is to retest and see if you get the same color issue. If you do get the same color issue, then it is likely background interference.
Our DIY kits do not have an expiration date!
Safe Home Lead Test Swabs solution may discolor/stain tested surfaces, but will only indicate a positive detection if the swab itself changes color to the pink to purple range. If the swab stays shades of yellow to orange, then results are below the lead detection level of 2mg/cm².
When you receive a positive indication for Total Coliform bacteria, there are a couple of options for your next step.
- Shock Chlorination: This method is often used when coliform bacteria are introduced to well water or spring water from a temporary contamination event, such as heavy rain or the installation of a new submersible pump. Shock chlorination involves introducing a high concentration of chlorine into the water for a short time. After the treatment, retest the water within 10 to 14 days. If the follow-up tests were negative, the contamination was likely temporary. If the bacteria return, consider a continuous disinfection treatment system. Reach out to your local health department for guidelines on concentration of chlorine to use.
- Continuous Chlorination Systems: These systems inject a chlorine solution (sodium hypochlorite) or dry powder (calcium hypochlorite) into the water. Chlorinators use positive displacement feed pumps to meter the chlorine in the water, or they may use suction-type chlorinators or pellet droppers.
- Ultraviolet (UV) Light: UV light units are popular for disinfection because they do not add chemicals to the water. However, they are not recommended for water supplies where total coliform bacteria exceed 1,000 colony-forming units per 100 mL or fecal coliform bacteria exceed 100 colonies per 100 mL.
- Boiling Water: Boiling water for about one minute effectively kills bacteria. This method is frequently used during emergencies or while camping.
If your bacteria kit turns colors past the 72-hour mark, it is no longer considered a valid test. The media inside the kit will naturally break down and begin to change colors after the noted 72-hour mark. If your test stays beige/yellow throughout the 72 hours, then it is Total Coliform bacteria free!
In-Lab Kits FAQ:
After registration, your order number should be in your email inbox that you provided during registration. Please check junk/spam folders as our automated email system can be flagged as spam.
If you have not received your order number after 30 mins, email us at support@envirotestkits.com or call our Safe Home® Client Relations department toll-free at 888-932-6699 and we will provide your order number to you!
If you have registered your kit as directed in the instruction, you will be notified via email when we receive your kit! (Be sure to check junk/spam folders). Unsure? Give our Safe Home® Client Relations department a call toll-free at 888-932-6699 with your order number ready and we will check if it has arrived!
If you would like to check the status of your kit, give our Safe Home® Client Relations department a call toll-free at 888-932-6699 with your order number ready and we will look it up for you!
Your results will be emailed to the email provided during registration of the kit! Please make sure to check your junk/spam folders. If you do not see them in your inbox and you have checked check/spam, please give our Safe Home® Client Relations department a call toll-free at 888-932-6699 with your order number ready and we will get them sent to you right away!
You may also download any reports that are registered through your email by creating an account on our website using the link below! Once your account is made, navigate to “Lab Report Downloads” to view any orders under that email.
Our lab kits (with exception to Lab Lead) are meant for ONE location and ONE use only. Kits that include multiple vials should be filled from the same spot (i.e. Kitchen Sink, Bathroom Faucet, Outside Spigot, etc.).
