Home Depot and Lowe’s sometimes give away free water test strips at their customer service desks. These strips are not lab-grade—they’re more like a horoscope for your pipes—but they can detect basic issues like hard water or high iron. If the strip turns purple, you might have more copper in your water than a 1980s pop star’s wardrobe.
And here’s the secret: those companies do it because they want to sell you a water filter. But ignore the sales pitch! Just take the strip, dip it, and walk away. You’re not buying a filter today; you’re just gathering intel like a spy with a plastic strip.
Warning: Do NOT Drink the "Purple Strip" Water
If your test strip shows high levels of lead or copper, stop drinking that water immediately. Boiling does nothing—it actually concentrates the metals. You need a filter or new pipes. But hey, at least you found out for free, right?
Cheap & Free Water Tests: What They Really Tell You – Tap Score
