Most people are concerned about maintaining the chemical composition with a hot tub, causing them to be somewhat hesitant before they commit to a purchase. When you use the right chemicals, the water will stay sanitary for even daily use or if you want to entertain friends.
The regimen doesn’t need to be challenging. You can even find online educational material designated “hot tub chemicals for dummies,” meant to simplify the processes.
The idea is to take the cover off whenever you please to wallow in a healthy soak without significant time and frustration in care and upkeep.
A first step when cleaning the water is to test it to decide which chemicals are needed and how much. It can differ each time you test, which you should do at the very least a few times a week, depending on the frequency of use. You can add the levels you need once the test strip divulges the deficiencies.
Let’s review some spa chemicals to always have available and the frequency you can expect to need them.
Common Hot Tub Chemicals to Have Available
The idea when maintaining the chemicals in a hot tub is to make the process as simplified as possible to increase the time spent enjoying the water and less time caring for it. Learn how to clean a hot tub at https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pools/21399681/how-to-clean-hot-tub.
It can seem daunting when considering the idea of testing and calculating the amount of chemicals to add to the water to get it just right, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Check the “online for dummies” hot tub chemical how-to articles; these will allow the processes to make more sense. Until then, we will discuss some common chemicals you should always have available and how often these will typically be used for your system. Let’s review.
PH/Alkalinity
Hot tub water must be adequately balanced with two specific components for safe water and to avoid a damaged unit, including pH and alkalinity. pH measures the acidity in the water, while alkalinity is the ability of the water to sustain that proper pH level.
When pH is too low, there is too much acid, which can lead to system corrosion, ultimately deteriorating the parts and creating extensive damage, needing expensive repairs down the road.
Scale forming results from high pH, causing significant system damage and the potential for clogs in the piping, plus the possibility for an inefficient heater with difficulty keeping the water temp because of scale buildup.
When these are exact, alkalinity should stay between “80 and 120 parts per million ppm,” and pH should be roughly “7.2 and 7.8.” These will be used when the water is changed, and the fresh water needs balancing. When maintaining levels, use the following:
- Total alkalinity increaser
- PH increaser/decreaser
Alkalinity will be tested first since it dramatically influences the pH, making it necessary to get it balanced and then work with the pH.
Sanitizer
The sanitizer in hot tub water battles bacteria that accumulate. This is the ideal surround for germs and bacteria to thrive, making it necessary that the sanitizer be adequately maintained for safe water. You’ll find quite a few sanitizers available, with chlorine among the favored and bromine following close behind.
- Chlorine: This sanitizer is a budget-friendly, exceptionally effective choice for cleanliness and ease of use. The levels should remain between “1 and 3 ppm.”
- Bromine: The sanitizer is a bit more of an investment, with the sun’s harsh UV rays causing it to break down rapidly. Bromine does provide users with a soft soak, a reason people select it. The level should remain at “3 to 5 ppm.”
Sanitizers should be used at least a few times a week following water testing to ensure the levels are adequate, but it’s recommended to sanitize after each use of the tub.
Shock
Shock supports the sanitizing process and is a vital component of water care. A favored choice is “non-chlorine oxidizing” shock. While sanitizers keep water free of bacteria by breaking it down, some contaminants escape, like oils from beauty products.
Shock treatment is able to break these down, so the sanitizer is more effective with its position. Signs of water that needs shock:
- Foam
- Cloudy water
- Algae
This is usually performed once each week for water clarity. Click for hot tub advice for new owners.
Final Thought
These are some of the primary chemicals to have available. Before the hot tub is installed, it’s essential to research the details of the maintenance and chemicals to ensure it’s something you want to work with regularly. Not adding the chemicals or neglecting the system can result in severely unhealthy conditions.
You can also schedule professional services and preventive maintenance to ensure quality, efficient, and adequate care and upkeep with no qualms about using the system as often as you like.
