Water treatment tips, what do hot tub owners need to know?
Hot Tubs Water Treatment Tips
It’s not difficult to learn how to control the chemistry of the water in your hot tub; anyone can do it!
This article will explain the fundamentals of chlorine and pH levels, as well as stabilisers and shock treatments.
Alkalinity
When it comes to the chemistry of your hot tub’s water, the alkalinity should be checked first. Why should you check this before your pH levels? Proper alkalinity levels in your spa water will help to prevent pH fluctuations. The disinfectants in the chlorine you add won’t be as effective if your alkalinity and pH are too high. You’ll have problems with cloudy water in your hot tub, as well as skin and eye irritation. Your heating system may also become clogged with scale, making it less efficient.
How to Maintain Alkalinity
1. Obtain a test strip. If you have wet hands from the hot tub, avoid touching the testing area as this may render the test ineffective.
2. dipped the strip
Place the strip in the water and then take it out. Shake it to remove any excess water, then compare it to the colours on the back of the test strip bottle.
3. Inadequate alkalinity.
Use a Total Alkalinity Booster if your alkalinity is too low. Follow the directions on the back of the bottle when adding it to the water.
4. Excessive alkalinity.
If your alkalinity level is abnormally high, it could indicate that you have particularly hard water in your area. Please contact us to discuss the best option.
pH Values
Before adding any type of sanitiser to your hot tub (chlorine or even bromine), you should first check your pH levels to see how acidic or basic your water is. The ideal range is between 7.2 and 7.8. If your pH level is significantly lower than 7.2, your water is unquestionably acidic. This can have an effect on the water chemistry in your spa, causing irritation and possibly causing equipment corrosion. When your pH levels are too high, your water becomes too alkaline (basic), which can cause cloudiness and irritation.
How to Maintain a Healthy pH Level
1. Obtain a test strip. If you have wet hands from the hot tub, avoid touching the testing area as this may render the test ineffective.
2. dipped the strip
Place the strip in the water and then take it out. Shake it to remove any excess water, then compare it to the colours on the back of the test strip bottle.
3. pH levels that are too low or too high
If your levels are too low (less than 7.2), use a pH increaser. If the pH is too high (above 7.8), use a pH decreaser to return the levels to the recommended range and balance the water.
4. Pour in your chemicals.
Once you’ve determined whether you need a pH increaser or a pH decreaser, follow your manufacturer’s instructions to add more chemicals.
Sanitizers: Chlorine vs. Bromine
While hot water can kill many bacteria and viruses, many are able to survive. As a result, you should santise your water to ensure that it is clear, fresh, and disinfected. Chlorine and bromine are the most commonly used sanitizers. Both have advantages.
Bromine is more complex than chlorine and can take much longer to dissolve in your spa’s water. Bromine is less expensive, but you’ll recoup your investment over time because fewer treatments are required.
Chlorine is the simplest to apply and has a much faster effect. It dissolves faster than Bromine, allowing you to use your spa much faster after application. It is less expensive than bromine but necessitates a little more work.
Shock
It is critical to shock your wood fired hot tub water on a regular basis; it is an essential part of hot tub water maintenance. Don’t worry, we know it sounds violent, but shock breaks down all the organic contaminants that can cause cloudy water and stinky odours. Shocking your tub oxidises the contaminants, releasing them as gas. Shocking your hot tub reduces the need for high chemical dosages and aids in the killing of bacteria, viruses, and even algae. It will also help to extend the life of your hot tub’s components.
To keep your water clean, fresh, and clear, we recommend shocking your hot tub at least once per week. This will obviously vary depending on how frequently and with how many people you use your hot tub. Non-chlorine shock and dichlor shock are the two types of shock. The non-chlorine shock is recommended. It’s a monopersulfate compound that’s oxygen-based and the best one for the job, chemistry fans.
The Best Way to Shock Your Hot Tub
1. Do a water test.
Always test the water in your hot tub before shocking it, just like you would with any other chemical addition.
2. Maintain water calmness.
Because you don’t want to disturb the oxidation gases, turn off the air blower but leave the circulation pump running. This allows the shock to circulate throughout the spa without disturbing the gas too much.
3. Examine the label.
Always, always read chemical labels. If you measure incorrectly, you may end up with a higher oxidisation strength than you require, which can cause problems for both you and your hot tub.
4. Take your time when measuring. The dosage is critical when it comes to shocking your hot tub water. Measure out your shock treatment carefully to ensure you’re only adding what you need to disinfect the water.
5. Clean your hands.
After coming into contact with any chemical, wash your hands with soap. You don’t want any lingering shock on your fingers.
How to Drain Your Hot Tub
The water chemistry in your hot tub may become too difficult to balance after a while and must be reset. Every three months, we recommend draining and refilling your hot tub. Replacing the water will clean out all of the pipework and pumps, as well as refresh everything.
Make certain that you drain completely. Do not simply drain half of the water. When your hot tub is empty, give it a thorough cleaning to remove any surface stains and prevent corrosion. After you’ve drained it, clean out the plumbing inside the spa with pipe cleaning fluid. Check out our hot tub cleaning guide.
Do you have any questions?
We are always happy to assist our customers and any hot tub customer who has concerns or questions about the chemistry of their water. After reading the preceding, it may appear to be a lot of work, but it isn’t. Once you’ve established a good routine, it will only take a few minutes per week to keep your water fresh, clean, and healthy.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
