The most essential thing you can do to ensure your hot tub is always ready for usage is to check the chemicals on a regular basis.
Check your pH, sanitiser, alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels a couple of times each week to ensure they are all within typical ranges.
During these checks, you’ll frequently need to add a little bit to balance the chemistry, so knowing what to use is critical. And, because not all chemicals are created equal, here’s a guide to help you choose the ones you need.
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THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF HOT TUB MAINTENANCE
Even if you keep your tub completely covered, dirt and debris from the surrounding environment will find its way into it. On its own, this isn’t normally a major concern, and it may not even be evident
owing to the usage of a filter- but once you start utilising the tub properly, you’ll notice a big difference.
Every time you go into the tub, filth, dead skin, body oil, and sweat are rinsed away in the water. If you use moisturiser, the residue will be left behind; if you use hair products, they will now be in the water; and anything your feet came into contact with before getting into the tub is also in the tub with you- or is it?
This is a typical source of unclean water and sounds disgusting, but it’s not as awful as it appears because the chemicals you employ are actively combating any bacterias and other yuckies you’ve just introduced. They swiftly break them down and allow anything left behind to easily filter, keeping you bathing in clean water rather than the nasty human concoction I just described.
CIRCULATION
Spas must be operated on a regular basis in order to circulate the water and stir up any foreign matter or debris suspended in the water for filtration. Many spas have an automated cycle that runs a few times a day even when not in use, but if yours does not, you must turn it on at least once for 40 minutes to an hour.
A good filtration system is essential, and you can make it even more effective by using various chemicals to help break down dirt and particles even more, allowing it to work more effectively.
What kind of hot tub chemicals should you always have on hand? You should have a sanitiser, a heavy metal sequestering agent, and items to alter the pH and total alkalinity.
Storing Hot Tub Chemicals
The ideal place to keep your hot tub chemicals is somewhere you can readily get to them. If it feels like labour merely to get to the chemicals, you’ll be less inclined to keep up with water maintenance.
There are, however, some recommended practices that will keep your items effective while also keeping you safe and healthy.
Select a cabinet or container that can be raised off the ground and, if feasible, secured. Consider a waterproof cabinet with shelves that will not detract from the appearance of your garden design.
Maintain a cool and dry environment for them. Because hot tub chemicals are designed to dissolve in water, it is critical that they not become wet or mixed with other items. If your backyard receives a lot of sunlight, or you live in a hot climate, a place like the garage could be a better option.
Keep them in original packaging. You want to make sure that you can reference the manufacturer’s directions.
Lock the chemicals or put them out-of-reach from children.
What Hot Tub Chemicals Do You Need?
While you do not want to have a hot tub water problem or complication, it is actually really preferable to be prepared. You may need to postpone your bath for 20 minutes to allow the hot tub chemicals to do their magic. However, that is preferable than skipping it or having to make an unplanned trip to the store for hot tub chemicals.
Products to Adjust pH
To keep your hot tub pH in check, you should have a pH increaser and a pH decreaser. Just like as the name indicates, you will use a pH increaser if your pH is low and a pH decreaser if the level is high.
But what is pH and why should you care? It indicates how acidic or “basic” your hot tub water is. You want your water to be neutral so it is safe to soak in. Low pH can irritate the skin and damage the spa. High pH can also cause eye and skin irritation, while making the sanitizer ineffective.
Non-Chlorine Shock
A shocking agent releases oxygen into the water, which serves a similar function as chlorine. Shocking the water increases the total chlorine level above the recommended level for a brief time. The process sanitizes the water and removes the things you don’t want — like chloramines and bacteria.
Sequestering Agent
A sequestering agent helps remove calcium and heavy metals from your water. The presence of metals or minerals can cause your hot tub water to turn an unsightly hue— brown, red, orange, or green.
When to add a sequestering agent: Use a sequestering agent if your hot tub water is brown, red, orange or green. It is also important to add a sequestering agent when adding water to your tub.
The basic chemicals for hot tub maintenance include a pH increaser, pH decreased, and sodium dichlor chlorine granules.
Sanitiser
Germs and bacteria get into your hot tub water when people hop in the spa and from the environment. A sanitizer keeps the water balanced and safe to use. You can use either chlorine or bromine. Master Spas does recommend using sodium dichlor granules, which dissolves more quickly and sanitizes the water quickly.
Defoamer
This product will temporarily reduce foamy hot tub water. What causes foamy hot tub water? Body oils, cosmetics, lotions and other products are common culprits. Following a water care routine and showering before you get in the hot tub can help you prevent foamy water. But it can be a good idea to keep defoamer on hand, especially if you are hosting a party.
Calcium
When you are testing the chemical levels of your hot tub water, you will also check calcium hardness. This measurement will tell you how much magnesium and calcium in the water. If this is not balanced, though, your hot tub water could be foamy or cloudy. You might also notice scale build-up or, worse, damage to the metal components. Owners should keep a calcium hardness increaser and calcium hardness decreaser with their hot tub chemicals.
Best Hot Tub Cleaning Chemicals
Chlorine granules are your hot tub sanitiser; bromine pills may also be used; and are probably the most vital for your hot tub water maintenance since they will help prevent and remove most bacteria, fungi, and hazardous organisms that may be hiding. Warm water offers ideal circumstances for these creatures to reproduce and grow.
To keep your pH level in balance, you can use a pH decreaser (minus) or a pH increaser (plus). This is important because if it is too low, it can cause scale build-up on the filter cartridges and pipes, and if it is too high, it can mean it is too acidic, which can cause corrosion to the hot tub parts. However, be cautious because using a pH decreaser can affect the total alkalinity.
These Clearwater chemicals will take any worries you have and make your job easy, containing all the recommended chemicals that are required to get you the spa experience in your own home you have been dreaming of without any stress.
These are multifunctional chlorine pills; the 4 in 1 tablets will not only sanitise but will also assist clarify and prevent algae, lowering the likelihood of the water getting hazy. They are simple to use since they can simply be inserted into a chemical floater or chlorine feeder, such as the Chemconnect system.
The chlorine sanitises and disinfects while also sanitising and preventing bacteria, and the algaecide in these tablets will help kill and prevent the build-up of any algae. These tablets also contain a clarifier containing flocculants that bind together the very small particles, allowing them to be filtered out via the filtration system.
Allow them to accomplish the process of gradually dissolving and releasing the chemicals essential for your water balance. Although these delayed release floater pills last between 3 and 5 days, it is still essential to do your tests and modify the dosage for your specific conditions to guarantee that dangerous organisms cannot develop.
We’ve all seen photographs of spas and tubs with crystal clear water that sparkles and bounces with the light while the bubbles engulf you in a luxurious spa experience. If you’re wondering how to get yours to look like that, this product is for you.
Pro-Kleen spa clarifier is a quick and easy to use chemical that will offer you water that will dazzle the beholder and make you want to jump right in.
It is not only simple and quick, but it is also quite safe, and you will be able to hop in about half an hour, with the hot tub water clearing within a maximum of 24 hours.
How does it function? This just takes two capfuls for a standard-sized spa and is easily poured in. It contains flocculants, which bind together any tiny particles that the filtration system misses, but once bonded together, they will not travel through the filter, resolving any hazy water issues you may have had.
We have another beginning kit for those of you who have just invested, and like the first, this kit provides everything you need to get yours up and running.
The multi-purpose chlorine tablet sanitises and inhibits the growth of bacteria, keeping your unit clean and safe for you and your family. This Suds-online hot tub starting kit also includes a chemical floater, saving you the effort of having to buy one separately.
When needed, a pH increaser and a pH decreaser are included, as well as test strips that provide information about your pH levels and other parameters.
If you sometimes see foam accumulating on the surface of your water, don’t worry; this package also includes a de-foamer, and once poured in, your scum and foam problems will be gone. Yes, it does work that quickly.
After the initial set-up chemicals have been used, you will discover that the best and most cost-effective approach to care for your hot tub is to purchase separate bigger packs of goods, such as this defoamer.
The hot tub foam will naturally build from residues caused by cosmetics and body oils, which will influence the natural alkalinity level; this foam and scum is really ugly and not something that a proud hot tub owner should have.
This is another specialty chemical that provides a simple and rapid answer to any foam problem. This strong anti-foam solution will safely and quickly remove any unattractive scum and foam that may be resting on the surface.
Simply add a couple of capfuls and watch the foam vanish before your very eyes. After you’ve cleaned the water’s surface, consider getting a hot tub vacuum, which will remove any grit and dirt from the bottom. Nothing is more frustrating than stepping into a pool to relax only to discover that you are sitting on filth and grit.