If you own a hot tub, you must keep the chemicals in your water in proper working order. This frequently entails adding chlorine or bromine every few days and regulating the pH and alkalinity levels.
As a result of these chemical modifications, many individuals question when they will be able to use their hot tub again.
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HOW TO SHOCK YOUR HOT TUB OR SPA
Shock dosing your hot tub water refers to the procedure of adding a higher-than-normal dose of oxidiser chemical to the hot tub water; this process is also known as oxidising. We recommend that users shock dose their water once a week to reduce bacteria development and eliminate bather pollutants. You may accomplish this with two different products: chlorine shock and non-chlorine shock.
HOW SHOULD I SHOCK MY HOT TUB?
- You can easily shock dose your hot tub once you know the hot tubs litrage. Here is an easy step by step:
- Remove the hot tub cover so oxygen can get to the water.
- Ensure your pH is correct. Between 7.2 and 7.6 if you use a chlorine sanitiser and between 7.0 and 7.4 if you use a bromine sanitiser.
- Turn on the circulation to the water is moving. (If you have a blower do not turn this on as it will agitate the water excessively).
- Measure 17g of non-chlorine shock per 1500 litres or 35g of chlorine shock per 1500 litres (consult the label instructions as this can vary based on chemical quality and brand).
- Carefully add the required shock to the hot tub.
- Leave the cover off for approximately 20 minutes.
HOT TUB CHEMICAL SAFETY
Below are some important tips when using hot tub chemicals:
- Always read the label of any hot tub chemical before use and follow the instructions carefully
- Never mix hot tub chemicals unless instructed to do so by a hot tub specialist
- Always add chemicals to water, never the other way around
- Never add chemicals to your Hot Tub water while it is in use
- Only use Hot Tub chemicals in well-ventilated areas
- Beware of strong winds when using powdered chemicals
- Keep all hot tub chemicals out of reach of children and animals at all times
- Make sure you wash your hands after using hot tub chemicals
- Outdoor Living Online strongly advises wearing protective clothing whenever handling chemicals
- Test your hot tub water on a daily basis (we recommend either bromine or chlorine test strips depending on your preferred sanitisation method)
- Store hot tub chemicals away from heat and moisture
- Always leave your hot tub switched on (unless changing filters or changing the water in your hot tub)
How Long Do You Have To Wait After Shocking A Hot Tub?
After shocking your hot tub, you should wait 2 hours before using it again. This is because chlorine takes time to disinfect water, and the procedure might take up to 12 hours depending on how strong your shock treatment was.
Chlorine levels in a hot tub that are safe so, in general, you can’t jump right into a hot tub after adding chlorine, or any other chemical for that matter. To avoid any concentrated patches of chemical, you must first give time for the chemical to dissolve and distribute completely in the water.
This doesn’t take long, but it’s preferable to leave 30 minutes and turn on the jets to let the water to flow for the chemical to thoroughly absorb. It’s also a good idea to remove the hot tub cover at this period to allow any vapours to escape more rapidly.
If you are adding chlorine to your hot tub as a sanitiser, you will add enough to the water to reach a concentration of 5 to 8 parts per million. This will guarantee that the water receives a good chlorine boost, and the chlorine will be able to work hard to get rid of any germs and thoroughly cleanse the water.
However, a concentration of 5 to 8 parts per million is not regarded safe for bathing and is likely to cause skin and eye irritation, as well as respiratory difficulties. This means you’ll have to wait. Because chlorine degrades over time, the quantity of chlorine in the water will decrease as you wait. To be safe, you should check your chlorine levels on a regular basis and wait until they are between 2 and 4 parts per million.
How to Check the Levels of Chlorine in a Hot Tub
It is quite simple to check your chlorine level. Simply immerse a test strip in water and compare the resultant colour to the key on the side of the test strip pot. I utilised these test strips for this project and they worked perfectly and were fairly priced. This tells you how much chlorine is in the water.
Keep the test strips in the waterproof container when not in use, and be cautious not to get any droplets of water on them from your hand, or to enable perspiration or other dirt or fluids from your fingers to interfere with the test strip.
How to Decrease Chlorine Levels in Your Hot Tub
Apart from waiting, if you discover that your chlorine level is exceptionally high, you have a few options. To begin, you may lower the water level in your hot tub by draining it and then refilling it. This is a bit of a pain, but it may be faster than waiting 24 hours or more for the chlorine level to drop on its own. You may also expedite the procedure by employing this sump pump.
Keep in mind that the water you drain from the hot tub contains high amounts of chlorine and may be harmful to plants or lawns if you opt to dispose of it in the garden. Learn how to dispose of your hot tub water here.
When filling up, use fresh clean water with a hose filter to ensure that there are no excessive amounts of metals or debris in the water. When you dilute the hot tub water with fresh water, you will see that the chlorine levels have decreased. You may need to run the jets on the hot tub for a bit to ensure that the water is well mixed together.