Hot Tub Care: Your Chemicals Guide

Hot tub care includes regularly checking, balancing, sanitizing, and shocking your water. These four components of hot tub maintenance are vital to keeping the water clean, safe, and pleasant to use.
While using hot tub chemicals may sound a bit intimidating, it’s actually quite simple. Just follow this guide and you’ll have pristine water just in time for your next ultra-relaxing soak.   
1. Checking Your Water’s AlkalinityThe first thing to do is to check your water’s alkalinity, which should fall between 80 ppm-120 ppm. Alkalinity between these levels will help to prevent fluctuations in the pH level.
If the alkalinity is too high, your chlorine-based disinfectants won’t be as effective. This will lead to mineral buildup, cloudy water, skin/eye irritation, algae formation, and scales along the sides and bottom of your hot tub. If the alkalinity is too low, the water can irritate or dry out the top layer of skin.
To correct, use a Total Alkalinity Increaser or check to see if you have significantly hard water.
2. Balancing Your Water’s pH LevelNext, you need to check and balance your water’s pH level to see how acidic or basic it is. It should fall between 7.2-7.8.
If the pH level is too low, it can impact the overall efficiency of your hot tub, corrode equipment, and cause ear/eye irritation. If the pH level is too high, it can cause cloudy water, poor sanitizer efficiency, and skin/eye irritation.
To correct, add either pH increaser or pH decreaser. When it comes to brand, the best hot tub chemical comes down to what works best in your particular circumstances. You might ask your local dealer for recommendations.
3. Sanitizing Your WaterSanitizing your hot tub water is important to keep it disinfected from bacteria and viruses, to keep it clear, and to keep it smelling fresh.
To do this, you can choose between bromine and chlorine:

• Bromine
  
  • More complex to apply
    
  • Takes longer to dissolve
    
  • Costs higher initially
    
  • Fewer annual treatments

• Chlorine
  
  • Easier to apply
    
  • Goes into effect faster
    
  • Dissolves faster
    
  • Cheaper
    
  • Requires more maintenance

You might look at that list and determine that one, in particular, is your choice for the best chemical for your hot tub. Each has its strengths and weaknesses so it comes down to your preferences.
Performing a Shock Treatment  Finally, performing a shock treatment to your water breaks down the organic contaminants that can lead to cloudy water and unpleasant odors. Shocking the water reduces the need for high doses of chemicals, helps to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and algae, and keeps your equipment lasting longer.
A shock treatment should be performed at least once a week. There are two types of treatments: non-chlorine shock (used regularly) and dichlor shock (used occasionally).
The dosage depends on:

• The size of your hot tub
• Water type
  
• Water temperature
  
• Hot tub placement
  
• Other factors

Other Hot Tub Care and Maintenance TipsWhen it comes to hot tub care and hot tub maintenance, here are two tips:

1. Know how to properly clean your hot tub and do it regularly.
2. Follow a hot tub maintenance schedule.

By correctly using hot tub chemicals, keeping your hot tub clean, and performing routine hot tub maintenance, your hot tub will provide you with fun and relaxation for many years to come.