The Right Chemicals for Your Hot Tub
It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, you can always use your backyard spa.
But you might be asking yourself, so what is the best way to keep the spa water crystal clear, sparkling and free of gunk! First, you have to decide what kind of chemicals you want to use in your hot tub and each has it’s own benefits.
- “All-natural” spa care – low dose chlorine with natural enzymes
- Alternative to Chlorine & Bromine
- Bromine & Mineral Sanitizer
- Chlorine or Bromine plus Mineral Sanitizer
What does that mean for you?
“All-natural” spa products are generally recommended for people who are concerned with sensitivities to chlorine or bromine. Chlorine & Bromine alternatives eliminate the odor that sometimes comes from chlorine or bromine hot tubs. Bromine is the most recommended sanitizer because it stays in the hot tub longer than chlorine, and chlorine is a tried and true sanitizer. When either Chlorine or Bromine is used with a mineral sanitizer, it gives optimal water cleanliness.
Every spa owner should:
- Drain & clean your spa or hot tub a minimum of twice per year. If your hot tub is used frequently, you’ll probably want to do this more often. Water can quickly become cloudy, dull, foamy or get stinky if lots of people are in the hot tub in a short amount of time. It will use up the chemicals more quickly as it fights the natural oils given off by people as well as shampoo, lotions, and other cosmetics.
- Clean your filter with filter cleaner a minimum of 4-6 weeks. Again, if your hot tub or spa gets frequent use, you’ll want to do this more often. Your filter(s) will last longer and your water will stay cleaner. Remember, this is where the dirt, oils, etc are trapped and cleaning it off your filter gets it out of your water cycle.
- Clean your spa surfaces. When you drain & clean your spa, you should also wipe down all the surfaces too. Be careful not to use a soap based product or you’ll have a bubbly hot tub. You should use a surface cleaner solution, spa mitt or at minimum wipe the surfaces down with a damp cloth. In between Drain & Cleans be sure to wipe any exposed surfaces to keep it clean.
- Scoop out any leaves, twigs or other things that get into your spa. Just like a pool, if you leave these things in your hot tub, they can cause stains or get stuck in the equipment or lines. That’s the last thing you want. Having a hand skimmer and spa vac on hand will make this easy and quick.
Let’s start from the beginning, you’ve just gotten your hot tub and you’ve filled it up with water. It’s on, it’s heating and the water is moving around. That’s great! Keep it that way for at least 24 hours or until your water temperature gets to where you want it.
If your chemical dealer offers free water testing, like Zagers, take a sample of water in so you can get the right chemicals for your water. If not, you’ll want to get some basic test strips to know where to start. Test strips are a good tool, but they are not exact science. You’ll want to try the recommended dose on the back of your chemical bottles and then test again about an hour later to see if the water balance has improved. If not, try the next minimum dose and re-test until you reach the recommended balance.
If you are using an alternative to Chlorine or Bromine or an all natural product, you’ll want to check if different test strips or methods are used. Many of the “all-natural” products do not have test strips, just the recommended weekly or monthly doses of the product. But, if you use a product like SoftSoak, there are specific test strips for this type of chemical.
So, basically, that’s it. It’s best to test your spa or hot tub water weekly and adjust the chemicals. If you’re close to a Zagers Pool & Spa store, then we’ll keep a record of your water test history and make specific recommendations for balancing your water. The most important thing to remember is this is HOT water you’re dealing with. Chemical balance is extremely important to keep germs and bacteria from forming and staying in your water.
Here’s a handy list of other chemicals available to keep your hot tub water clean, fresh and enjoyable:
- pH Decreaser – lowers pH and total alkalinity, protects spa equipment and prevents cloudy water because of high pH
- Total Alkalinity Increaser – raises total alkalinity, eliminates pH “bounce” and prevents equipment & spa surface corrosion
- pH Increaser – raises pH, balances water, protect equipment from corrosion because of low pH
- Calcium Hardness Increaser – prevents etching of plaster due to low calcium hardness and balances water
- Spa Sentry – softens water by removing calcium, maintains pH balance for up to 2 months
- Spa Silken – softens & clarifies water, reduces the chance of algae growth in your spa
- Water Clarifier – groups together water contaminants to make it easier for the filter to catch them
- Natural Spa Enzyme – reduces scum-line, odors, cloudy water, and promotes filtration
- Nature 2 Spa Cartridge – mineral cartridge to improve water quality, reduce skin irritation and dryness
If you have any specific questions on spa care, we’re happy to help! Stop by, give us a call, send us an email, or add a comment. We’ll be happy to help in anyway we can!