What’s better than relaxing in a hot tub at the end of a long day? Trick question – the answer is, of course: nothing. But, in order to get the most enjoyment out of your hot tub, it’s important that you keep it clean and maintain it.
The best way to clean your hot tub and keep it operable is by adding certain hot tub chemicals that can prevent the water from becoming contaminated and unsafe.
So, in this brief article, we will go over everything you need to know about hot tub chemicals, including why you should use them, which ones to use, how often to add chemicals to your hot tub, and much more.
The Importance of Using Hot Tub Chemicals
Water, especially hot water, is an ideal home for all sorts of harmful organisms, including bacteria and algae, which are both harmful to people.
By using the appropriate chemicals, you can prevent these contaminants from accumulating in your hot tub so that it’s always safe to use when you’re in the mood for a soak.
The Most Common Hot Tub Chemicals
There are a number of hot tub chemicals that you should always have on hand. Let’s go over a few of the most important ones now so that you can stock up and keep your hot tub in perfect working condition.
Sanitizer
The most important chemical that you should always have on hand is a sanitizer. These hot tub chemicals essentially kill the harmful organisms that are prone to accumulating in hot tubs. The most common sanitizers include:
- Chlorine
- Bromine
- Biguanide
- Minerals
- And salt systems
Some of these chemicals work by oxidizing the contaminants, and others work by iodizing the pollutants, but at the end of the day, they all do basically the same thing, which is that they make the water safe for you to enjoy.
pH up and pH down
pH is a measure of how acidic the water is. The pH scale ranges from 0 on the low end to 14 on the high end. A pH level of 7 is considered to be neutral pH; anything lower than that is acidic, whereas anything higher is basic.
Ideally, you should aim to keep your hot tub between 7.4 and 7.6 pH. If the water in your hot tub is higher than 7.6, then add some pH down, and if it’s lower, then add some pH up. These two chemicals are essential to maintaining a healthy water supply.
Alkalinity
Alkalinity is another chemical that you should add to your hot tub on occasion. Alkalinity essentially makes it so that the pH levels in your hot tub don’t fluctuate as wildly as they would otherwise.
How Often Should I Add Chemicals to My Hot Tub?
Generally, you should add a little bit of chlorine to your hot tub each day.
You only need to add pH up or pH down when the pH level indicates that it’s necessary to do so, and adding a bit of alkalinity each week is a good practice.
Consider Professional Spa Service
While it might seem like a lot to keep up with, following these guidelines for adding hot tub chemicals will ensure that your hot tub stays clean and safe.
It only takes a few minutes a day to check the levels and add the necessary chemicals, so it’s well worth your time in order to make sure that you get the most out of your hot tub experience.
However, if you don’t have the time to clean and maintain your hot tub, then consider reaching out to a professional spa maintenance team who can manage the chemicals for you so that all you’ll need to do is enjoy relaxing in your hot tub.
