Proper Storage Of Hot Tub Chemicals
The most appropriate manner and place to store your chemicals for your hot tub is where you will access them easily. If you feel like it is a constant struggle to get to your chemicals, you are more than likely not to be as diligent about caring for your water.
With that said, some suggestions will keep your chemicals effective and serve to keep you healthy and safe.
Keep your hot tub accessories and chemicals safe with a deck box
- If possible, store your chemicals in a cabinet or a container that can be locked. The best choice would be one that is waterproof yet still aesthetically pleasing in your yard.
- Chemicals of any type are best to be kept cool and dry. Chemicals for hot tubs, by their very nature, are designed to dissolve in the presence of moisture. They are to be kept separate from other products so as not to get them wet or mixed. If your climate tends to be hot, or your backyard receives a lot of sun, you may consider storing them in your garage.
- Always maintain the chemicals in their original package. You will be able to reference back to the manufacturers instructions for use if needed.
- Secure the chemicals in a safe place out of reach from children.
How To Care For Your Hot Tub
It is very important that you use chemicals in your hot tub so that your hot tub is always clean and crystal clear
Sanitizing Your Hot Tub
The type of water purification used in your spa is a personal choice. Here we list our three preferred sanitation systems. Whether you use another chemical or one of our favorites, carefully read and follow the instructions on the package.
NOTE: Directions for each of the 3 different systems we recommend are shown below. For help in choosing the right sanitizer for your spa, read our Spa Sanitizer Comparison Guide.
Short on time? Jump to:
- Follow Draining& Balancing procedures above.
- Add granular bromide . This establishes an immediate bromine reserve.
- Load 3-4 bromine tablets in adjustable bromine float. Each dispenser has different adjustment increments, so start small and follow instructions if applicable.
- Test bromine level after several hours with spa circulating. Increase or decrease level to maintain 3-5 PPM. Do not allow to fall below 3 PPM.
- Shock weekly with OxySpa non-chlorine shock, per label directions– generally about 1 1/2 – 2 oz. per 500 gallons. .
Get everything you need in one kit with the Bromine Pro Starter Kit. Includes step-by-step instruction card.
Read Also: Campgrounds In Michigan With Pools
What Spa Chemicals Do I Need
Watsons carries all the products you will need and at the lowest price in the USA guaranteed.
Care and maintenance will vary, depending on the brand, spa and size.
Our team is happy to help answer questions or walk through the chemicals needed for your exact spa. Stop in to your local Watsons or Contact Us here.
Below is a general overview of what you can expect for spa care & chemicals:
Chemicals Dosages & How
Get help with Shock Dosing your hot tub and advice on adjusting Chlorine, pH and Alkalinity levels.
Total Alkalinity is the measure of your hot tub waters ability to neutralise acids. Balanced Total Alkalinity helps control the pH levels and the correct level to aim for is between 80 and 120 parts per million .How To Balance Total Alkalinity Levels1. Dip a ClearWater® Test Strip in the centre of your Lay-Z-Spa, remove and hold it still for 15 seconds. 2. Compare your dip test strip results to the colour chart on the packaging.3. Total Alkalinity results:For low TA levels below 80ppm you will need to use Total Alkalinity Increaser. The amount of TA + you need to add to your hot tub depends on the volume of water and how low your readings are. As a guide – a hot tub of 1,000 litres requires 18g to raise Total Alkalinity levels by 10ppm .For high TA levels above 120ppm you will need to use PH Minus. The amount of pH decreaser you need to add to your hot tub depends on levels are and on the volume of water. Check the dosage rates on the back of the bottle and measure accordingly.Problems Caused By Unbalanced Total Alkalinity LevelsNot balancing the Total Alkalinity levels in your hot tub can cause a number of issues that can impact your spa experience.
2. Compare your dip test strip results to the colour chart on the packaging.
| HIGH CHLORINE READINGS | |
| Red itchy eyes and skin rash | Bacteria Growth |
Lay-Z-Spa Chlorine Granule Dosage Recommendations Table
Read Also: How Much To Replace Vinyl Pool Liner
How Often You Should Add Hot Tub Chemicals
You should test your hot tubs pH and sanitiser level every day:
Every week, you should test the total alkalinity and total hardness:
How To Check Ph Alkalinity And Calcium Hardness For Hot Tubs
To do this, you will need Spa Test Strips or digital meter. The test strips come handy in testing the chlorine, alkalinity, and bromine levels, not only pH. If you have separate chlorine, alkalinity, and bromine testers, You can buy a digital meter.
Using pH strips is really easy. Simply dip the strip into your hot tub and the strip will change color. Then compare this strip to the color chart supplied with the testing strip kit you purchased and whatever the color matches with is what your pH is.
Read Also: How Much Does The Average Inground Pool Cost
What Chemicals Do I Need For A Spa Or Hot Tub
So now that we’ve gone over the different types of chemicals available for your hot tub, it’s time to gather your supplies. What do you actually need in your spa chemical storage cabinet? Here’s a basic list of essential maintenance chemicals that every spa or hot tub owner must have:
Why You Need The Right Hot Tub Chemicals
It is essential to use the appropriate chemical for the appropriate problem because when you use the wrong chemical to solve a problem, it creates more problems than a solution. It will not be wise for you to save costs when trying to clean or treat your hot tub because it will end up costing more in the nearest future. The following are problems and the appropriate chemicals to use to solve them
Alkalinity
- High alkalinity if your waters alkalinity is above 100 150 PPM, you need to use a PH decreaser to adjust it to its proper level. After adjusting, you will need to test the water to confirm the alkalinity level is stable.
- Low alkalinity if your waters alkalinity is below 100 150 PPM, you will need to use an alkalinity increaser to stabilize the alkaline level, after which you will test the water to ensure the alkaline level is average.
pH reading
- High pH reading If the hot tub water is above 7.4 7.6, it needs to be adjusted using a pH decreaser. Do not forget to test.
- Low pH reading When your waters pH is lower than 7.4 7.6, a pH increaser is recommended to increase the pH level back to the proper level.
Calcium hardness
Hard water is water that contains minerals like calcium and magnesium. If you live in areas with hard water, you will typically see mineral residue on the shower top.
Sanitizer level
Shock
- Chlorine hot tub
Dirty pipelines
Read Also: How Deep Do Above Ground Pools Go
Things To Consider To Enhance The Longevity Of Your Wood
To enhance the longevity of your wood-fired hot tub, you will want to perform some daily maintenance, from caring for your water to getting rid of any visible residue.
With that in mind, here are some of the critical things to consider to help with enhancing the longevity of your wood-fired hot tub
What Chemicals Do I Need For A Hot Tub
So you finally took the plunge and bought the hot tub that’s right for you. Now that you finally own the hot tub of your dreams and have found the perfect location for it, you’re anxiously awaiting the moment when you can climb right in and relax. But hold on just a minute! Before you can safely enjoy that warm, bubbling water, you can’t forget about the most essential element: maintaining proper water chemistry. Do you have the right spa chemicals?
Much like a swimming pool, managing the chemistry in your hot tub is pretty simple once you understand what needs to go in your hot tub water. Maintaining the chemistry in your hot tub involves balancing chemicals for Total Alkalinity, pH adjusters, sanitizers, and shock treatments. Dont be frightened by these terms you dont need a PhD in Chemistry to understand what needs to go inside your hot tub. This article will help you become an expert on properly maintaining your hot tub water chemistry! So now for the real question: what chemicals do you need for your hot tub?
Also Check: How To Make Pool Water Blue
Spa Filter Cartridge Cleaner
Beyond simply hosing off your spa filter cartridge, it’s important to give those cartridges a good deep cleaning every once in a while. Cartridge cleaning chemicals help break down the oily residue and other contaminants that get stuck in the fibers of your filter. Although it won’t allow your cartridge to live on indefinitely, it certainly adds some time to its lifespan. The cleaner your filter is, the more efficiently it can keep your hot tub water clean.
Hot Tub Chemicals For Shock Treatments
About once per week, it is advisable to give your hot tub a shock treatment. This is simply adding either a form of chlorine called Dichlor or a monopersulfate compound to oxidize and evaporate any organic contaminants in your hot tub. Just get a shock treatment kit, follow the instructions, and you will soon be a pro.
You May Like: How Do I Open My Pool
Alkalinity Increaser And Reducer
Unfortunately, chemicals arent all youll need to keep your pH levels optimal. Instead, youll also need to check your alkalinity levels. The logic behind alkalinity gets pretty complicated and sciencey. So well skip the fluff and get to the bottom line.
If your alkaline levels rise too high, your pH levels will also increase rapidly. Likewise, when your total alkalinity levels drop too low, your pH will also drop to undesired levels. And when your pH levels go badwell, you know the slippery slope from here.
But what all this really means is that youll need proper total alkalinity levels before you can even play with your pH levels. Thus, its important you check your inflatable hot tubs total alkalinity.
Youll check your waters total alkalinity with test strips. And much like pH tests, these strips mostly work the same. You dip and remove the test strips from water. Within a matter of seconds, the paper turns colours letting you know your total alkalinity levels. Pretty easy, right?
As far as desired levels go, youll want your waters total alkalinity to fall in the range of 80-120 ppm. As you might have already guessed, you can add chemicals to your water to alter your total alkaline levels.
For raising your total alkalinity, we recommend Happy Hot Tubs Spa TA Plus Total Alkalinity Increaser. But we also found Leisure Time Alkalinity Increaser worked just as well. For reducing your total alkalinity, Hot Tub Works Spa pH minus Spa Alkalinity Reducer works.
Hot Tub Chemicals : The Complete Guide For Beginners
- Posted on February 1, 2022
Ever wondered if hot tub chemicals are actually necessary? Or how do they work? Well, youre not alone. Most hot tub owners are just as curious, and were here to help.
Hot tub chemicals can make your hot tub experience the best it can be, but they can seem really confusing to start with. Thats why weve spent time writing this complete guide so you can learn everything you need to know.
We want to demystify chemicals and water care supplies so that you can spend less time asking questions and more time enjoying your hot tub.
Here is the ultimate guide to the common chemicals, supplies, and techniques necessary to maintain your tub.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Algae In Pool
How To Test Hot Tub Water
Testing your hot tubs water is a vital step to keeping it clean, safe and healthy. For quick and accurate detection, we recommend using test strips to check the sanitiser, pH and total alkalinity levels of your water, this then allows you to make any chemical adjustments that may be required. We recommend testing your water daily whether the spa is in use or not.
When using test strips, please follow the instructions carefully. After testing your water for several months, youll learn how refilling, topping up, adding chemicals, and general usage affect your readings and chemical levels.
Why An Inflatable Hot Tub Needs Chemicals
The answer to this question is quite simple. Since you dont replace the water in your inflatable hot tub after every bath, the water needs to be cleaned. Chemicals are used just to purify and balance the chemical elements in the water. .
It doesnt matter how often you use your hot tub it can be year-round, only in winter, or only in summer. But before each use, you need to make sure the water is clean and safe for your body. Thats why some chemicals are needed.
Recommended Reading: Where To Buy Pool Pumps
Daily Weekly & Monthly Chemical Care
Our recommended daily, weekly, monthly and ad-hoc hot tub chemical duties and caring information.
1. Keep Your Lay-Z-Spa Filter onWe recommend that the hot tub water should be filtered for a minimum of 4 hours a day. By leaving your hot tub on, the filter cartridge will collect suspended dirt and oils.
2. Test Chemical Levels before use Always make sure hot tub chemicals are balanced to maintain clean and healthy water. If your chlorine, alkalinity or pH levels are not correct, please refer to our chemical How To guides below3. Check Filter CartridgeIdeally, filter cartridges should be removed and cleaned after every use. Every few weeks, or after periods of heavy use, Lay-Z-Spa Filters should be replaced with new ones. Look for discolouration or stiffness. How to clean your hot tub filter:1. Ensure your pump is switched off.2. Remove the complete filter housing from your Lay-Z-Spa.3. Unscrew the filter housing and remove the cartridge.4. Wash off the cartridge with a garden hose or cool tap water and leave to dry. Do not use any detergent or washing-up liquid to clean the filter.5. Replace the filter with either a new or clean and dry one. Do not use a wet filter cartridge as this will not clean work effectively.
What Chemicals Should I Put In My Hot Tub For The First Time
Hot tubs are an amazing source of relaxation and leisure for people throughout the world. Whether you are using your brand new tub to relax tense muscles or just to simply destress from the day, you will want to make sure you are putting the right chemicals in the very first time you use it to ensure safety for you and your family.
The chemicals you will need to start your hot tub include a pH increaser, pH decreaser, calcium hardness, a metal removal and a sanitiser. The chemicals have to go in a certain order for the process to work. Your final goal should be to balance your pH level between 7.4 and 7.6 and your alkalinity between 100-200 parts per million.
If you just bought a brand new hot tub, chances are you are really excited about your new purchase and want to do everything you can to make it a safe and fun experience for you, your family and your guests. Keep reading to learn the exact chemicals, methods and tips for starting your hot tub for the first time.
While the chemicals youll need to add to your spa will depend on your situation, a basic list of chemicals every spa owner should have includes:
- Spa sanitiser such as bromine or chlorine.
- A pH increaser and decreaser such as FreshWater® pH/Alkalinity Up and FreshWater® pH/Alkalinity Down
- Spa shock solution, such as chlorine or MPS.
Don’t Miss: What Chemicals Are Needed For Saltwater Pool
