How To Increase Alkalinity In Hot Tub

How Much Soda Ash To Raise Alkalinity Of Hot Tub

Just as with baking soda, the rule of thumb is to use one tablespoon for every 100 gallons of water.

About 1.2 ounces of sodium carbonate per 500 gallons will raise the alkalinity by 10 ppm and it will also substantially raise the pH. Unlike baking soda. The exact amount the pH and alkalinity increase will however depend on the chemistry of the water and the water temperature.

As we always say, its better to use less than what you think youll need.

Related Reading:What Order Should You Add Chemicals in a New Hot Tub? A Hot Tub Start-Up Guide

So How Do You Increase The Alkalinity Level In Your Hot Tub

To raise the alkalinity levels in the water, youll add one tablespoon of baking soda per every hundred gallons of water in your hot tub. If you have a hot tub that holds 500 gallons of water, youll add five tablespoons to raise your alkalinity.

After you add it, allow it to circulate for an hour before testing it and adjusting it as necessary. However, theres more to know about alkalinity, baking, soda, and how to work in your hot tub.

Were going to explore how pH and alkalinity work together in this post to ensure you get the correct levels and understand why theyre so important.

Well also outline how you raise your total alkalinity in steps that are easy to follow, so you get a healthy environment to relax in.

Issues With Low Alkalinity Readings

You know that low calcium hardness and low pH levels can damage your hot tub, but so can having lower total alkalinity levels.

You might not notice that your hot tub has lower alkalinity levels at first when you look at your hot tub surface or equipment, but lower alkalinity can cause the pH levels to drop.

This will turn the hot tub water more acidic, and you can end up with irritated eyes or itchy skin if you expose yourself to it. There are other problems associated with having low alkalinity in the hot tub, including:

• pH bounce where the pH levels fluctuate quickly
• Etching, pitting, delaminating, or cracking of the hot tub surface or walls
• Hot tub sanitizing chemicals are less effective, so youll need to add much more to get the same impact
• Metal surfaces corrode in and around the hot tub, including on the pump seals, heating elements, pipes, heaters, and other internal parts
• Staining on your hot tub walls

Also Check: Do It Yourself Fiberglass Pools

How To Raise Alkalinity In A Hot Tub

This post contains affiliate links.

Ensuring that alkalinity levels are within the correct range is vitally important for the safe running of your hot tub and its components. So how do you raise the alkalinity when its low?

There are two ways to raise alkalinity in a hot tub: baking soda and soda ash . Baking soda raises alkalinity levels with minimal effect on the pH. On the other hand, soda ash raises both the alkalinity and pH, so it should only be used if both are low.

In this article, youll learn:

• The two best ways to raise alkalinity
• The damaging effects of low alkalinity
• The cause of low alkalinity
• How to prevent it from reoccurring

What Is The Difference Between Ph And Total Alkalinity In A Spa

Some believe pH is the most important component of water balance, but it is even more important to consider the total alkalinity of your spa water.

If you delve in your memory back to high school chemistry, you may remember pH is the measure of how acidic or basic a solution is on a scale of 1 to 14. 1 being completely acidic, and 14 being completely basic.

Spa total alkalinity measures the ability of your water to neutralise acids, or resist changes to your water’s pH. If the total alkalinity in your spa water is too low, your water pH can easily fluctuate and potentially become too acidic easily.

You should always test and adjust the total alkalinity in a spa before testing and adjusting any other water balance levels including pH.

Don’t Miss: Backyard Patio Ideas With Pool

Measure And Add Products To Raise Alkalinity

Once the jets are on, you can add the alkalinity balancing products to your hot tub water. There are two main methods to balance alkaline levels.

Baking soda method

Can you use baking soda to increase the alkalinity in your hot tub? Of course, you can! To increase overall alkalinity levels in hot tubs, sodium bicarbonate is the best product to use.

Baking soda also has the advantage of being a highly safe chemical to use. Most importantly, it will have a minimal effect on the pH level of the water.

Soda ash method

To compensate for the low total alkalinity level in hot tubs, you can also use soda ash, often known as sodium carbonate. However, it also acts as a pH increaser. This means it can cause a high pH level in the water.

Both methods use the same steps, only the chemical differs. Follow these steps to raise alkalinity while using any of the above two methods.

• Measure the amount of chemicals needed. Ideally, 1000 gallons of water need about one tablespoon of baking soda or soda ash to maintain the ideal alkaline level.
• Add the required amount to a bucket of water.
• Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon.
• Pour the mixture directly into the hot tub, spreading evenly.
• Let the water circulate for a few hours.

Is It Bad To Have Low Alkalinity In Hot Tub

Having a low alkalinity level can wreak havoc on your hot tub. Because low alkalinity allows for more acidic water, every hot tub element is vulnerable to corrosion or wear and tear.

With low alkalinity comes high pH, so metallic elements, in particular, are at risk of corrosion. And this includes internal metallic components such as pipes, heaters, and pump seals.

Not just metallic surfaces are susceptible surfaces such as the hot tub walls are vulnerable too. Acidic water can etch into the walls and cause cracks and delamination. And this includes typical hot tub materials such as fiberglass and vinyl.

Aside from structural damage, low alkalinity will decrease the effectiveness of your hot tub sanitizer, particularly chlorine. Therefore, youll need to add more chlorine and pool chemicals to rebalance the water chemistry.

Don’t Miss: How To Keep Ducks Out Of Your Pool

Temperature Fluctuations Due To Rainwater

The water temperature in a hot tub is normally above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainwater, on the other hand, can reach temperatures as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

So, if your hot tub is outdoors and uncovered, when rainfall enters your hot tub, it creates a continual rise and fall in water temperature, resulting in low total alkalinity. Otherwise, if you fill your hot tub with just rainwater, that will be more acidic than normal water as well.

There is an easy solution to this if you dont have a cover buy one or replace your old leaky one! To find one suitable for your hot tub check out Florida Spa Covers website.

Is High Alkalinity In A Hot Tub Bad

If the total alkalinity of your hot tub water is too high, several things could happen, all of which are bad.

Firstly, increasing alkalinity affects the sanitiser and could make it useless. This applies whether you use bromine or chlorine. If the sanitiser isnt being effective, the water in your hot tub could turn a nasty shade of green. It might also become a breeding ground for bacteria, making your hot tub very unsafe.

The second issue relates to scale. You could have to deal with a build-up of scale. This means your hot tub will have to work overtime to keep the water at an optimum temperature. It also puts you at risk of skin issues such as spa folliculitis or itchy dry skin.

Finally, a high level of alkalinity could be very stressful for your wallet. You may need to spend money on repairs before you plan to add extra sanitising chemicals.

Don’t Miss: Hot Tub Designs And Layouts

How To Increase Hot Tub Alkalinity

If your alkalinity is too low, use Total Alkalinity Increaser, following the directions lined out on the bottle. This should bring your alkalinity level up to a more neutral level.

If tests and treatments dont take care of the issue, its time to try testing pH levels to find out how acidic or basic your water is. PH levels are not quite the same as alkalinity, but the testing process is similar, and the outcome will be the same when treated correctly and with the right chemicals.

Its sometimes necessary to use shock treatment, orin some casesit might be time to drain your hot tub and refill it with fresh water, then add in your chemical treatments from the beginning.

No matter which direction you end up going, treating your current water, or starting over with fresh, were here to help you figure this out.

What Happens When Total Alkalinity Is Too Low

• Corrosion. Corrosion of the tubs metal surfaces – as well as equipment such as the filter and pump – is a common cause of a low alkaline level.

• Damage to the tub. Low alkalinity can cause cracking, etching, staining, and delamination of the tubs material, including the vinyl cover.

• pH Issues. When the level drops below 80 ppm, it usually causes the pH levels to drop, causing the water to become acidic.

• Less-effective sanitizers. A low alkalinity level can also cause viruses, organic contaminants, and the formation of algae, which can cause the water to turn green.

Read Also: What Size Pump For Above Ground Pool

Why Are Spa Alkalinity And Ph Levels Important In My Spa

If the pH and alkalinity of your spa water is not kept at the appropriate level there is a greater risk of damage to the spa equipment. This includes your spa heater element, spa pump seals, as well as other internal surfaces.

In addition, you will have trouble keeping your water clean and clear if the total alkalinity and pH are not set at the right level.

How Much Baking Soda To Raise Alkalinity Of Hot Tub

The general rule of thumb is to use one tablespoon of baking soda for every 100 gallons of water.

So, if your hot tub is 400 gallons , add 4 tbsp of baking soda to raise the total alkalinity.

This table shows roughly how much baking soda you will need to add per 500 gallons of hot tub water.

Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Yellow Jackets By The Pool

What Is The Ph And What Is Alkalinity

The difference between alkalinity and pH causes confusion among hot tub owners and professionals.

pH is used to refer to how basic or acidic the hot tub water is. The pH is measured using the pH scale. The pH scale is numbered from 1-14. Any reading below 7 is acidic and any reading above 7 is considered alkaline or basic. To raise or lower the hot tub pH level, you will need to use a pH decreaser or a pH increaser.

Alkalinity on the other hand is usually used to refer to total alkalinity which is different from pH. Total alkalinity is measured in parts per million and not with the pH scale. Total alkalinity is used to measure the level of alkaloids in the water. Alkaloids like carbonates and hydroxides are present in your hot tub water.

The alkaloids act as a buffer to keep the pH level of the water within the recommended range. When contaminants or chemicals are introduced into the water, the alkaloids will prevent the changes in these chemicals and contaminants from affecting the pH level of the water.

To raise the level of alkalinity, you have to use an alkaline increaser or an alkaline decreaser and not a pH increaser or ph decreaser.

This means total alkalinity and pH are very similar and they work together. So if you raise the alkalinity of the water, you will also to an extent automatically raise the pH level of the water though the levels of increase will differ.

How To Bring Your Ph Back Down

Sometimes water balancing doesnt go quite as planned, and there could be times where youll end up with a high pH after raising alkalinity .

Not to worry, you can bring this back down using an acid either muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate. Sulfuric acid is another option, but as it significantly adds to the TDS level in the water, its rarely used.

Sodium bisulfate is a dry acid, and the safer of the two to work with, although it can be dangerous if not handled properly.

Muriatic acid is highly corrosive. You need to take great care when working with it to avoid accidents that could land you in the ER. Its also the cheaper option, which is why its the more commonly used method.

Read Also: Hot Tubs Salt Lake City

What Should The Ph Level Be In A Spa

A pH reading in the range of 7.4 – 7.6 is ideal for your spa or swim spa.If your reading is below 7.4 then your water is too acidic and you need to add a pH increaser or Alkalinity increaser which will raise the pH and Total Alkalinity.if your spa water pH reading is above 7.6 then it is alkaline and needs a pH Decreaser

Back To School Acids And Bases

Before we talk about how to lower the alkalinity of your hot tub, we need to understand something about the basics of what we are doing, and thats going to mean talking a bit about some science stuff but well try to keep things as simple and easy to understand as possible.

From your school chemistry classes, you may remember something about acids, bases and pH values.

In short, the pH value is a measure of how acidic or how basic a solution is. Acids have pH values of less than 7, bases have pH values of more than 7 and a pH value of 7 is neutral.

For example, coffee has a pH value of about 4.5-6, so it slightly acidic and lemon juice has a pH value of around 2-3, making it more acidic than coffee. Hydrochloric acid has a pH value of 1-2, making it much more acidic than either.

On the other hand, eggs have a pH value of around 9, making them slightly basic while bleach has a pH value of around 13, making it highly basic. So far so good?

Don’t Miss: How Much To Fill In Inground Pool

How To Lower Ph In Hot Tub

The PH in your water may be higher than required for different reasons. One of those reasons is if you add more ph increasers than required. You may also have high ph if the water in your area has a higher pH than normal.

PH decreasers work by increasing the concentration of hydrogen in the water thus lowering the pH.

Sodium bisulphate also known as dry acid is one of the most effective chemicals when youre trying to lower the ph in the water. The other alternative pH decreaser is muriatic acid. The two chemicals are different and the usage of each differs.

For example, you need about 1.23 liters of muriatic acid for every 10,000 gallons of water. With this amount, you can expect to lower the pH by about 10 parts per million.

After adding a pH decreaser, allow the jets to run to allow for even circulation of the chemicals. Also allow the water about 3 6 hours before you can use it.

What Is Total Alkalinity In Hot Tubs

When it comes to hot tubs, total alkalinity is the measurement of the alkaline particles dissolved in the water. These particles are key to reducing fluctuations in pH levels and act by buffering or neutralizing acids. The measurement of total alkalinity is expressed in parts per million and should be monitored and adjusted to sit between the optimal range of 80 to 120 ppm. Getting the total alkalinity level properly balanced is the first step in balancing the overall water chemistry of the hot tub. This is because it has the ability to affect other levels such as pH and sanitizer. Measuring the total alkalinity should be done a minimum of once a week using paper test strips or liquid reagent kits. The results of these water tests will let you know if your total alkalinity levels are too high, too low, or just right.

You May Like: Hot Tubs For Sale Baton Rouge

Add The Appropriate Amount Of Ph/alkalinity Down Or Ph/alkalinity Up To The Hot Tub Filter Compartment While The Jet Pump Is Running

If your alkalinity is at a low or normal level, use pH/Alkalinity Up. If your alkalinity is already high, go with pH/Alkalinity Down instead. Adding 1 tablespoon per 100 gallons of water will decrease total alkalinity by 20ppm.

If youve chosen to use pH/Alkalinity Up, youll need to add one tablespoon for every 100 gallons of water that your hot tub holds. This will increase total alkalinity by 20ppm. For example, if your hot tub holds 300 gallons of water, youll add three tablespoons of pH/Alkalinity Up.

Repeat The Process Or Drain And Refill The Hot Tub Completely

If your pH and alkalinity levels werent too far off to begin with, you might be done with the process of raising the pH in your hot tub! However, you may still have a bit farther to go. If levels are close to where they should be, go ahead and repeat the process.

But in the case that alkalinity and pH levels are still far from the ideal range, it may be best to completely drain out your hot tub and refill it. Sometimes, its easier to start fresh, rather than continuing to add chemicals over and over again in hopes that you will be successful. For best results, use a hose filter like the Fresh Start® Clean Screen when refilling your hot tub in order to keep contaminants out. Using a metal sequestrant is also helpful for filtering out any metal build-up in the hot tub.

Read Also: What Do You Need For An Above Ground Pool