Why Add Chlorine To Hot Tub Water
Chlorine is the most common chemical used in a hot tub, and its added for disinfectant purposes.
It helps kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, and other microorganisms that may make you sick if they get into the water. Without chlorine or another sanitizer, the hot tub water will get cloudy, bloom algae, and potentially mold.
While there are other sanitizers that can be used, chlorine is a popular choice because it is cost-effective, easy to use, and great at what it does.
How Do I Know If My Hot Tub Chlorine Is Too High
The best way to determine proper hot tub chlorine levels is by dipping a test strip into the water for 2 seconds, shaking off the excess water, and comparing the colors on the strip with the chart on the container. Adjust as needed, but wait 20 minutes before testing again.
You can get test strips from your local hardware store, but the type I recommend is the click on the link to check the latest prices.
It has almost all 5-star reviews from around 1,700 ratings, so it cant be bad, and at less than 10 bucks a pack, its good value too. Its the only brand of test strip I use.
These strips check for:
All essential for maintaining clear, healthy water with no scale build-up.
Easy to use, you just dip them in the water at least 6 below the surface for a couple of seconds and then take out, shake off the excess water and wait.
The colors should be visible almost immediately, certainly after a few seconds, and you can compare the reading with the color scale on the card that comes with the test strips. This will show the active amount of chlorine or bromine in the water and the level of acidity.
The total hardness of the water is what causes scale to form, which can corrode the surfaces of your hot tub, and this is also indicated.
You should test the water 2 or 3 times a week.
But I like to do it every time I get out. I test, adjust if needed, and leave the cover off 20 minutes with the jets on. That way, my hot tub is ready every time I am.
Does Chlorine Decay In My Hot Tub
Yes.Chlorine will get used up when it continues to perform its eating up water contaminants in your hot tub.
Again, chlorine is lost into the atmosphere when it is continually exposed to the suns UV rays.This dissipation into the atmosphere is the reason behind the familiar Chlorine smell.
Consequently, many people will add more chlorine at a much higher level to sanitize the water and kill everything.
After some time, it will drop to about 4 pmm, the safe level for soaking in. chlorine levels can be checked using a simple test strip.
With time, the chlorine will drop further down until it is necessary to add more so that the water is sanitized again.
This will be the normal cycle that will be repeated every once in a while. Indeed, many people find it best to shock their hot tub water and add chlorine after each use.
As they leave their hot tub water at higher levels, the chlorine continues to do its work, and it will drop to safe levels by the time they will be using it again.
Effective bromine or chlorine addition is vital if you want healthy water in your hot tub. Without a proper schedule to achieve this, it is impossible to keep your water sanitized.
Indeed, it is very easy to keep the routine after getting used to a regular pattern of chlorine addition.
Chlorine test strips should be kept safe to avoid contamination. You will need about 45 minutes for the water to be sanitized in normal circumstances, although this might vary depending on different factors.
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Raise The Pool Alkalinity With Baking Soda
If you’re an avid reader of Real Homes articles, you’ll know that cleaning with baking soda is quick, cheap, natural, and just outright magic. So instead of using a commercial cleaning product, why not opt for baking soda to bring the concentration of your chlorine right down?
‘Dont waste money on commercial alkaline-increasing pool products when you can use baking soda to raise your pools pH and alkalinity instead,’ advise Arm & Hammer.
‘Like with disinfectant levels, make sure you check pH daily. Whenever pH drops below 7.2, add 3- 4 lbs. of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water to raise the pH. If after a day or so, the pH has not stabilized and drops below 7.2 again, add another 4 lbs of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water. This procedure should bring alkalinity into the desirable ppm range and stabilize pH between 7.4 and 7.8 for several weeks.’
On the contrary, Alicia Johnson, business owner, Cleaning Green LLC explains that while baking soda works to counter issues with chlorine, it doesn’t work in the way we think it does.
She says: ‘Contrary to popular belief, baking soda does not directly decrease the chlorine levels of a swimming pool, but aids in the neutralization process of chlorine. One of the high alkaline chemicals is baking soda and adding this to your swimming pool will increase the waters pH and alkalinity.’
Can I Use A Chlorine Neutralizer
A chlorine neutralizer is a product you can add to your hot tub water to reduce the amount of chlorine. These products work by binding to the chlorine molecules and making them inactive.
Chlorine neutralizers can effectively reduce chlorine levels in your hot tub, but they dont completely remove it. That means youll still need to use some other sanitation method, such as bromine or an alternative sanitizer.
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How Many Teaspoons Of Chlorine Do You Put In A Hot Tub
Are you trying to add more chlorine sanitizer to your spa, or are you trying to shock it? If so, its obvious that you are wondering how many teaspoons or tablespoons of chlorine to put in the hot tub.
Well, it all depends on how low the chlorine level is. But generally, you need about 2 teaspoons of chlorine sanitizer for every 200 gallons of hot tub water.
For shock treatment, you want to temporarily raise the free chlorine level to 10 ppm. So, you will need about 4 tablespoons of chlorine for every 500 gallons of hot tub water.
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Is It Safe To Use My Hot Tub With Higher Chlorine Levels
No. As already implied, there is a safe chlorine range within which you can soak in your hot tub.
However, if the levels are higher above this recommended range, several things might happen to you. Higher chlorine levels may result from accidentally adding too much chlorine.
Ideally, if your hot tub chlorine levels are above three parts per million as measured from your test strip, your hot tub is not safe to be used.
Defiantly ignoring this recommendation might lead to itchy, red skin and eyes. Additionally, you will have respiratory issues.
With chlorine levels beyond 5ppm, you will be susceptible to chlorine poisoning that might lead to vomiting, nausea, and difficulty breathing.
While chlorine is handy in cleaning your hot tub water and killing bacteria, too high chlorine levels might cause unwanted problems.
Therefore, it is advisable to always check chlorine levels with a test strip before getting into your hot tub.
You will find it necessary to have these handy test strips at your disposal for frequent testing of your hot tub water.This is an extremely easy way to know the pH levels in your water.
To use a test strip, take a small water sample in a clean glass or a plastic container.This water sample should be from the center of the hot tub, from about an elbow depth.
Place your test strip in the water and let it sit for fifteen seconds. However, you can still dip the test strip in the hot tub itself since it is okay.
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How Much Is Too Much Chlorine In A Hot Tub
If you use bromine for your hot tub, anything between 1 ppm and 5 ppm is a safe range. But for chlorine users, the range shouldnt be more than 4 ppm. Anything above 4 ppm is not safe for you.
13 ppm is the ideal range for chlorine. If it goes beyond that range, you will need to find a cost-effective method of reducing chlorine in your pool.
Can I Do Anything To Stop Chlorine In My Hot Tub Dropping Too Soon
Yes. Sometimes, chlorine will drop fast in your hot tub due to various factors. This means that it is really hard to maintain the levels at the recommended range. Several possibilities dictate this.
Improper PH levels It is necessary to have the recommended water alkalinity and PH levels in your hot tub.
This is the only practical way to have easy maintenance of your water chemistry. If you are not consistent and regular in adjusting pH levels in your hot tub, it is hard to steer away from water problems.
Since chlorine is very sensitive to pH imbalance, improper pH levels will scarcely facilitate chlorine to work efficiently.
Consequently, you will find yourself adding more chlorine frequently, and it might be added to maintain the proper levels due to the pH imbalance.
Direct sun Due to chlorines susceptibility to the suns UV rays, your hot tubs chlorine levels may drip at a higher rate than normal.
Consequently, it is advisable to use a sunshade, an umbrella, or a sail to ensure sunshine does not cause drastic drops of chlorine in your water.
Additionally, the hot tub cover comes in handy, so do not forget to use it whenever you are not using your hot tub.
However, ensure that you remove the cover as soon as you shock the water to dissipate the initial vapor.
This is crucial since leaving the hot tub covered after chlorine addition will make the covers vinyl vulnerable to attacks by the vapor.
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Determining How Much Cl Your Spa Needs
It wouldnt be an informative article if I didnt tell you how to figure out how much chlorine your spa needs in the first place, so here goes.
Test Strips are easy to use
Test your water using your preferred test strips. The CDC recommends between 1 and 3 ppm free chlorine to properly sanitize water. Keep in mind, if youre using an alternative sanitizer such as Nature 2, youll need much less, just follow the instructions that came with the kit.
Do I Have To Use Chemicals In A Hot Tub
The short answer is yes. If you do not add chemicals to your tub its likely that it will only be useable for a day without draining it and starting again. Pretty time consuming and pointless! For those worried about chemicals such as chlorine affecting skin, if the correct dosage has been added and youre not bathing for a prolonged period of time and showering afterwards, its unlikely your skin will be affected.
Bromine is another alternative to chlorine if you are concerned about the chlorine smell or you have sensitive skin. Bromine is great for hot tubs as it destroys bacteria at high temperatures very effectively. The amount of bromine needed compared to chlorine is less, which may also save you some pennies.
If you would like any further advice about hot tub chemicals then please contact our helpful team for clarity.
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How Do I Add Chlorine Granules To My Hot Tub
You can add chlorine granules to your spa water simply by sprinkling them directly into the water . However, this method does carry a risk! If the granules settle on the acrylic surface of your spa and do not dissolve this may cause damage which is very unlikely to be covered by the manufacturers warranty.
If the water temperature is less than 20° C, if you are unsure of the water temperature, or if you want to avoid potential damage to acrylic surfaces, then the best method is to pre-dissolve the chlorine granules in a clean plastic bucket. Never add water to the chlorine, fill the bucket with water first then add the chlorine.
Add the dissolved Chlorine Granules when the pumps are on, and near to the water inlets as this will aid the distribution of chlorine around your spa.
Dont get carried away! You dont want to over-chlorinate your water. So just add one dose at a time.
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Can High Chlorine Levels Hurt You
Yes, high levels of chlorine in your hot tub water can hurt you.
High levels of chlorine can cause health issues such as:
- Red and itchy skin
- Respiratory issues
High levels of chlorine may also damage your hot tub. Filters, water pillows, and internal parts may degrade due to high levels of chlorine.
Besides that, you may also feel a sudden onset of nausea and vomiting, a burning sensation in your throat, and a dull pain in your chest.
Even with the correct amount of sanitizer and/or shock, you still need to wait a little bit before getting in.
But how long to wait depends on whether or not youre using chlorine or bromine. Luckily I break it all down for you in this recent article. I get into exact wait times for each type of sanitizer and oxidizer.
Just click that link to read it on my site.
Because chlorine is a natural irritant, too much exposure can dry out the skin and cause irritation or itching GOOD NEWS: Apply #vitaminc to your skin after exposure to chlorinated water to neutralize chlorine and chloramines on the skin!
Alkaline for Life
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Is It Safe To Use A Hot Tub With High Chlorine
No, it is not safe to get in a hot tub where chlorine amounts are higher than three parts per million . Levels above this level could lead to reddish, itchy eyes, irritated skin, and possible respiratory problems. Levels over five parts per million can lead to chlorine poisoning, including nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
You only require a small amount of chlorine to sanitize your spa successfully, so its possible to overdo it if youre not careful. On the other hand, an excessive amount of chlorine can damage your hot tub and irritate skin, eyes, and lungs. Thankfully, reducing the chlorine levels on your hot tub is relatively easy to do.
But thats only the start of proper water chemistry. Keeping it balanced and ensuring that the hot tub is safer to soak in is incredibly important.
When used correctly , sanitizers such as chlorine and bromine kill undesirable bacteria and other organic material from your hot tub.
However, if the degree of chlorine is overly high, it can cause undesirable problems both physically for people and also for your hot tub itself.
Side Effects Of High Hot Tub Sanitizer On Your Hot Tub
The effect that high bromine/chlorine has on hot tub water is that is can degrade surfaces a lot quicker. Exposed surfaces that can degrade quicker with a higher sanitizer level are: pillows, acrylic surfaces, filters, etc. Bromine and chlorine are strong chemical compounds which deteriorate surfaces. Keeping bromine/chlorine levels in range also helps with prolonging the life of equipment on hot tubs. Take a look at your hot tub cover was the inside black and now it is white and brittle? Double check your sanitizer levels.
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How To Lower Chlorine In A Hot Tub: Conclusion
I have seen that chlorine levels inside a hot tub are very important to be well balanced. If the chlorine levels are not balanced, it can cause problems for both the person using the spa and the hot tub components.
If your hot tub has too much chlorine, then adding fresh water and leaving the spa alone for a day should naturally lower the chlorine levels. However, adding a chlorine neutralizer will significantly reduce the amount of chlorine in the spa water.
Check out our article on leaving a hot tub on all the time for more information on long-term hot tub care.
Finally, if you need chlorine tablets and want to know more about how to add chlorine to your spa, check out our full article on the subject.
I hope you found this article on how to lower chlorine in a hot tub helpful.
James Brockbank
Stop wasting time and money with hot tub maintenance and confusing water chemistry! Get Instant access to this easy-to-use book and video course so you can spend less time cleaning and more time soaking.
How Do I Lower The Chlorine Level In My Hot Tub
High chlorine levels in a hot tub will naturally drop in 1-2 days. Since sunlight depletes chlorine, it is a good idea to leave the lid off for a while to speed things up and turn on the jets too. This agitation of the water will release the chlorine gasses into the air.
But if you want to use your hot tub faster, you can use a chlorine neutralizer such as to get the level down but add it slowly and keep on checking the level.
You should also check the pH and alkalinity levels after this and adjust as necessary.
It is easy to add too much chlorine to your hot tub, making it uncomfortable to use, but before you do anything, you must establish that it is the chlorine thats the problem.
If you smell chlorine when you lift the lid, this is most likely caused by chloramines, which develop when the chlorine in the water mixes and reacts with things such as body oils, deodorants, perfume, and sweat.
So, check the chlorine level with a test strip it should be between 1 and 3 ppm, and if it is over 5, you have too much chlorine in your hot tub.
You can, of course, empty your tub, clean it and refill it with fresh water, but this is a bit drastic unless you are close to that point in your maintenance cycle.
Find out more about the differences between chlorine and bromine by clicking on the link to read this recent article here. I really prefer bromine for my sanitizer. But theres 1 crucial reason some people might want chlorine.
Just click that link to read it on my site.
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