Save on Jacuzzi Spas & Chemicals this May!
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Please note – Each hot tub has its own chemical needs and this a general guide with tips from experts within Jacuzzi Group that is not specific to one hot tub brand or model.
Do you own a hot tub and are not sure whether you’re using your chemicals properly? Are you considering buying a hot tub and wondering which chemicals to put into it?
We’re here to help! Read our basic guide to understanding the most common hot tub chemicals and how to use them.
By the end of this article, you will have an idea of the most used chemicals are in hot tubs, what they are used for and why they are an important part of the hot tub maintenance process.
Bacteria thrives in warm environments and yes, this can include within hot tubs, if the water is left untreated and chemical and maintenance instructions are ignored.
A warm environment, as well as rainwater, outdoor temperatures and bodily oils will make your chemical balance change constantly. This means chemicals need to be added to regularly strike the right balance again to keep the water clean and healthy to soak in.
Ever heard people say they need to ‘balance the water’ in their hot tub? Chemical balance in a hot tub is all about making the water clean, safe and comfortable to use.
You can achieve this with the help of several chemicals and products – sanitizer, pH balance and calcium hardness. The products used will vary between brands and models and it is always best to follow instructions and recommendations from hot tub experts and sales teams.
Let’s start with looking at the chemicals that you use to get rid of the bacteria, the sanitizers. Did you know, there are only three chemicals that are considered hot tub sanitizers:
The common metric unit used for sanitizers and most chemicals is ppm (part per million). This is the same as mg/l (milligrams per liter).
Sanitizers and various chemicals are typically quantified with the metric unit of ppm (parts per million). This is equivalent to mg/l (milligrams per liter).
Products in a starter kit will vary, depending on what brand of hot tub you’re buying, where you’re buying them from and what sanitizer option you have chosen.
As an example of what Jacuzzi® offers, you can choose between chlorine granules and bromine granules. The kit also includes 50 Jacuzzi® Test Strips, 500G Jacuzzi® PH+, 500G Jacuzzi® PH-, 500ML Jacuzzi® No Foam, as well as a Jacuzzi® Hot Tub Chemical Guide.
There are many other chemicals that play a role in keeping your hot tub water balanced and ready to go.
Total alkalinity (TA) measures the amount of alkaline in your hot tub water. The ideal level of alkalinity is between 80-120mg. You can strike the right balance by using alkalinity increaser. This will raise the TA level or a pH decreaser to lower the TA level.
If the alkalinity level is too high or too low, then it can affect your pH balance. It is important to keep alkalinity levels balanced as possible
Have you ever noticed scale and limestone build up on your water taps and pipes? That is because the total hardness (TH) is too high. Total hardness refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium mineral content in your water.
If your TH is too high, you can use a ‘no scale’ product to bring levels down and use a Calcium hardness increaser if your TH level is too low.
You must measure the total hardness of your water and make sure it is between 100-250ppm, otherwise calcium may solidify in your hot tubs surface and internal parts.
You may now be thinking, well that’s a bit excessive? This section is to tell you exactly why each chemical your specific product needs is detrimental to your health, and your hot tubs.
You may remember from school that pH is a measurement between 0-14 which determines the of the acidity and alkalinity of your water.
A measurement of 7 is the number that will mean that your hot tub is perfectly balanced, using pH increaser or pH decreaser to reach magic number 7.
A measurement lower than 7.2 means that your water is too acidic and can cause eye burn and itching. A measurement above 7.8 means that your water is too alkaline and is therefore vulnerable to scale build up.
The short answer is no, it is not advised or recommended to put swimming pool chemicals into a hot tub.
Swimming pools chemicals are designed for low temperature water. They are less concentrated to match the cooler temperature a swimming pool is typically set to.
Hot tub chemicals are designed for water set to a higher temperature and have a higher level of concentration.
If you were to add pool chemicals in a hot tub, you will notice that it will burn off quickly.
That’s because low-level concentrated pool chemicals are not designed to withstand the warm temperature of your hot tub and the higher concentrated level that’s needed to have an effective impact on keeping your hot tub water clean and healthy.
Trichlor, also known as trichloroethylene, is a chemical compound and a pesticide that’s EPA (Envrionmental Protection Agency) registered.
It acts as a disinfectant and sanitiser by releasing chlorine into the water. That’s why it is commonly used to treat water in swimming pools. We advise against using this particular chlorine type for hot tubs due to its high acidity and slow dissolving properties.
Prolonged exposure of trichlor to the spa shell can lead to fading and potential permanent marking on the hot tub shell which could leave a visible line at the water level.
As with most things, if something is a higher price, it is usually because the quality goes hand in hand with it.
This is not something you should it risk when it comes to purchasing chemicals as there are different standards of chemicals, the higher priced ones usually have higher grade chemistry.
If the chemicals aren’t of a high standard, then they can affect the efficiency of your hot tub, as well as be uncomfortable to sit in.
Some elements within chemicals can be extremely damaging to hot tubs inner and outer parts.
Johnson City Showroom
3950 Bristol Hwy,
Johnson City, TN 37601
(423) 542-2391
Kingsport Showroom
1064 E Stone Drive
Kingsport, TN 37660
(423) 630-7665
Hours: Tues – Sat:
9:30AM – 6:00PM
Sun & Mon: Closed