With 2021 now in full swing, the SpaChem team have put their heads together to form a top ten wish list of how to look after your hot tub.
Following the hot tub procedure steps in order below will help you maintain your spa, your water clarity and ensure you get the best out of your spa in 2021…and beyond.
1 – Lets start at the very beginning (we’ve heard this is a very good place to start) and cover your household water source that you use to fill up your hot tub. Our recommendation here is to complete a test of your household main water supply as it comes from source to understand the base incoming water levels for pH, Alkalinity and Calcium hardness. To do this, simply run some water into a glass and test it using one of our 6 in 1 testing strips, this reading will give you your starting point before you move on to the next step and approach your water balancing. https://spachem.co.uk/palintest-6-in-1-test-strips-1-x-50
2 – Now that you have tested your water source, it’s time to move onto water balancing. The rule of thumb here is if you establish the correct levels of Alkalinity (TA) and pH to begin with, it will be easier to maintain the water balance of your spa.
The alkalinity (TA) reading of your water should be between 80-120ppm.
The ideal range for pH of your water should be between 7.2-7.8.
Remember to start with establishing your ideal TA level first (as this acts as a buffer) before you move on to your pH levels. For more information about how to achieve this, take a look at our water balancing act blog https://spachem.co.uk/high-ph-alkalinity
3 – With your TA and pH water balancing act complete the next step in your hot tub procedures is to have a look at your Calcium levels. Begin with using our 6 in 1 testing strips to understand your calcium hardness. When you have your calcium reading (depending on the result) remember to use a calcium hardness increaser if you have soft water or scale away or no scale products if your readings are too high. For more detailed information on calcium readings visit the following blog: https://spachem.co.uk/calcium-hardness-levels
4 – Next we are ready to move onto sanitisers; with the choice between bromine or chlorine, which one do you choose? Either way, both of these chemicals work by killing the unwanted bacteria within your hot tub water – they just do this in slightly different ways.
If you have chosen chlorine as your sanitiser the ideal level is between 2-3ppm (with 3ppm being the optimal), if however, you have chosen bromine then the ideal level is 3-5ppm (with 5ppm being the optimal). The decision on which one you should choose is widely discussed and more information can be found about chlorine vs bromine.
5 – Understanding the above hot tub daily checks leads us nicely onto the best way to add your water treatment chemicals to your spa water. Our recommendation here is the use of dispensers. Dispensers are versatile giving you the freedom and control you need to adapt the amount of chemicals being released into your water, and to maintain a constant flow of sanitiser. Dispensers are ideal for use with tablet chemicals and chlorine tablets as they dissolve less rapidly, but can also be used with granules if your water needs a boost to its levels.
6 – With your hot tub procedures well under way and your hot tub daily checks all now in place, we now need to consider the weekly elements to your water balancing regime. This is namely the use of Non-Chlorine Shock (NCS) which is great at oxidising contaminants within your water. Our recommendation is that you use NCS on a weekly basis to keep your water in perfect condition and control unwanted bacteria.
7 – The clarity of your hot tub water is our next consideration. Spa enhancer products help maintain your water clarity and encourage small particles within your water to combine together so they can be effectively removed by your filtration process. Our recommendation here would be to reach for our Spa Sparkle product.
If, however, you are experiencing high levels of foaming within your water, then reach no further than our Foam Away product which is specifically formulated to remove excessive foaming.
8 – Next in our list is tackling the build-up of biofilms within your water. Biofilms in your hot tub can (and often does) lead to cloudy water, odours, scale build-up on your heater, foaming, and the corrosion of any metal surfaces such as your heater, pump, jets and filtration system. Our Chlorine Dioxide tablets are ideal in the fight against specific pathogens such as legionella bacteria. For more information on the use of Chlorine Dioxide visit our blog: https://spachem.co.uk/chlorine-dioxide-t25-chlorogene
9 – As we are nearing the end of our top ten list, the SpaChem team wanted to mention the importance of including the cleaning of the backs of your water jets, your head rests and weir housing within your hot tub procedures. Ongoing cleaning and maintenance of these areas will not only increase the life of your hot tub but will also contribute to the health and wellbeing of everyone using your spa.
10 – Last (but definitely not least) is hot tub filter maintenance. By looking after the filter in your hot tub or spa, you will use fewer water treatment chemicals, increase the life cycle of your filter and help your hot tub run more efficiently. For a step-by-step guide on how to look after your filter, follow our blog: https://spachem.co.uk/hot-tub-filter-cleaning
So, there we have it, our top ten tips and hot tub procedures for maintaining a healthy and happy hot tub. If you would like any further information simply follow the links to our more detailed and specific blogs. Alternatively contact one of the SpaChem team on: 02920 280422 or WhatsApp on 07540 184405. Find out more about the cleaners for hot tubs we have to offer and shop our range online, we will be more than happy to help, or you can check out The Hot Tub Chemicals Guide.
Maintaining clean and safe water in hot tubs and spas is essential for a pleasant
Have you ever experienced hot tub water that is clear but smells? You know how
As a leading hot tub supplies company, we offer a variety of hot tub maintenance
