How To Keep Your Hot Tub Chemicals Balanced
A hot tub can be a great addition to your home. It can be a relaxing oasis for your daily rejuvenation, or it can be a wonderful social setting for entertaining friends. Regardless of the manner in which you normally use your hot tub, it is important to keep it well maintained. Much of the maintenance associated with a hot tub is proper cleaning and chemical balancing. Here are a few measures you should take to keep your hot tub chemicals balanced:
Is it chemically balanced?
Too many chemicals can start to corrode the lining of your tub. However, if there are too few chemicals to kill the microbes in your hot tub, you may end up with an overgrowth of bacteria. In addition, if the water in your hot tub is too hard, meaning it contains too much calcium, it can cause scaly deposits to accumulate. However, if the water is too soft, or contains too few minerals, the water may draw minerals from the metal components of your tub.
To check the chemical balance of your tub, you can use test strips that are specially designed for spas. These strips can be purchased at local pool and spa supply stores.
The strips usually indicate the amount of chlorine, bromide and calcium in the water of your hot tub. The strips also indicate the pH level of your tub water. To get an accurate reading, simply dip a strip into the water for the time recommended on the packaging and read the results.
Once you know the chemical levels of your tub water, you can make adjustments. Using the chemicals that are recommended for your hot tub, such as bromine, chlorine, sodium bicarbonate and sodium bisulfate, add the prescribed amounts slowly. In addition, be sure that the jets of your tub are running when the chemicals are added. The force of the jets helps mix the chemicals thoroughly and evenly in the tub.
Achieving balance.
After the chemicals in your hot tub have been allowed to mix well, you can recheck the alkalinity and other chemical properties of your tub water to ensure the proper levels have been achieved. If the alkalinity level is too low, add sodium bicarbonate to make the water more alkaline. However, if your test strips show that the alkalinity level is too high, you can lower it by adding sodium bisulfate.
If the chlorine or bromine levels in your tub water are not correct, your tub may not be properly disinfected.
The water can be pre-softened with a water softener before being added to your tub. However, if the water is too soft, calcium tablet can be added.
If you have questions about properly maintaining your hot tub, contact a pool or hot tub contractor in your area. Visit http://www.anchorpools.com for more information.