Hot tub Bromine or Chlorine...
Sanitizing your hot tub water is the most important hot tub maintenance you can do for yourself. Why? Because sanitizers kill the bacteria and viruses that populate every hot tub (that's right Mr. Clean, even your spa). So here's a quick run down on the different types of hot tub sanitizers:
- Chlorine: You're probably familiar with Chlorine as the primary sanitizer used in pools. You can use chlorine safely in spas too, except in a different concentration. There are chlorine tablets and chlorine granules created specifically for hot tub use.
- Bromine: Bromine tablets are a combination of sodium bromide and chlorine. Many people choose bromine over chlorine because the smell is not as strong. Bromine is available in tablets and is generally distributed using a floating feeder.
- Mineral Purifiers: You can use mineral purifiers to assist (but not entirely replace) your sanitizers in keeping your hot tub clear of contamination. Mineral purifiers are typically placed inside your filter cartridge or contained in a floating dispenser and the sanitizing minerals are slowly released into the water over time. We like to use Nature2 mineral purifiers in our spas for three reasons:
- They're really easy to use
- They really work
- They radically reduce the need for harsher chemicals like bromine or chlorine.
Ozone:
Ozone can assist providing that your hot tub is equipped with a piece of equipment called an "ozonator." Even if your spa has an ozonator, you will need to supplement your spa water with a low level of sanitizer like Bromine (and please don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The idea that a spa can be thoroughly sanitized with ozone or and/or mineral products alone is a myth).
Important:
before adding any sanitizing agent to your hot tub, you must first test the current levels by using a water test strip.
These strips are easy to use and formulated to measure the level of bromine and chlorine in your hot tub water along with your pH levels (see below). Depending on whether you use chlorine or bromine, you should add your sanitizing agents as indicated by the test strip and the instructions on the sanitizer you are using.
Before we leave the topic of sanitizers, we'll add another sentence or so to our thoughts on keeping your spa sanitary.
Pop Quiz: How often do you change your hot tub water?
- Immediately after hot tub party
- When the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars
- Whenever the water turns from that sort-of light brown color to that really dark brown color
The second most important thing you can do for you and your hot tub is to CHANGE YOUR WATER about every three to four months. We know it's a pain in the butt but the reason why most hot tub manufacturers recommend it is that no amount of chemicals can protect you completely in water that is really old and dirty. Hey, you wouldn't wash your dishes in year-old dishwater would you? Well, change it after 2 - 3months, you'll be glad you did!
Other Important Stuff
The following items are important, just not as important as your sanitizer.
Shock:
No we're not talking about your reaction to your electric bill; we're talking about a very useful product that oxidizes the water and helps to get rid of dead organic matter like dead skin (think: bacteria buffet) skin oils, cosmetics and lotions. Shocking your hot tub weekly starves bacteria and helps prevent all that ugly dead stuff from clouding up your water and clogging your system.
pH:
Ok, let's start with the obvious question. What is pH? Water pH is a measurement of the concentration of hydrogen ions in your hot tub water. Without getting into a freshman chemistry lesson, let's just say that pH is important because if you don't keep the pH levels within a small range (7.2-7.8), your water can become too alkaline or too acidic. If your ph is too low (less than 7.2), the water is too acidic and it can corrode parts of your hot tub and irritate parts of yourself (like your skin). If your hot tub water is above 7.8, it is too alkaline which can cause "scaling" from minerals and metals in your water forming deposits and possibly stains on your spa's acrylic surface.
So, how do you know if your pH is in the right zone? First, as mentioned above, you need to test your water using an AquaChek test strip. Then, use chemicals such as Ph Up or Ph Down to achieve the right pH balance for your hot tub. When you change your water, you can add pH Balance Plus to achieve and maintain the right pH Balance until the next time you change your water