Aug
2024
26
How to Balance Your Hot Tub Water
When it comes to inground hot tubs, having balanced water is essential. Not only does it keep your water clean and comfortable, but it can also help extend the lifespan of your hot tub equipment. When your water is not properly balanced, you run the risk of rendering sanitizers ineffective, which can have a negative impact on your hot tubbing experience. It can also lead to cloudy water, scale forming, and an overall uncomfortable time in the water.
Pool installation companies like Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs in the GTA can help you with advice and guidance on how to properly balance your water.
Understanding the Basics of Water Chemistry
For your hot tub water to be comfortable and safe to bath in, you’ll need to make sure the main components of clean water are properly balanced. Keeping your water balanced means that each component is well within its ideal range. This includes the pH levels, total alkalinity, calcium hardness and sanitizer levels. If any one factor is outside of its ideal range, it can cause anything from unsanitary waters to skin irritations.
Testing and Monitoring Water Parameters
Since properly balanced water is vital to your hot tubbing experience, it's important that you commit to regular testing. At Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs, you can purchase reliable test kits or digital testers that will give you easy-to-understand results. Depending on your usage, you should be testing your hot tub’s water two to three times a week. By testing your water frequently, you can address issues in their initial phase, meaning adjustments will be easier, and you can avoid any damage to your hot tub or its equipment.
Adjusting pH Levels
Properly adjusted pH levels are essential. If your pH levels are outside of the 7.2 – 7.8 range, this can make your water uncomfortable, render your sanitizers ineffective and wear your equipment. The first step in adjusting your pH levels is testing as pH can change depending on water temperature. You’ll have to wait until your hot tub is at temperature before you can get a reading. If your water is outside of the ideal range, you may want to first check the total alkalinity. Once that has been corrected, you can use pH adjusters (increasers or reducers) to get your levels within the ideal range.
Managing Total Alkalinity
Your water's total alkalinity acts as a buffer for the pH levels of your hot tub water, keeping them stable. Similarly to the adjustments of your pH levels, you’ll want to use a reliable tester to get a sense of where your total alkalinity stands. Ideally, your total alkalinity should range between 80 – 120 ppm. Depending on where your reading falls, you’ll want to either use a total alkaline reducer (also known as pH-) or an increaser (commonly known as alkaline+). For the best results, mix your chemicals beforehand in warm water and then tip into the deepest parts of your hot tub to properly dilute the granules.
Addressing Calcium Hardness
When you test your water, your calcium hardness (or total hardness) should ideally fall somewhere between 175 and 275 ppm. If your water falls outside of that range, you run the risk of the water becoming cloudy, corrosive or scaling, which makes bathing uncomfortable. To lower your calcium hardness, you can use fresh water to dilute it and to raise it, you can use a calcium hardness increaser.
Sanitizing and Oxidizing the Water
Sanitizers help control bacteria, algae and other contaminants from taking hold of your hot tub water. The two main options when it comes to sanitizing are chlorine and bromine. Chlorine works fast, is effective and dissolves quickly. Bromine tends to be gentler on the skin and maintains its effectiveness in higher temperatures. You can also explore alternative oxidizers to shock your water.
Ensuring Safe and Comfortable Water
Balanced hot tub water is crucial to your enjoyment as a bather. Not only does it prolong the life of your hot tub equipment, but it also makes your experience more comfortable. Unbalanced water can cause skin irritations and bacteria to grow and damage your hot tub over time. Regular maintenance and testing ensure you’ll have many more relaxing spa days to come in your hot tub.
With the help of a pool installation company like Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs, you can rest assured that you’re using taking the right steps to maintain your inground hot tub.
