"Although similar in one way to bath tubs, hot tub spas are not drained after each use, so we must take measures to ensure clear, clean, sparkling water.  This means balancing the chemical properties of our spa water so that it is neither too alkaline nor too acidic.  It also means maintaining a sanitizing system to keep the water healthy and free of harmful microorganisms."

The warm water of hot tubs would provide an ideal breeding ground for potentially harmful microorganisms if we did not initiate and maintain an effective sanitizer system.  Bacteria from our bodies, as well as airborne mold spores, algae, and even viruses can find their way into the water.

Fortunately, we have great sanitizer systems such as: Bromine, Shock  and Nature2 that can effectively destroy these microorganisms and keep the spa water safe and healthy.

What you need to do:

Select the right sanitizer system you and your spa. Monitor and maintain your sanitizer.

Here's how: Sanitizer Selection Guide Spa Prep & Maintenance

Shock treatment is simply the routine of applying a compound to your spa water which oxidizes or breaks-down the dead organic material left behind from your sanitizer system, as well as non-filterable material such as dirt, soap films, hair spray and perspiration. Allowed to remain in the water, these contaminants provide a food source for bacteria and algae. Regular shock treatments eliminate them and the organics on which bacteria feed.

Regardless of which sanitizer system you use, periodic shocking is essential for clear, clean hot tub water.  It will also allow your sanitizer to perform at peak efficiency.  We recommend HTH non-chlorine  shock, although Dichlor granular chlorine is also a good product.

Note: If using Bromine Tablets as your sanitizer,  the MPS compound  also activates the bromide ion (which by itself has no disinfecting capability) to become bromine, which then rapidly becomes the active sanitizer: hypobromous acid, in spa water.  Upon reaction with bacteria and other contaminants, hypobromous acid is reduced back to bromide ion, ready to be reactivated again by the next dosage of  Spa shock.

What you need to do:

Regularly shock your spa water with HTH Non-Chlorine Shock or Dichlor.

Here's how: Spa Prep & Maintenance

When the mineral components of spa water are correct proportion to one another, the result is balanced water. Balanced means that it is neither too alkaline (high pH) which causes destructive scale buildup on equipment, nor too acidic (low pH) which may erode plumbing and cause costly damage to spa pumps, seals and heaters. Balanced water has a more pleasant feel to the skin, and allows your sanitizer to work more effectively.

Total Alkalinity (TA) is important to test. It is the measure of all the alkaline material in the water and really an indicator of the ability of the water to resist changes in pH-- the water's buffering capacity. Too high TA is much less of a problem than too low.  Always adjust TA first, then check your pH.  Maintaining the proper TA will often bring the pH into line automatically. Water is balanced by adjusting its TA and pH with compounds such as Alkalinity Increaser, pH Decrease and pH Increase.

The hardness level of spa water-- measured as the amount of dissolved calcium,  is also important.  Insufficient calcium hardness can promote equipment corrosion and also result in water foaming problems.  Although there is no practical way to reduce high hardness levels, it is easy to increase levels which are too low by adding Hardness Increase.

Note: To prevent problems with spa shell staining and scale formation, when refilling your spa, be sure to add a good mineral stain & scale preventer.

What you need to do:

1. Balance and maintain TA and pH.

2. Check hardness level.

3. Add scale and stain preventer.

A Valuable Spa Information

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