Table of Contents
What chemical do you balance first in a hot tub?
When balancing your hot tub chemistry, you’ll need to adjust alkalinity before trying to balance the pH level. Alkalinity acts as a pH buffer, keeping it from drastically changing.
How do you balance a hot tub after filling?
After filling the spa, adjust alkalinity to the 80-120 ppm range. Spa pH should be in the 7.2 – 7.6 range. A proper pH helps bromine and chlorine work their best, and good pH also helps prevent damage to seals, o-rings and surfaces.
Does a hot tub need to be leveled?
Once a hot tub has been filled with water and bathers, it can weigh over 8,000 pounds. Any surface dips can create stress on the hot tub shell, which can lead to cracking. When leveling a hot tub, it is important to ensure that the surface is completely flat but also that water drainage can easily occur.
How do I stabilize my hot tub?
The best stabilizer for your chlorinated hot tub is cyanuric acid. Cyanuric acid bonds well with the chlorine molecule and makes it much more resistant to the sun.
Should I adjust chlorine or pH first?
Rule of thumb is to do the PH first. And do not bother to drive to pool store to spend the extra money for a PH DECREASER. Buy a plain baking soda for 50cents a pound in Walmart! Chlorine will not work fully until your PH is in the proper range.
How do you shock a hot tub for the first time?
To shock your hot tub, simply follow these easy instructions. Adjust the pH levels of your spa’s water to between 7.4 and 7.6. Remove the hot tub cover so your spa can breathe while being shocked. Turn off the air to the jets but leave the circulation pump running so the water is moving but is not too agitated.
How long do you wait after you put chemicals in hot tub?
Chemicals in your hot tub water can be a delicate balance. So it’s crucial to maintain the levels of pH, Alkalinity, and Chlorine or Bromine, also known as sanitizers. You should wait 12 hours before entering the hot tub when you’ve added either chlorine or bromine to allow it to take effect properly.
Should I shock my hot tub after refilling?
It is a good practice to shock with dichlor when you refill your spa. After that, regular maintenance can normally be accomplished with non-chlorine shock. Other times for shock treatment include before or after heavy use and when the spa has been neglected.
When can I add chemicals to my hot tub after filling?
Add the Start-Up Chemicals Now that your filters are clean and installed, your water is fresh, and your pump is primed, it’s finally time to add your start-up chemicals. Wait until your hot tub water reaches 80ºF (30ºC) before you add anything. The heat helps the chemicals dissolve and incorporate into the water.
How do you level a hot tub on sloped concrete?
Leveling a hot tub that is on uneven concrete can be done with simple shims if the slope is less than one inch. For steeper slopes, leveling will require more involved solutions such as custom-built pads of wood, sand or gravel, or even a new concrete pad.
How much slope is OK for hot tub?
The spa pad should be at least the size of the spa. If you are going to pour cement pad put a slight slope in it so that water won’t pool under the spa. A 3/4″ slope in a 10 foot wide cement pad is adequate.
What is the best base to put a hot tub on?
A concrete surface is an excellent base for your hot tub as this material is extremely sturdy and long-lasting. If you have an existing patio made of concrete bricks, make sure it’s in good condition and is level (not angled for drainage). A customized poured concrete pad is an even better choice.
What to add to Spa if stabilizer is low?
If it is too low, you would add an alkaline material, typically sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate. They will usually be labeled pH up or increaser and ph down or decreaser. Stabilizer – if it is too low, you add cyanuric acid.
How do I increase the PPM in my hot tub?
If your hot tub’s calcium hardness level drops below the recommended 150 ppm the easiest and most common way to raise calcium hardness is by adding a calcium hardness increaser such as calcium chloride to your hot tub.
What happens if you put too much stabilizer in a pool?
Too much stabilizer can begin to lock the chlorine in your pool (chlorine lock) and render it useless. There is no exact level of stabilizer that guarantees chlorine lock. Chlorine lock symptoms are the same signs as a pool with no chlorine such as cloudy and/or green water and/or a strong chlorine smell.
How do I balance my pool water?
7 Steps to Balance Pool Water Test and Adjust Total Alkalinity. Total Alkalinity (TA) is the first thing you should balance in your pool water. Test and Adjust pH. Measure and Adjust Calcium Hardness. Add Sanitizer to Your Water. Check and Adjust Cyanuric Acid. Shock Your Swimming Pool.
Will adding chlorine raise pH?
Using liquid chlorine raises the pH of the water. Liquid chlorine does not raise pH. When added to water, liquid chlorine (which has a pH of 13) makes HOCl (hypochlorous acid – the killing form of chlorine) and NaOH (sodium hydroxide), which raises pH. So the net effect on pH is zero (or almost zero).
What happens if the pH is too low in a hot tub?
A low pH level means your hot tub water is acidic, which can not only cause corrosion of surfaces and equipment, it can also reduce your ability to control Total Alkalinity and cause an uncomfortable experience for your family and guests, as acidic water will sting eyes and remove the natural oils on skin, leaving it.
