Keeping your spa clean and properly functioning is essential for a refreshing and enjoyable soaking experience. Good spa maintenance involves simple steps, such as regularly cleaning the filter, checking the chemical levels, and adding the right chemicals as needed.
Maintaining the appropriate chemical levels in the spa is crucial. High chemical levels can corrode your spa equipment, while low chemical levels can lead to bacterial growth. Overall, regularly maintaining your spa will ensure clean and inviting water for all bathers.
Testing and Applying Chemicals to Your Spa
Use Test Strips
It’s important to check and adjust the chemical levels in the spa at least 1 to 2 times a week. Test strips offer a comprehensive 6-in-1 reading, which includes measurements of total alkalinity, calcium hardness, chlorine, pH, bromine, and total hardness. To view the results, put the strips in your spa for just 15 seconds. It will help ensure the spa water is properly balanced and safe.
Add Chemicals to the Spa – One at a Time
When adjusting spa chemical levels, add one chemical to the water and wait two hours before adding another. Allowing the chemicals to disperse naturally maximizes their effectiveness and minimizes the risk of chemical reactions between the additives.
- When adding chemicals to your spa water, keep the jets running to help mix the chemicals well.
- Before adding chemicals to the spa, measure them carefully to ensure balance.
Total Alkalinity
Use test strips to maintain a well-balanced spa and measure the total alkalinity. Depending on the reading, you may need to add either sodium bicarbonate (spa up) or sodium bisulfate (spa down). The ideal total alkalinity for a spa should be between 80 and 120 PPM. If the total alkalinity goes beyond 120, you must add sodium bisulfate (spa down). On the other hand, if the test strip shows a reading below 80, you should add sodium bicarbonate (spa up). Once you have added the required spa product, wait a couple of hours, and then recheck your alkalinity. It is essential to maintain the alkalinity first as it affects the pH level.
Sanitize the Spa Using Chlorine
When maintaining your spa, it’s essential to use test strips to ensure the chemical levels are correct. Chlorine comes in granular form or 1-inch tablets, while bromine is only available in 1-inch tablets.
- If using chlorine, add two tablespoons (29.6 ml) directly into the spa water every other day or as recommended. It helps to maintain chlorine levels between 1.5 and 3 PPM.
- It is important to avoid over-sanitizing your spa with chlorine. Ensure that the amount of chlorine added is as the manufacturer recommends preventing damage to the spa’s equipment.
- Consider adding a mineral-based cleaner to reduce the amount of chlorine or bromine you must use. Ask your local salesperson which one is available.
Calcium Hardness
Keeping the calcium hardness in the spa under control is crucial for its maintenance. The best way to achieve this is by using soft water. When the calcium hardness level is high, scales can form in the spa, affecting its efficiency. To prevent this, you can use a spa defender product that protects against the formation of scales. On the other hand, when the calcium hardness level is low, the water in the spa may start to extract minerals from other sources, such as aluminum or iron, which can damage the equipment. In this case, you can use a calcium booster to balance the calcium hardness level and ensure the spa’s proper functioning.
Check the pH Levels
The optimal pH range for a spa is 7.2 and 7.8 on average. If the pH level is not within this range, the first step is stabilizing the total alkalinity. Next, add the appropriate amount of chlorine to your spa. If the pH is still not within the optimal range, you can use spa up/spa down or a pH balance product to adjust the pH level.