How To Check Your Hot Tub Sanitizer

How To Check Your Hot Tub Sanitizer

A hot tub is a great way to relax and unwind after a long day. However, it’s important to maintain the hot tub properly to ensure it’s clean and safe to use. One important factor in maintaining a hot tub is ensuring that the sanitizer levels are correct. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to check your hot tub sanitizer levels and why it’s important.

Why Is Sanitizer Important in Your Hot Tub?

Sanitizing your hot tub is essential to keep it free of harmful bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause infections or illnesses. The warm and moist environment of a hot tub is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, making it crucial to maintain proper sanitizer levels to prevent any potential health risks. Sanitizer also helps to keep the water looking and smelling clean, reducing the need for draining and refilling the tub frequently.

How to Check Your Hot Tub Sanitizer Levels?

There are a few different methods you can use to check your hot tub sanitizer levels. Here are three of the most common methods:

1. Test Strips

Test strips are an easy and affordable way to check the sanitizer levels in your hot tub. Simply dip the strip into the water and compare the colors on the strip to the color chart provided with the test strips. The chart will tell you the sanitizer and pH levels of the water. You should test your hot tub water at least once a week using test strips.

2. Liquid Solutions

Liquid solutions are another easy way to test for sanitizer, but they are slightly more expensive than test strips. You’ll need to follow the instructions on the bottle of the solution, which often involve adding a few drops of the solution to a water sample and comparing the color to a chart provided. Again, you should test your hot tub water at least once a week.

3. Electronic Testers

Electronic testers are the most accurate way to test for sanitizer levels in your hot tub, but they are also the most expensive. Electronic testers typically test for multiple levels, including pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels. This option is best for in-ground hot tubs or larger hot tubs as it allows you to take an accurate measurement of all chemical levels in seconds.

What Are the Ideal Sanitizer Levels in Your Hot Tub?

The ideal sanitizer levels in your hot tub are as follows:

– Free chlorine levels should be between 3-5 ppm (parts per million)

– Bromine levels should be between 3-5 ppm (for hot tubs that use bromine sanitizer)

– Combined chlorine levels should be less than 0.5 ppm

– Total alkalinity levels should be between 80-120 ppm

– pH levels should be between 7.4-7.6

If your sanitizer levels are below the recommended range, you must add more sanitizer. Conversely, if the levels are too high, it’s best to add fresh water to your hot tub to dilute the water and retest after an hour.

What If You Don’t Have Enough Sanitizer?

If you don’t have enough sanitizer in your hot tub, bacteria and other harmful microorganisms can thrive in the hot water. As a result, you may experience skin irritation or bacterial infections.

To increase sanitizer levels, add either chlorine-based granules or bromine-based granules and allow to dissolve for a recommended amount of time. For fast dissolving granules, the general recommendation is adding one to two ounces per 500 gallons of water treating levels of 3ppm in two hours.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining proper sanitizer levels in your hot tub is essential for keeping it clean, safe, and healthy to use. Regular testing, as well as frequent use of sanitizer, can help reduce risks such as skin irritation, bacterial infections, and damage to the hot tub system. Understanding the importance of routine testing and maintenance can help ensure that you enjoy your hot tub for years to come. If you are not sure about testing your hot tub sanitizer levels, you can always consult professionals that offer hot tub maintenance and water treatment options.

Categorised in: Hot Tub Accessories, Hot Tub Safety