To keep your hot tub in a glistening condition, it’s important to treat it with the necessary chemicals from time to time. This should be part and parcel of any hot tub maintenance regime. Not only is chemical treatment necessary to keep your hot tub in tip-top condition, but it’s also the best way to ensure that you and your guests are bathing in clean water.

That’s why we’ve put together this go-to guide for hot tub owners. We’ll walk you through all the hot tub chemicals you may need and provide some helpful tips along the way. That way you can sit back and relax knowing that your hot tub is oh-so sparkling clean.

Why Do I Need Hot Tub Chemicals?

Unless hot tub cleaning and maintenance is part of your service agreement, you’ll need to get to grips with the dos and don’ts of water treatment. Treating your hot tub water with chemicals is essential for maintaining a healthy and hygienic environment.

Hot tub chemicals should be part of your regular hot tub cleaning regime. Whether your hot tub is in regular use or has been left unoccupied for a period of time, it is absolutely essential to clean away any lingering bacterial build-up.

Whilst your hot tub is well adept at keeping itself clean for three to four months, it will need cleaning eventually. Remember the same water has been sitting there this whole time, creating a breeding ground for bacteria, debris, and other contaminants.

But there’s no need to worry. Luckily, treating your hot tub with chemicals is a simple and easy way to maintain a healthy and clean hot tub environment.

The Importance of Safe Spa Water

Keeping the water in your hot tub clean is super important. When hot tub water is left untreated for a long time, it can become unhealthy and/or potentially dangerous to bathe in. Why? Because bacteria and fungi thrive in the warm hot tub water.

That’s why it's important to drain, clean, treat, and refill your hot tub every few months. That way you will maintain the perfect water balance and conditions for a relaxing soak.

What Hot Tub Chemicals Do I Need?

Let’s start with the basics. To balance your hot tub water you’ll need a sanitizer, a PH adjuster, and a shock treatment. To find the best combinations of chemicals for your hot tub environment, you might want to invest in some testing strips or a liquid test product.

With these readings to hand you’ll know which chemicals (and in what quantities) are needed to clean your hot tub water sufficiently.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the three basic chemical requirements.

Sanitizer

Sanitizer will keep your water safe and clean for use. Remember every time somebody uses your hot tub, germs and bacteria accumulate in its water. Sanitizers will disinfect your hot tub water, to keep it clean, fresh, and clear for happy bathing. There are four main types of sanitizer – Chlorine, Bromine, Biguanide, and mineral sanitizer.

Chlorine

Chlorine is a very common and highly effective choice for sanitization. So much so that most of us recognize that memorable freshly chlorinated smell. This is your basic cleaning chemical. It kills off bacteria, fungi, and microbes that may be floating around in your hot tub water. Chlorine is easy to manage, cost-effective and kills bacteria and algae at the source.

Bromine

Bromine is a non-chlorinated sanitizer and a great option for people with sensitive skin as it is less harsh than chlorine. Bromine doesn’t oxidize, meaning that you won’t get that chlorine smell every time you use it. Bromine lasts longer than chlorine but cannot be stabilized, meaning that it burns off quickly if used in an uncovered hot tub.

Biguanide

Like Bromine, Biguanide is a non-chlorinated sanitizer that kills off bacteria. This sanitizer is on the pricier side but boasts many advantages over other sanitization chemicals. Biguanide does not need to be used as frequently as either Chlorine or Bromine, it is completely odorless, and it leaves the water feeling smoother on the skin.

Mineral sanitizers

Mineral sanitizers are a great way to reduce the amount of chlorine you use in your hot tub. They are easy to manage and do not give off an odor. However, you will still need to supplement mineral sanitizers with chlorine in order to fully kill off all that lingering bacteria.

PH adjuster

A PH adjuster chemical does what is says on the tin. You’ll be using this to increase or decrease the PH level of your hot tub water until it is balanced (or neutral). That’s because when the PH of your water is too low or too high, it can cause irritation to the skin and eyes.

And we don’t be wanting that.

There are two main types of PH adjuster. Increasers and decreasers.

• PH increasers (or sodium carbonate) reduce the acidity of your water, raising the PH to a neutral level by increasing alkalinity.

• PH decreasers (muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate) decrease the alkalinity of your water, by increasing the acidity of your water until it reaches a neutral level.

Shock treatment

Last but not least, make sure you’re stocked up with a shock treatment. This will be your most frequent maintenance practice. Hot tub shock treatments are oxidization treatments that restore water quality after use. Shock treatments can be chlorinated or non-chlorinated and you can use shock chemicals whenever needed. But how does it work?

Shock treatments increase the chlorine level in your water temporarily. This sanitizes the water by ridding it of any bacteria or contaminants. We recommend shocking your hot tub water approximately once per week.

Other Cleaning Products That May Come in Handy 

As well as our principle, three, cleaning products (that’s our sanitizer, PH adjuster, and shock treatment), there are many additional products available to help keep your hot tub clean inside and out. Let’s take a look at some of our favorites.

1. Plumbing cleaner

Plumbing cleaners flush away biofilm, grime, and other deposits that build up in your hot tub’s internal plumbing system. This supports a sanitized environment and improves the condition of your hot tub.

2. Sequestering agent

Sequestering agents remove deposits of heavy metals and calcium from your hot tub water. If you’ve ever noticed a brown or greenish sheen to your water, that’s actually metal. A sequestering agent will clear this away in no time.

3. Defoamer

Defoamers do just what they say. They reduce the foamy buildup that sometimes appears on the surface of hot tub water. This buildup is caused by an accumulation of contaminants such as body oils, soaps, and cosmetics that enter the water every time we bathe.

4. Clarifier

Is your hot tub water murky or cloudy in appearance? This is very common. All you need is a good clarifier. Clarifying treatments attract and capture dirt particles to keep your water clean and clear.

5. Filter cleaner

They may not be on display 24/7 but keeping your hot tub filters clean is super important. Filter cleaners remove any dirt, grime, or residue that has built up in the filtration system – too much of which could eventually cause a blockage.

6. Conditioner

Water conditioners prevent those horrible scum lines from developing around the side of your hot tub. Conditioning agents will also contribute towards maintaining PH balance, preventing limescale buildup and keeping your water feeling smooth and silky.

7. Calcium

When the balance of calcium in your water is out of whack, hot tub water can become foamy or cloudy in appearance. A calcium hardness increaser or decreaser will help you maintain optimum calcium levels.

What if My Hot Tub Runs on a Saltwater System?

Some hot tubs run on a saltwater system. Just like regular hot tubs, saltwater hot tubs use chlorinated sanitizers. The only difference is that they come with an in-built salt chlorine generator that converts salt into chlorine directly. That means you will not have to buy or add additional chlorine sanitizer yourself.

How to Store Hot Tub Chemicals?

Hot tub chemicals are essential for proper hot tub maintenance. But, like all household chemicals, it's important to store them appropriately and safely. This is particularly important if you have children or animals in your home. We recommend storing your hot tub chemicals in a raised, lockable container or cabinet, out of reach from children or animals.

As for keeping the hot tub chemicals in good condition, it’s best to ensure that they are stored in a cool and dry environment away from direct sunlight.

Top tip: Always keep products in their original packaging. This will help you reference any instructions and ensure there are no mix-ups occurring.

Useful Supplies for Hot Tub Owners

With the right chemicals in toe, cleaning your hot tub is a relatively simple process. That being said, there are plenty of products on the market designed to make things even easier.

• Scrubbers – perfect for cleaning that waterline
• Scum sponges – gets rid of any scum or grime
• Filter cleaning tablets – cleans out filters fast
• Skimmer nets – retrieve any small items or debris
• Hose – for draining and rinsing down your hot tub
• Submersible pump – helps drain your hot tub faster
• Hot tub cover – prevent build-up of debris when not in use

The Benefits of Having a Clean and Safe Hot Tub

Now that you know how to keep your hot tub clean, safe, and operational, let’s take a closer look at why regular maintenance is so important.

• Soak in your hot tub whenever you please without worry or concern
• Feel confident entertaining family and friends in your spa
• Enjoy more years with your hot tub by taking proper care of it
• Save money on larger repairs with ongoing maintenance and inspections
• Improve your health and wellness with regular hydrotherapy

Hot Tub Chemicals in Anaheim

Did you find the information in this article helpful? Find out more about hot tub cleaning and maintenance in our online blog and resource center. Here at Backyards in Style, we’re all about providing the best in high-quality hot tubs and hot tub accessories in Anaheim, California, and the surrounding areas.

We’re always happy to help any of our existing or prospective clients out. So if you’ve got a question, or simply want help unlocking your backyard’s potential then don’t hesitate to contact us today. A member of our team will be ready and waiting to help.