Hot Tub Chemicals Cheat Sheet
We’ve put together a handy cheat sheet to help keep you on track with your regular hot tub maintenance. Check it out, and you can even print off a copy to keep on hand.
What water care products do I need to add to my hot tub and how often?
Looking after the water in your hot tub can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be that way. While there is a bit of a learning curve you’ll find that if you follow certain procedures on a regular basis it will soon become a piece of cake. Check out the instructions in this handy Hot Tub Chemicals Guide and you’ll be on your way to enjoying your hot tub experience.
This post will guide you through both the Deluxe Mineral System and Standard Chemical System. Certain parts of maintenance will be the same for both. As an example, balancing alkalinity, pH, bromine/chlorine, and calcium levels are the same regardless of which system you are using.
Deluxe Mineral System
Nothing is as easy, or requires less maintenance than the Mineraluxe system. Everything is pre-measured for you and packaged conveniently as a single-addition cube and pouch. Once per week you refill the floating puck dispenser with either bromine or chlorine tablets depending on which sanitizer you use. Afterwards add a cube to the skimmer basket or filter compartment, turn your massage pumps on high speed and add 1 full Oxygen pouch to the water. Leave the pumps running for the full cycle. Whenever you add a pouch always make sure to leave the lid open so the Oxygen can burn off impurities in the water. Finally, test the water using test strips or drops and balance the alkalinity, pH, and sanitizer levels as required.
Find more information on the Mineraluxe system here.
Standard Chemical System
Using the Standard Chemical System is a little more time consuming since you have to measure out the amounts of chemical your hot tub needs for maintenance. These amounts may differ depending on the size of your hot tub and the condition of the water at the time.
The general way to use this system is to maintain sanitizer levels via bromine or chlorine tablets in a floating puck dispenser. So, as part of your maintenance regime you always want to check and fill up the dispenser as needed.
Then add your weekly dose of Amaze. Amaze is a non-chlorine, no stabilizer, more ‘earth-friendly’ way to oxidize water of bather waste. Use weekly or immediately after heavy use to rid hot tub water of non-filterable wastes and restore water sparkle and comfort. Contains powerful ‘active oxygen’ for optimal performance. Whenever you add Amaze always make sure to open your cover, turn on your pumps full speed and let them run for a full cycle to burn off impurities.
Finally, test the water using test strips or drops and balance out the Alkalinity, pH, and sanitizer levels as required.
For further instructions on how to use test strips, check out our FAQ page.
Balancing
Always make sure to test the water a few times a week and balance whenever it is needed. To quickly raise sanitizer levels, if they test very low, or after heavy use, use granular sanitizer like Bromine Granules for bromine users or Chlorine Granules for chlorine users. To lower sanitizer levels remove the floater or open the lid and let tub run for 20-40 minutes. Then move on to the pH and Alkalinity. Always adjust the Alkalinity first. To raise the Alkalinity add 1 tbsp of Alkalinity Plus at a time until alkalinity is back in balance. To lower both Alkalinity and pH use 1 tbsp of pH Minus until desired level is achieved. If your Alkalinity is balanced but the pH is still low, then use pH Plus to raise the pH. Well balanced water is much more enjoyable to sit in, is easier to keep up and will extend the life of your hot tub.
Filter/Cover Care
Always make sure you have a clean filter. A simple trick to prolonging filter life is rinsing it with fresh water once a week until the water runs clear. Most people also have a couple filters that they switch out so one can be used in the hot tub while the other filter is being treated with a filter cleaner such as Filter Revive or Pleatco Spa Filter Wash. We recommend doing a filter treatment once per month per filter.
For cover care, keep the cover clean by washing it with a mild detergent and a soft cloth. Twice a year you should use cover conditioner like Cover Cleanse & Protect to protect the cover from the harmful UV rays.
If you have any questions at all don’t hesitate to come in and talk to one of our Water Care Experts here in the store. We offer FREE custom computer analysed water tests to all of our customers and are happy to help you find the best solution for your situation.