November 2011
-
Changing Your Hot Tub Water in 4 Simple Steps
-
How to Choose the Right In-ground Pool for You
in Maintenance
Subscribe to POOLlife Now!
Sign up today to get the latest pool articles, recipes and promotions sent straight to your inbox each month.
or
Find a Dealer
Find out where to buy our pool or spa care products near you.
Ask a Pool Pro
Do you have a pool care question? Submit your questions and each month we'll pick one to answer on our blog.
For immediate response, please call our Customer Care Center (800) 222-2348
Enjoy a Safe and Relaxing Soak in the Spa, at Your Convenience
April 2010
by Cristie Thompson, Arch Chemicals Customer Care Center
Related Articles
There is nothing like sitting in a steamy, hot tub or spa to relax and soothe tired or sore muscles, since the warm water environment can provide endless benefits. Unfortunately, warm water environments can also harbor bacteria. Therefore, proper sanitization as well as water chemistry maintenance is of the utmost importance to spa and hot tub owners.
Total alkalinity and pH must be kept in acceptable ranges in order for sanitization and other spa maintenance products to properly perform. The ideal range for total alkalinity is 80 to 120, and pH should be maintained between 7.2 to 7.8.
It’s a good idea to make a monthly visit to an authorized BaquaSpa® products or Brilliance® system for spas dealer for proper water analysis. Professional dealers can test for the presence of metals that can affect sanitizer consumption as well as Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) that can prevent the sanitizer from doing its job. Hot tub owners should also test water on a weekly basis and prior to soaking. Test strips are a quick and easy way to check water chemistry ranges on your own.
Since sanitizers kill and control bacteria it is very important to keep a regular and consistent maintenance schedule. Most problems occur when there is no routine maintenance. Consistency will help keep levels of sanitizer, oxidizer and water chemistry ranges in check. Dosages for these products will vary according to the size of the hot tub and the sanitization system used. BAQUASpa® products and Brilliance® products each have systems that will provide easy stress-free time to relax and enjoy the hot tub. Brilliance products sanitizer levels need to be kept between 2 to 4 ppm and BAQUASpa® sanitizer should be around 30 to 50 ppm.
To ensure proper sanitization follow this easy checklist:
Every Other Day/Prior to Soaking
- Test pH and sanitizer levels
Weekly
- Clean your spa shell at the waterline
- Follow the chlorine-free, bromine-free BaquaSpa® 1-2-3 step system below:
Step 1: Add BaquaSpa Waterline Control.
Step 2: Add BaquaSpa® Oxidizer. Circulate on high speed for 15 minutes with blowers off. Do not inject air.
Step 3: Check BaquaSpa® Sanitizer with Stain & Scale Control®. Top up if 30 ppm or less.
- Test pH and sanitizer levels (every other day is preferred).
OR
- Follow chlorine-free Brilliance® 1-2-3 step system below:
Step 1: Add Brilliance® for spas Metal & Scale Control. Circulate on high speed for 30 minutes. Do not inject air.
Step 2: Add Brilliance® for spas Oxidizer.
Step 3: Check Brilliance® Sanitizer level and top off if needed.
Monthly
- Take a sample of the spa water to your authorized spa retailer for a detailed water analysis and recommendation.
- Chemically clean the filter (every 4-6 weeks is best).
- Clean hot tub cover, concentrating on the water side.
- Finally, drain the hot tub, clean the shell and refill with fresh water every 60-90 days. Following these easy steps on a consistent basis is all it takes to ensure that the hot tub is ready and waiting for complete enjoyment any time you are!
