Keeping Your Hot Tub Clean and Healthy
Microorganisms thrive in virtually any type of habitat, whether on the earth, under the earth, or in the water. While some of them may be necessary for the proper functioning of the ecosystem and others useful in the preparation of certain food and beverages, there are also pathogenic microorganisms that can cause debilitating and even fatal diseases among humans and other animals. Some of these can be found in your hot tub if it is not properly cared for and maintained.
One of the most common ways of ridding your hot tub of unwanted microorganisms is the addition of certain chemicals or minerals to the water. Among the most often used for this purpose are chlorine, bromine, biguanide, alkalinity increasers and reducers, oxidizers, ozone, and other minerals. Some of these exclude each other but others can be combined for a more potent antiseptic effect.
Assuring the sanitation of your hot tub, however, is not as easy as pouring a cupful or spoonful of chemicals or minerals. These measurements need to be precise as an overdose is just as harmful as an insufficient dose. Before you even think of adding chemicals, you will need to evaluate certain properties of the water, as these will determine the amount you need to add.
The four items that need to be measured are chlorine levels, total alkalinity or TA, potential of hydrogen or pH, and cyanuric acid or CYA.
Chlorine is often the first line of defense against microorganisms. Therefore, it needs to be checked, at the very least, every time you soak yourself in the tub. The ideal is to conduct testing and, if needed, adding of chlorine daily. This prevents the buildup of microorganisms to levels which may later prove difficult to eradicate without draining the tub. For an average size tub, go for a reading of 3 – 5 ppm.
Total alkalinity measures the level of dissolved alkalis, bicarbonates, and minerals in the water. Ideal levels should be between 80 – 150 ppm, although this may vary according to the make and model of your hot tub. You can check out its brochure or get in touch with your supplier or contractor.
Aim for a 7.4 – 7.6 pH. Outside of these numbers, bathers may suffer from skin irritation and stinging. You can either add or reduce the level with alkali increasers or reducers respectively. This test, along with total alkalinity, should also be conducted daily, before bathing.
Cyanuric acid is a stabilizer that keeps chlorine from evaporating and thus reduces the need to continually add more of the chemical to the tub. Ideal CYA levels should read 80 – 100 ppm. A level below this could lead to the growth of harmful microorganisms. Excessive levels, on the other hand, can cause the CYA to interfere with the activity of the chlorine. In both cases, water in the tub turns cloudy. Perform this test weekly for clear water and a healthy hot tub.