Which chemicals are essential for my Hot Tub?
When you’re splashing out on a luxury hot tub, you need to look after it! After all, our American hot tubs are built for longevity and you should get years of use out of them, but they do need some TLC. Knowing what chemicals to use to maintain your water is important. Not only to keep your water safe and clean but to preserve the life of your hot tub, it’s shell and components. There are a multitude of different chemicals, but which ones do you need?
Well, much like the clarity of our hot tubs’ water, at North Outdoor Living we believe it is vital that the customer receives a clear breakdown of what they need and what we can offer them. That’s why every hot tub purchased from us includes a personal chemical training session, also known as a commission.
Why do I need chemicals for my hot tub?
Unfortunately, there is no way round it, chemicals need to be added to your water to keep it safe and clean, but please don’t think you need a degree in chemistry to maintain it. Once you have been trained and know how, it’s easy and we have specialists on hand to help.
How should I store my hot tub chemicals?
The safe storage of your hot tub chemicals is just as important as having the correct ones, as you don’t want your chemicals to be stored in a place where they can be damaged and can leak. There are some good practices to maintain to make sure the chemicals are secured safely:
If the chemicals are in a cabinet, make sure that the cabinet is above ground level and secured with a lock, this is largely so children and animals can’t access the chemicals, for their own safety.
Consider having a waterproof cabinet for your chemicals as chemicals are designed to dissolve in water. Keep them in a cool, dry place, where there is no risk of them getting wet.
Keep the chemicals in their original packaging and where the labels are readable! The chemicals are in containers specifically designed to keep them (and you) safe.
What hot tub chemicals do I need?
The following is a breakdown of the main groups of chemical products that are a MUST when maintaining your hot tub or swim spa water. Every hot tub purchased from us comes with a free chemical starter kit which contains everything you need.
Sanitizer
Unfortunately, bacteria will naturally enter your hot tub, whether it’s through bathers or bacteria in the air. This is largely unavoidable, even when proper precautions are taken (such as showering prior to getting into the hot tub). Hot tub sanitizer is a must to help your hot tub stay clean.
Sanitizers keep your water balanced and safe to enjoy, with people commonly using either chlorine or bromine options. There are options to choose from such as granules or tablets and our team are fully trained on water management to give you the best advice. If you want to know more about granules or tablets, click here.
Calcium hardness increaser
It’s important to keep your hardness levels balanced to prevent your water from becoming cloudy. Even worse, a build-up of scale that can be seen in and around the surfaces of the hot tub if left untreated, can damage the metal components of the spa.
Shock treatment
Shock is a type of shocking agent which is used to help to ‘shock’ organic matter out of your hot tub water. We recommend adding a shock treatment when you first fill your hot tub with fresh water and once a week, perhaps when you are cleaning your filters and after heavy use. You can purchase this in bottles or individual packages for ease.
All of these chemicals are included in a chemical starter kit, which comes free with every hot tub purchased from us. We also include test strips and a handy measuring cup. Following the installation of your hot tub. we talk you through all of the chemicals at your spa side to give as much knowledge as possible during chemical training. Then, we are only a call away if you need further advice.
Where can I find a one-stop-shop for all of these hot tub chemicals?
We have two North East showrooms, both with every hot tub chemical and accessory you could need. We are open 7 days a week and are happy to give you any advice you may need to keep your hot tub water safe and sparkling. The best way to find out more is to get in touch with our North Outdoor Living specialists or visit one of our amazing showrooms. We hope to hear from you soon!
