Water from a home softener is not properly balanced for hot tubs, however, so if you must fill your hot tub with a softened water supply, you’ll need to harden it up with treatments before it causes any problems.

What happens if you use softened water in a hot tub?

So while swimming in soft water may feel great, the soft water can greatly damage the pool. Those who have successfully maintained pools with soft water generally increase their water hardness by adding calcium chloride or calcium chloride dehydrate found at pool supply store.

What type of water do you use to fill a hot tub?

The key to filling your hot tub with well water is using good, filtered water. It will help you get your hot tub up and running more quickly. In addition, it will help you avoid problems with water clarity that can occur from the high metal content often found in well water.

Should I fill hot tub with soft or hard water?

Hard water can cause scale – a layer of deposit – on the hot tub. Obviously neither of these results is optimal. So it’s important whether you fill the tub with soft or hard water to maintain the chemical levels in your tub.

What can I use to soften my hot tub water?

If your hot tub’s calcium hardness level drops below the recommended 150 ppm the easiest and most common way to raise calcium hardness is by adding a calcium hardness increaser such as calcium chloride to your hot tub.

What can I put in my hot tub with fresh water?

With jets running, add 2 1/3 cups salt per 100 gallons (380 liters) of water to the filter compartment, one cup at a time, and allow five minutes for the salt to dissolve. Use FreshWater Salt Test Strips to verify the salt level is around 1,750 ppm. Learn more by reading the Owner’s Manual.

What can I put in my filled hot tub?

1. AquaChek 6in1 Test Strips (50 Strips)
2. Granular pH Minus (2 lbs.)
3. Granular pH Plus (1.5 lbs.)
4. Granular Non-Chlorine Shock (2 lbs.)
5. Liquid Prevent II (16 oz.)
6. Granular Chlor-Aid (2 lbs.)

Can I put water softener salt in my hot tub?

Water from a home softener is not properly balanced for hot tubs, however, so if you must fill your hot tub with a softened water supply, you’ll need to harden it up with treatments before it causes any problems.

Can you put hard water in a hot tub?

Hard water can lead to problems in your hot tub itself: there can be scale deposits that feel like sand paper on your skin or mark the acrylic, you can get significant build-up in your plumbing, and it can cause your heaters/pumps to fail prematurely.

Can I add baking soda to my hot tub?

Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to the hot tub for every 100 gallons of water it holds. For example, add 4 tablespoons of baking soda to a hot tub that holds 400 gallons of water. Turn on the hot tub jets and allow the water to circulate the baking soda for two to four hours. Retest the pH level of the water.

Article first time published on

Should I use a floating bromine dispenser in hot tub?

Bromine tablets – Are designed to maintain Bromine levels within your hot tub. The Bromine tablets should be dosed using a small floating dispenser which should be removed from the spa when people are bathing (be careful to place it on a non-bleachable surface).

What chemicals do you put in a hot tub when you first fill it?

There are two primary types of sanitizers chlorine, which we have here, and bromine. Sodium-dichlor, chlorine granules are what we, at Master Spas specifically recommend for sanitation. They offer the best results with the features of your hot tub; such as the EcoPur and the ozone systems.

Is bromine the same as chlorine?

What is Bromine? Bromine is the number one alternative to chlorine. This chemical is known to be a sanitizer, oxidizer, and algaecide for swimming pools. The reason why spa and hot tub owners prefer bromine over chlorine is that it works better in warmer temperatures.

How soon can you go in a hot tub after adding chlorine?

Chemicals in your hot tub water can be a delicate balance. So it’s crucial to maintain the levels of pH, Alkalinity, and Chlorine or Bromine, also known as sanitizers. You should wait 12 hours before entering the hot tub when you’ve added either chlorine or bromine to allow it to take effect properly.

How often should I add chlorine to my hot tub?

You should put chlorine in your hot tub at least once a week. However, some people prefer to add a small amount after each use. Finding the best water care routine will depend on how often and how many people use it. Chlorine levels should be between 1.5 and 3.0 ppm.

Can you use a chlorine floater in a hot tub?

A floater is really the worst way to take care of sanitizing your tub—about the most “dinosaur” method still used. … This not only can be an unsafe way to treat and sanitize hot water, it really sets you up to damage your hot tub, and in some cases that damage could be catastrophic.

How often should I shock my hot tub?

It is essential to shock the hot tub frequently – at least once every week. It is important to use Chlorine shocks as well as non-Chlorine shocks. The use of either bromine or Chlorine depends on your personal choice. Shocking the hot tub for cleanliness is not the only reason why you need frequent shocks.

How often should you drain a hot tub?

Draining and refilling your spa will be an important aspect of spa ownership. Many spas need to be drained and refilled every three to four months due to chemical build-up.

Is chlorine or bromine better for a hot tub?

If you have a spa, bromine has a lot of advantages over using chlorine. It may cost a little bit more, but it lasts longer and does a much better job than chlorine at killing bacteria, especially at high temperatures and high pH levels.

Can I use Epsom salt in my hot tub?

Conclusion. In most cases, you should never add pure Epsom salts to your hot tub. Despite this warning, if you still want to try, just be sure to drain and thoroughly clean the hot tub immediately after you’re done soaking. This will help to avoid long-term damages to your spa.

Can I put vinegar in my hot tub?

There is an alternative, chemical free way to clean your hot tub that costs just pennies. Empty your hot tub. Mix a solution of ½ part water and ½ part vinegar into a spray bottle. … Wait fifteen minutes to give the solution time to eat away any hard water stains or lime scale that may have built up on the hot tub.

What can you put in a hot tub to make it smell nice?

Some of the more popular choices of fragrances for adding to hot tubs include citrus-based and clean-smelling fragrances such as lemon oil, wintergreen or vanilla. Floral scents that are strong enough to stand up to use in a hot tub include lavender, sweet geranium and rose.

Can I put essential oil in my hot tub?

You can not put essential oils in your hot tub. Though, it’s important to know that you can purchase aromatherapy products that are designed for hot tub use. The essential oils you see in health shops or the supermarket can clog the filters of your hot tub like the oil on your skin.

Can I switch my hot tub from chlorine to bromine?

Converting a chlorine pool to a bromine one is a simple process. You simply balance your water levels and start adding bromine instead of chlorine. Because chlorine activates bromine, you’ll need to periodically shock your pool with household bleach to rejuvenate your bromine and keep it at the right levels.

Are bromine tablets or granules better?

As long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for both the hot tub and the bromine, you can use bromine regularly for treating and sanitizing your spa. However, it may be wise to use bromine granules instead of bromine tablets. This will lessen your direct interaction with the chemicals.

How do I increase the bromine level in my hot tub?

1. Shock the hot tub if the chlorine or bromine level is below 2.0 ppm. …
2. Increase the amount of chlorine/bromine being used. …
3. Make sure your water is properly balanced. …
4. Look for visible signs of algae. …
5. Avoid the use of fertilizers near the spa if outdoors and uncovered.

What should be adjusted first alkalinity or pH?

You should test alkalinity first because it will buffer pH. Your reading should be in the range of 80 to 120 parts per million (ppm). If you need to increase the alkalinity, add an increaser.

Should I Shock hot tub after filling?

It is a good practice to shock with dichlor when you refill your spa. After that, regular maintenance can normally be accomplished with non-chlorine shock. Other times for shock treatment include before or after heavy use and when the spa has been neglected.

What happens if you put too much chlorine in a hot tub?

If theres too much chlorine it will vaporise and form gas that floats just above the surface of the water. If this vapor is inhaled it can inflame airways and exacerbate certain breathing conditions. Read more What Temperature Should My Spa Pool be at and Why?