Many people might assume that you can put clean water in a hot tub, turn it on, wait for the water to heat up and then sit back and enjoy the bubbles. When you buy a hot tub there is a lot to think about but maintaining your hot tub water is one of the most important things you can do.
Hot tubs should be treated in the same way as swimming pools, as they both serve the same purpose in that they contain water and allow for human use. This can mean that bacteria is present but the chlorine that is used will kill off any bacteria. However, a hot tub contains a smaller volume of water but a lot of people can use it at the same time. This can mean that it becomes harder to take care of the water and it can mean that disinfectants won’t work so well.
Carrying Out Regular Checks
If your hot tub is being used extensively then it probably needs daily testing as this will ensure that it is safe. Furthermore, if you haven’t used yours in a while then it certainly need to be tested. If you fail to take care of your water, what can happen and what are the risks?
Hot Tub Folliculitis
This is caused by pseudomonas aeruginosa and it might sound hideous but this is one of the less-serious ailments that can arise after spending time in a hot tub. You will see this as a rash although it can leave permanent scarring while there is no treatment for it.
Legionella Bacteria
This is one of the biggest risks that you face when buying a hot tub, and will likely be the driving point ensure you keep your hot tub safe. Legionella bacteria can develop in hot tubs that are dirty and poorly managed but if someone inhales some of the infected droplets then they could end up with a potentially fatal lung infection.
What this means is that you have to keep on top of the water management as it can change very quickly. Regular chlorination will help to kill bacteria and viruses, from time to time you will need to shock your hot tub. This should be done at least once a week using a shock treatment. In addition to this, you should also maintain the chemistry of the water by checking its acidity and alkalinity. You should check alkalinity first as the right alkalinity levels will stop your pH levels from fluctuating. Check the pH levels before you use any sanitiser and you should aim for a range of 7.2 to 7.8. If it is lower than 7.2 then the water is too acidic and if the figure is higher than 7.8 then the water is too alkaline. You should use test strips to check the water and then use pH increaser or decreaser where necessary to maintain the right levels.
Taking care of your hot tub water is part and parcel of owning a hot tub. However, as daunting as it might seem, once you familiarise yourself with the process, your hot tub will be in perfect condition.
