Hot Tub Chemicals

About

Why hot tub water has to be treated Hot tub chemicals do two jobs. They keep the water safe to sit in, and they stop the water damaging the tub. Water that drifts acidic corrodes the heater and the pump seals. Water that drifts alkaline leaves scale on the element and clouds the tub. Neither happens if you test twice a week and correct early. The three numbers to hold Three numbers matter. Free chlorine between 3 and 5 ppm, pH between 7.2 and 7.8, and total alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm. Correct alkalinity first, because it anchors pH and stops it bouncing back after every adjustment. Granules, tablets or both Granules dissolve quickly and are what you reach for when a level needs correcting fast, such as after heavy use. Tablets dissolve slowly in a floating dispenser and hold the level steady between tests. Most people end up using both. Test strips are the part people skip and then regret, because dosing by eye is what turns clear water cloudy.