Setting up your hot tub for the first time can be daunting, but once it’s done, you’re free to relax as much as you’d like! In this blog, we’re answering the question of how much chlorine to add to the hot tub the first time.
Congratulations on your brand-new hot tub, we know that you’re going to love it. Before you start relaxing, it’s important to understand a few key safety tips.
What does chlorine do in my hot tub?
Chlorine has an important role in your hot tub as it helps to keep the water clean and safe for yourself and your guests.
When chlorine is added to a hot tub, it reacts with the water to create hypochlorous acid, which eliminates bacteria inside the hot tub.
How often do I need to add chlorine granules to my spa?
It’s very important to add chlorine to your hot tub after each water change and to continue to monitor chlorine levels between spa uses.
Adding fresh water without chlorine may be dangerous to the people using your spa. You also need to check the levels regularly to ensure that there is not too much chlorine in your spa. Too much of any hot tub chemical could cause an allergic reaction or skin irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin.
How do I check chlorine levels?
You can easily check your chlorine levels using testing strips. These test strips can be dipped into your hot tub water to give you an accurate reading of the levels. Once the testing strip has changed colour, you can check it against the optimal level indicator. Our testing strips couldn’t be easier to use, with the optimal indicators being shown on the side of the packaging.
Testing strips only take around 15 seconds to display an accurate reading, which means they are generally very simple to use. Checking your hot tub’s water chemistry will get much simpler over time.
Is chlorine the same as bromine?
While chlorine and bromine are different chemicals, they do, in fact, do the same job in hot tub water. Both chemicals reduce the bacteria in spa water, making it safer for you to use.
How much chlorine to add to a hot tub for the first time?
The first time you set up your new spa, you will have guidance and support from our expert installation team. Additionally, we are always on hand to answer any questions you have regarding caring for your spa after it’s installed.
The amount of chlorine that you should add to the spa depends on the water capacity of your chosen hot tub. Generally, you should add around 60g of chlorine per 1500 litres of water. Ensure that you have looked into how much water your spa can hold before you begin adding any chemicals.
The first time, it is often advised to add more chlorine granules or tablets. This is known as ‘free chlorine levels’. Always ensure that your chlorine is at the ideal level before using the spa. Always check how much water your hot tub holds before you begin altering the chlorine level, pH levels and more. Too much chlorine can also cause issues, so you must wait for the chemicals to be at their optimum level.
How to add chemicals to your spa
A range of elements are essential to ensure that your spa is clean and safe for use. It’s crucial that you add the hot tub chemicals carefully and that you follow the correct order when doing so.
The first thing you should check is the pH of your spa water. Your pH level should be between 7.4 and 7.6. If your spa water’s pH levels are too high, you can add a pH decreaser, and if they are too low, you can use a pH increaser. Next, you’ll want to test the total alkalinity of the water.
Before moving on, you will need to give the spa some time to spread the chemicals. You should wait at least 30 minutes before retesting the water. While you wait, ensure that the hot tub pumps are turned on to allow for equal distribution.
After this time has passed, you can retest the hot tub water. If either of the chemicals are below the optimal levels, you will need to add the correct amount, wait and retest until the correct levels are reached. You will need to use a new test strip each time you test the water quality.
Once your hot tub has reached the correct pH and total alkalinity, you can add your sanitiser: chlorine or bromine. In the first instance, it is recommended that you add more chlorine and wait for it to settle. This allows for thorough sanitisation of the spa and its parts. You should only begin using the spa once testing strips have shown that the chlorine levels are between 2 and 4 parts per million.
There are a couple of ways that you can use sanitisers, such as chlorine tablets or chlorine granules. It’s up to you which option you choose for your spa; just make sure that your hot tub chlorine levels are optimal. You should also check if your hot tub manufacturer recommends a certain type.
What does ‘shocking your hot tub water’ mean?
Using a hot tub shock treatment helps to remove harmful elements in the spa. You can use a range of spa chemicals, such as a non-chlorine shock treatment. This shock dose should be left in the spa until the chemical levels have been checked again.
Being a hot tub owner is so exciting, and once you get used to adding the correct chemical levels, things will become much easier. There are lots of guides available on hot tub water chemistry. You can also check out our blog on your hot tub water temperature.
We hope this blog has been useful to you regarding how much chlorine to add to your hot tub the first time. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding your hot tub maintenance and its setup. We are more than happy to help.
