Spa & Hot Tub Water Balancers

Spa & Hot Tub Water Balancers

Establishing and maintaining the correct water balance is important for a number of reasons:

• Chemical efficiency
• Bather comfort
• Protection of the spa and hot tub equipment
• Water quality and appearance
• Makes it easier and less time consuming to look after your spa or hot tub

Some people believe that keeping the right pH is all that is needed to achieve the correct water balance; this isn’t the case and although pH is important there are other factors that also need to be considered:

• pH – The pH scale of 0-14 measures how acidic or alkali a liquid is. The middle reading of 7 is neutral, so hot tub water with a pH below 7 is acidic and spa water with a pH above 7 is alkaline. For spa users the ideal pH level is slightly alkaline between 7.2– 7.6, ensuring spa equipment is protected and bathers are comfortable.
• Calcium Hardness or total hardness is the measure of how hard or soft the water is. The level will vary depending on where your water supply comes from. If the calcium hardness level is below 100mg/l (soft water), the water is corrosive & staining can occur. However if the calcium hardness level is too high (above 200mg/l), scale can form in the pipework and on the spa shell. The ideal level for your hot tub is 100-200mg/l.
• Total Alkalinity is a measurement of the waters ability to resist pH change. If total alkalinity is low it can make the pH fluctuate, making it difficult to maintain at the ideal level. However if the total alkalinity is too high, the pH can be difficult to adjust and a bicarbonate scale may form on spa surfaces & pipework. The ideal TA range is 80-150mg/l.
• TDS (total dissolved solids) is the sum of everything dissolved in the spa water including minerals, chemicals and debris. When the TDS level is too high, problems such as corrosion, poor chemical efficiency & dull looking water can occur. The maximum recommended level is 1,500mg/l. When the level exceeds this it’s time to empty and refill the hot tub with fresh water.