Owning a hot tub can be like having a personal oasis in the backyard. Hot tubs provide relaxation after a stressful day’s work and are good for health and well-being. Maintaining a spa can be confusing at first, but once the owner understands the basics of hot tub supplies keeping the spa clean and properly sanitized is an easy task.

Sanitizers

The single most important aspect of owning a spa is ensuring that the water is free from bacteria and safe for use. Bacteria grows best in warm temperatures, so without the proper chemicals it will become a perfect environment for illness to spread. Chlorine and bromine are the most common sanitizers used in spas. These chemicals come in tablet, nugget or powder like granules and are periodically added to maintain specific levels. Bromine tends to be the more popular choice of the types of sanitizers because it does not evaporate at temperatures above 98 degrees, therefore it creates less odors.

Shock Oxidizers

Shock Oxidizers are a beneficial additive, as they help remove organic pollutants from the water, such as dead skin cells as well as chemical-based products like deodorant and soaps that may be on the skin. These pollutants cause cloudiness and can eventually clog the filtration system.

H and Alkaline Adjusters

Depending on the composition of the local water supply, it is possible that the owner may need to adjust the pH and alkalinity of the water. The best way to know if the hot tub is in need of these supplies is to take the water to a spa and pool supply store for testing.

Test Strips

If a supply store is not readily available to the owner, test strips are available that allow the owner to easily monitor the hot tub’s chlorine or bromine, pH and alkalinity levels. These test strips are briefly dipped into the water and a color guide on the bottle shows the owner what the water levels are. Once the person has this information, they can safely add hot tub chemicals to restore proper levels of each element tested.

Weatherproof Cover

A good quality and well fitting spa cover is one of the most important means of saving energy when the spa is not in use. Covers prevent the outside air from causing the temperature of the water to fluctuate. If the spa is not in a covered area, be sure to invest in a weatherproof cover. The sun and rain can cause excessive damage to a cover not designed for exposure to the elements.