Chlorine is a low-cost, easy to use, and an effective way to maintain your hot tub for safe family fun or relaxation. Even our drinking water is cleaned via the chlorination process killing parasites,bacteria and viruses. Over 98 percent of all U.S. water utilities that disinfect drinking water today use chlorine. The drawbacks? The smell. When this chemical reaction takes place, waste substances known as chloramines are released, which are what give off the odor. If you can smell chlorine, your water has likely used up all of the chlorine and you need to add more.
How do you add chlorine?
Chlorine should be added to your hot tub at least once each week. However, some individuals like adding a small amount after each use. Different hot tubs may have different ways to add chlorine to the water. The @Ease Sanitation System adds chlorine via a cartridge or floating ball while a Salt Water System electrically charges the water which splits the salt molecules and generates chlorine. A more hands on approach will be to hand feed using chlorine granules. To hand feed chlorine, open the cover, turn on the Jets at full blast, broadcast the chlorine in and allow the spa run with the cover off at least 30 minutes. The gas known as chlorine (Cl2) is greenish-yellow in color and has a strong odor similar to that of bleach. Chlorine is in the ‘halogens’ gas family, alongside fluorine, bromine, and iodine. Chlorine gas can be damaging to the underside of the cover and hot tub pillows, to keep this from happening let your spa “breath” often by leaving the cover off to allow the chlorine gas to escape.
How does chlorine work?
When you dissolve hot tub chlorine in water, it creates hypochlorous acid. This acid destroys waterborne bacteria by breaking the chemical bonds in their molecules such as Legionaries’ disease on contact but deactivates over time causing you to need to add more chlorine to your hot tub.
A few to mention
Without sanitizer your hot tub is a breeding ground for bacteria. Here is a quick list of just a few things that could ruin your day from unsafe hot tub water.
- Hot Tub Lung
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- “hot tub rash” (Pseudomonas folliculitis)
- Legionaries Infection
- Allergic reaction
- Pontiac fever
Other options?
If chlorine doesn’t work for you try using a Bromine sanitizer. Bromine is another safe and effective sanitizer for hot tub water. When bromine is dissolved in water, it ionizes contaminants, forcing apart their chemical bonds, effectively killing the bacteria. In all choose a product that complements your personal preference. Keep soaking friends!
