How to Add Chemicals to Your Hot Tub
- 1). Turn on the hot tub pump, and allow the water to circulate for a few minutes. Put on rubber gloves.
- 2). Dip a hot tub test strip into the water for 2 to 3 seconds, and shake off the excess water. After 30 seconds, compare the test strip colors to the colors on the test strip bottle. The colors indicate what chemicals need to be added to the spa water.
- 3). Add chlorine sanitizer to the hot tub water if the test strip shows that you are low. You may use liquid chlorine bleach or bromine tablets, but never use both together, warns HotTubEssentials.com. The amount you add depends on how much the test strip indicates you are low on sanitizer.
- 4). Add a pH increaser if the test strip shows that the pH balance is below 7.2. A pH below 7.2 can corrode and damage pipes in the hot tub.
- 5). Add pH decreaser if the pH level is higher than 7.8. A high pH may stain the hot tub and may cause cloudy water in the spa.
- 6). Add a scale remover to the spa water to impede the buildup of scale along the water line of the hot tub. Add a capful to the hot tub weekly or however much the instructions on the bottle call for.
- 7). Run the pump for one cycle to disperse the chemicals evenly in the hot tub water.
- 8). Test your hot tub water at least once a week, or more if the spa gets heavy use. Add chemicals according to the instructions on the chemical containers.