Are you a new hot tub owner? Are you asking yourself, “What chemicals do I need for my hot tub?” There is such a wide range of products on the market that it is often overwhelming for new owners to grasp what chemicals they really need to effectively care for their spa. Aside from regular hot tub maintenance supplies, there are times when you need to bring out a special product to correct a problem situation.

Imagine going out to use your beautiful hot tub only to find that the water is cloudy or foamy. The last thing you feel like doing is getting in the car and driving to your local pool store for products you aren’t sure are going to fix your issue. The hot tub pros at Aqua Pools are here with some suggestions for basic must-have hot tub chemicals and a few optional extras that could come in handy for certain situations.

Start with Test Strips

It is going to be necessary for you to have a chemical test kit or a set of test strips so you can determine if your hot tub chemicals are properly balanced. When you test your hot tub water with the strips you will see what chemicals you need to add to achieve the correct chemical levels. Your test strips will let you know just what chemicals you need for your hot tub, so you won’t have to guess what you need.

You will soon get into the habit of testing your hot tub water often and making the necessary adjustments to your chemicals. Hot tub owners are invited to bring in a water sample to the professionals at Aqua Pools for testing and advice on how to achieve chemical balance.

Basic Chemicals Needed for Every Hot Tub

There are many brands of chemicals available for your hot tub, and Aqua Pools recommends that you always go for the best quality you can find. We offer an extensive selection of SpaGuard® hot tub chemicals, which are known for delivering reliable results for any spa challenges you may encounter.

There is a list of 6 basic chemicals you will need when the question “What chemicals do I need for my hot tub?” arises. These are the basic hot tub chemical supplies you will want to have on hand:

• Sanitizer. This is the main product that keeps your hot tub sanitary and clean of bacteria. Whether your sanitizer is chlorine or bromine based, you will want to keep a good supply of it on hand at all times.
• Shock. There are times when every hot tub needs a super dose of sanitizer, and that is the function of spa shock. You will use this after your hot tub has had heavy use or if you notice cloudy water. It nips algae growth and is usually used weekly as a preventative measure. 
• Calcium hardness increaser. The level of calcium hardness in your spa water is important. If your water is too soft it can have a detrimental effect on your spa shell and equipment.
• Alkalinity and pH. Getting the right alkalinity and pH levels in their hot tub is the issue that stymies new hot tub owners the most. You will need an alkalinity increaser to stabilize your pH levels and keep them from fluctuating. There also are two pH-balancing products to keep on hand: a pH increaser and a pH decreaser. These products ensure that your water is not too acidic or too alkaline. Check out this helpful video from SpaGuard, which helps make sense of the need for balanced hot tub water. 

 

Extras

There are times when a situation arises and you may need additional chemical supplies for your hot tub. Aqua Pools carries specialty use products such as line flush, enzymes, algaecides, and foam decreasers for the occasions when you need a product to correct other issues. 

 

Aqua Pools can tell you that spa maintenance and particularly hot tub chemical balance is not as difficult as you may think. Our pool and spa professionals and our top-of-the-line SpaGuard hot tub chemicals will have you enjoying a hot tub that is clean, clear, and inviting.  Reach out to us with all of your hot tub questions!