Clear water doesn’t necessarily mean clean water. It’s possible for your spa water to look perfectly fine while it secretly deteriorates your hot tub and health. Instead of relying on guess work, learn the importance of your tub’s pH levels and test them regularly to maintain a clean and healthy spa.
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​What is pH?
Water pH is a measure of how acidic or basic the water solution is according to the concentration of hydrogen ions. Pure water generally has a pH level of seven. Any solution with a pH level above seven is considered basic, while results lower than seven are acidic.
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​Why is pH Important?
Testing the pH level of your spa water is important because if it isn’t balanced, the water could negatively affect your tub. On the one hand, if your water is too acidic, it may corrode your spa parts. On the other hand, if your water is too basic, it could stain your tub or lead to mineral scaling. Imbalanced pH levels may also cause health problems, such as skin and eye irritations.
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​What Alters My Hot Tub’s pH Levels?
The kinds of water and sanitizer you use in your spa can change the pH level. Hard water and well water, for example, have different pH levels than fresh water. Because of this, it’s important to determine the pH level of the water coming out of your garden hose, instead of assuming it’s at a perfect seven. Sanitizers also have different pH ranges, such as calcium hypochlorite, which has a high pH level, and bromine, which has a much lower pH level. If you’re not careful when you add these sanitizers, they can further imbalance the pH level of the hot tub water.
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​How Do I Test the pH levels in my Hot Tub?
Read the instructions on your pH test kit to determine specific steps and how frequently you should check your spa’s levels. In many cases the process simply involves taking a sample of circulated spa water and dipping a test strip into it. Next, shake the strip and hold it horizontally for roughly 15 seconds before comparing its color to the chart. Your kit should provide you with additional instructions on how to balance your hot tub water accordingly.