There’s nothing quite like a relaxing dip in the hot tub. To truly reap the benefits out of your spa, however, your water needs to be clean and clear.
That’s where hot tub shock comes in. Learning how to use this important hot tub chemicals properly will help you to enjoy your spa to the fullest.
Hot Tub Shock: What Is It & Why You Need It?
Spa Shock is an oxidizer that is used to “shock” dirty or contaminated water into a clean state. Hot tub shock actually has several jobs.
- It helps to rid your spa’s water of the things you bring into your spa. Lotions, sunscreen, cosmetics, and other such products as well as dead skin cells all contaminate the water. As these contaminants build up with use, they can eventually result in scummy or cloudy water.
- It reactivates the bromine you use to sanitize your hot tub water, keeping your bromine level steady. It also removes bromamines, a waste product of bromine that can cause an unpleasant odor.
- It kills any algae, bacteria, germs, and pathogens that evade the bromine.
Types of Hot Tub Shocks
Always be sure to choose a product that was formulated for a hot tub rather than a pool. Using pool shock on your spa could cause damage and void your warranty.
There are two main hot tub shocks that work well in hot tubs. They are:
- Dichlor Shock
Dichlor shock is a form of chlorine often called sodium dichlor. Made of dichloroisocyanuric acid, this type of shock withstands the higher water temperatures of a hot tub.
- Non-Chlorine Shock
Although it’s not a disinfectant, it works well as an oxidizer and gets rid of water contaminants. It also activates the free chlorine in your chlorine or bromine sanitizer.
Choosing a Hot Tub Shock
After you’ve added your main sanitization product — we recommend using bromine tablets rather than chlorine, but either is acceptable — it’s time to shock your water.
No matter which of these two sanitizers you choose, we recommend using a chlorine hot tub shock if you’re in your spa often or have a lot of people using it.
You can use non-chlorine shock if you don’t have a high bather load or use your spa only a few times a week.
How To Shock Your Hot Tub – Easy Step-By-Step Guide
- Before shocking your hot tub, test the pH levels in your water to ensure they’re balanced between 7.4 and 7.6. and adjust if necessary.
- If you’re using a chlorine hot tub shock, wear old clothes, protective eyewear, and gloves.
- Carefully measure the amount of shock you’ll need, following the manufacturer’s hot tub shocking instructions.
- Make sure the jets are turned off in your spa and then add the shock, again following the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Leave your tub uncovered for a minimum of 20 minutes to permit the shock to dissolve completely.
When and How Often Should I Shock My Spa?
You should shock your spa at least once each week, twice if it receives heavy use.
If your hot tub is outdoors and is not underneath a pergola or other cover, you should always wait until evening to add shock. This prevents the sun from burning off the chlorine before it can work.
Jacuzzi Hot Tubs of Calgary
Need a little help learning how to care for your hot tub?
Jacuzzi Hot Tubs of Calgary can help. As the premier provider of new and used hot tubs in Calgary, we can help you find the right one for your home.
We are also the provider of high-quality hot tub accessories including hot tub covers and hot tub steps. Come visit our showroom to learn more about our hot tub pricing or to try out one of our spas.
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