Cloudy Hot Tub Water

As a spa owner it is nearly inevitable that at some point you will encounter cloudy water. Whenever your water appears milky, murky, gray, hazy or dull this would be considered cloudy water. There is not one thing in particular that can be blamed for cloudy water but commonly it is caused by things such as unbalanced chemicals, poor filtration, or particles too small to be captured by the filter.

If you are experiencing cloudy water the first course of action is to test your water and ensure that you have proper sanitizer levels and that pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness are within the proper ranges. Having unbalanced water could be causing the problem.

After testing your water, if everything is in balance as it should be the next thing to do to combat the cloudy water would be to ensure that your filter is clean and not clogged. Filters should be removed and cleaned every 4-6 weeks. This can be done by removing the filter, spraying it off with a garden hose and then using Spa Pure Filter Cleaner, allowing the filter to soak overnight in it will degrease the filter and remove build up. Ensuring that water can move freely through the filter and it is not clogged, allowing it to trap contaminants as it should.

There are instances where particles in the tub can be may be too small to be captured by the filter and they can cause cloudy water. Using a clarifier like Spa Pure Clarifier or Natural Clear will bond the particles together allowing them to be caught by the filter.

At Hot Tub Warehouse, we recommend adding clarifier once a week during regular water maintenance to keep your water sparkling and clear all the time.

Salt Chlorine Generators for Hot Tubs

Salt chlorine generators have long been a popular sanitation option for swimming pool owners, as they have been proven to be a safe, convenient, and inexpensive way to sanitize water. These benefits are now available for hot tub owners also.

Salt chlorine generators work as water flows through their "cell" the salt in the water is turned into Hypochlorous acid in a process known as electrolysis. Hypochlorous acid is the same thing that is produced when any chlorine is introduced to water, no matter what form it is introduced in. As the water enters the hot tub, it will introduce the newly produced chlorine which prevents algae, bacteria and micro-organisms. This creates a clean and safe bathing environment.

A common question about salt water systems is if this is a “salt” system is my water going to be salt water…like the ocean? Ocean water has a salt content of around 35,000 parts per million (“ppm”). Humans have a salt taste threshold of around 3,500 ppm. Most chlorine generator systems require a salt content of 2500 – 3000 ppm in a hot tub. Bathing in a spa with a salt generator is often compared to taking a shower in soft water; you should have no irritation and upon exiting the tub and your skin should feel soft and smooth. Bathing in a “salt water” spa should also cause less eye irritation than one treated with more traditional chemicals. In the beginning you will add salt to your water to get the system going but then because salt is not evaporated and is returned to the water from the chlorine it is very easy to maintain proper salt levels and the only time you would need to add salt is to make up for loss from splash out or when hot tub water is changed.

Here at Hot Tub Warehouse, we offer the Solaxx Saltron Mini Spa Chlorine Generator. This unit is very easy to install without requiring costly modifications to your spa. After installation you simply add normal table salt and the Saltron will produce chlorine used to sanitize your spa.

Choosing a Hot Tub Cover Lift

Whether you currently use a hot tub cover lift and it is just time for replacement or you are a first time cover lift shopper there are many things to consider to ensure you find the cover lifter that is going to work best for your and your spa.

When you begin shopping it is easy to quickly become overwhelmed by all the choices, especially since many of them look similar but really can differ greatly in price and design, so here is what you should consider when choosing a lift.

Spa Measurements

With so many different shapes and sizes of spas out there, knowing your spas measurements can quickly help guide you in the right direction when it comes to choosing a cover lift. When looking at cover lifts it is important to note your spas shape, dimensions, and if you have a square or rectangular tub with rounded corners it important to know your corner radius.

How to measure your corner radius is also a very common question. Basically, the corner radius measurement is the distance between where your corner begins to curve out to where the 90 degree angle would be if the corner was not rounded.

Corner radius is important to know because many cover lifts will not work on a radius over a certain measurement or will require a special extension to accommodate the larger radius.

Clearance

When selecting a cover lift it is important to consider how much clearance you have on the sides of your spa that will be effected by the cover lift. If you choose a lift that sets the cover low to the ground on one side of the spa it is important to ensure there is ample room for the cover to maneuver and sit.

If you choose a lift that mounts on the sides of the spa it is also important to ensure you have ample clearance on the sides of the spa where it will be mounted for the bars to move freely without obstruction.

View or Privacy

Some cover lifts sit up high in the air and could give added privacy to your tub when the cover is up, this may be something you are interested in if you have nosy neighbors you would like to block out, but if you have a beautiful view you like to enjoy from your tub you may want to consider a lift that allows the cover to sit down lower on the side of the spa for less obstruction.

Hydraulic or Basic

Some cover lifts offer hydraulic assistance in the lifting of your spa cover with the help of gas shocks. If you are person in average physical condition a cover lift without shocks would probably work just fine for you but if you have trouble lifting and need the added help a cover lift that utilizes the hydraulic shocks is something that you should likely consider.

Support/ Durability

One of the things that can make a huge different difference in the price of one coverlift compared to another is the durability of it and the support it offers your cover. Many lifts have two arms that come in on either side of the cover seam to hold the spa cover but do not have a bar that extends the full length of the seam for added support. Choosing a lift that has a bar extending the full length of the seam may be more expensive up front but can save alot of wear and tear of your cover.

Mounting Options

Spa cover lifts are available with many different mounting options for your needs. The most common type are lifts that mount directly onto the cabinet of your hot tub. Depending on your spa and set up this may be a good option for you but if you are opposed to having to drill holes in your spas cabinet for installation or you have an older spa and are worried about the cabinet supporting the lift, and undermount option might be a better choice.

Undermount lifts have metal plates that slide under the spa and the weight of the hot tub holds them in place. Just keep in mind that your spa will need to have the water drained from it for installation on this one because you will need to be able to lift the spa 1/2 inch to 1 inch off the ground to slide the plates under.

If your spa is built into a deck, there are also options available that will mount directly onto your deck.

Hopefully after considering these variables making the choice of which cover lift is best for you will be much easier. At Hot Tub Warehouse, we carry a huge selection of lifts so that you can find the one that fits your needs best. If you have any questions, we are always here to assist you also.

What is Chlorine?

Chlorine is a member of the same chemical family as bromine. This chemical family known as halogens attacks microorganisms such as bacteria using oxidation and kills them. This is why chlorine and bromine are the two most popular choices for sanitizer in pools and spas.

Chlorine is the most commonly used primary sanitizer in swimming pools. Chlorine tends to be less effective than bromine at high temperatures like those in a hot tub when in tablet form and that is why it is not recommended as a primary sanitizer for hot tubs. If you do choose to use chlorine as your primary sanitizer or an occasional shock treatment, the granular form known as “sodium dichlor” is the best option for hot tubs. It is not excessively acidic or alkaline, and does not quickly deplete at higher water temperatures like the more concentrated version.

If you do choose to use chlorine granules as a primary sanitizer you would just want to be sure and test your water VERY often since it is not being dispensed automatically like bromine tablets or cartridges would be.

When testing your chlorine levels you are looking for a reading of 1.5 to 3.0 ppm (parts per million). Chlorine levels not being high enough could result in unsafe water conditions that can cause skin irritation, smelly water, and a growth place for bacteria.

No matter what form of sanitizer you choose to use in your hot tub maintaining it properly is the key to success, do this by testing often and making sure all your chemical levels are balanced.

Getting the Most From Your Water Test Kits

Test kits are a handy companion when it comes to maintaining clean and healthy water for your hot tub enjoyment. Hot Tub Warehouse offers three types of water testing kits; reagent, test strip, and test tabs. Knowing which one to use depends on the amount of time, energy, and money you would like to invest in your hot tub.

Most water testing kits come with a comparator which is a color chart that you, the water tester, can compare color results to which determine whether chemicals need to be adjusted at that time. The cost of a water testing kit depends on the extent of chemicals you would like checked, as well as how much effort you would like to put into testing the chemicals.The basic chemicals that can be checked with a water testing kit are chlorine/bromine, alkalinity, and pH. Some kits also offer tests for calcium hardness and cyanuric acid.

For the hot tub owner who doesn't have the time to worry about exact color results, many test kits offer a digital reader which does the work for you. Simply fill a vial with water, add your reagent, and the digital reader will tell you what needs to be adjusted at that time, if anything. Digital readers can add to the cost of a test kit , but could be saving more for you in the long run since unbalanced water could ultimately damage parts of the hot tub system causing a need for replacing parts.While checking color tests manually to a comparator works just fine, human error is always a possibility when reading results. Some test result colors look very similar and may cause a bit of confusion for the person testing the water. Digital readers take the work and wonder out of your chemical results.

Before purchasing one of the many chemical test kits that Hot Tub Warehouse has to offer, decide how much time you can invest in testing your chemicals. Hot tub Warehouse recommends testing your chemicals at least twice a week. If the hot tub is being used more often, then the chemicals should be checked more often as well. Do you have the patience for adding exact drops of reagents to the water vials? Is pushing a test tab through foil and into a water filled vial an easier option? Or do you prefer simply dipping a test strip in the water and waiting for the results to appear?

Another thing to consider is which chemicals you are concerned about enough to check, and whether you have the confidence and patience to compare colors yourself to the comparator. Would you prefer and trust a digital reader doing it for you?

Once you have decided on these factors then the amount of money you'd like to spend on a chemical test kit should be an easy choice. Hot Tub Warehouse offers the best prices around. Each test kit offers individual test replacements for certain reagents, test strip, or tabs needed which helps save cost as well. For example, if you need to test your pH level and have run out of reagent, simply reorder a reagent for pH as opposed to a whole new kit.

Having clean and safe water to sit in and enjoy is the ultimate goal, as well as having a healthy and safe hot tub system

The Different Water Testing Kits for Hot Tubs

Making sure that your chemicals are dispersed evenly is an important responsibility for a hot tub owner. Improper chemical balance could lead to illness for those using the hot tub as certain bacteria can thrive. Improper chemical balance could also damage parts of the hot tub's system such as eroding heating elements and jet diffusers. It is a certain indication that the chemical levels need to be checked if a hot tub owner notices that bathers have changing hair color, red eyes, or skin irritation when using the hot tub.


Hot Tub Warehouse offers a variety of chemical test kits (Liquid, tablet, and test strip) to help a hot tub owner be sure that his/her chemicals are well balanced. Choosing which test kit to use is as individual as the person who is going to use it. Each type of water test kit offers accurate results as long as they are used properly. The basic chemicals that can be tested with a kit are the sanitizer level (bromine, chlorine, or salt), the pH level, and alkalinity level of the hot tub.

A liquid reagent is a substance that is added to a system in order to bring about a chemical reaction, or added to see if a reaction occurs. Liquid kits require measuring samples and counting a certain amount of drops of reagent. If the person doing the test isn't careful with their measurements or counts, the results may not be very accurate.

Test strips work well and are easy to use. Hot tub owners would just need to dip a strip into the water at elbow length, and then read the results on the strip after waiting for at least 30 seconds to allow the colors to appear.

Tablets come in packages which make it easy for a person to push through foil to get out and disperse into a test tube containing water from the hot tub. Once the tablet dissolves it will change the color of the water which will indicate whether anything needs to be adjusted at that time.

Each type of chemical testing kit comes with a color chart (comparator) to compare the results to, either done manually or digitally, which will indicate whether any type of chemical should be adjusted at that time. If stored in a cool and less humid area, each kit should have a shelf life for up to 2 years.

In order to be sure that the chemicals in your spa are well balanced, Hot Tub Warehouse recommends checking them at least two times a week. A hot tub owner should check it more often if the spa is being used more than usual. The best time to test your chemicals is at least an hour after use so that the water has had time to settle. It is best to not check the chemicals of your hot tub water on a stormy day as the results could be inaccurate. If ever in doubt of your results, wait a few hours and test the water again. If you need to add chemicals then it is best to recheck the chemical balance of your water at least 24 hours later, and certainly before the hot tub is to be used again so as to be sure it is safe.

What Should I Look for in a Spa Cover?

When looking to purchase a new or replacement hot tub cover, you will find that there are hundreds of sellers trying to get your business. Although price is an important factor, there are several other things that you should look for when determining which cover to purchase. Also a standard cover may not meet all your specific needs so it is also important to consider options and upgrades specific to your hot tub cover needs.

Foam Thickness

Most covers you will find offer some level of tapering in the foam to allow for rain, snow, and ice run off—similar to the slant of the roof on your house. You will find covers with as little as a 3” to 2” taper up to 6” to 4”. A standard cover thickness of 4” to 2” taper should do the job fairly well in most circumstances. If you live in a place that gets very cold and you do get quite a bit of snow on your cover, upgrading to a high foam thickness might be a good option as a higher thickness will help with weight bearing of the snow and also provide better insulation in extreme temperatures.

Foam Density

Much like foam thickness, foam density plays a large part in load capacity and insulation for you cover. Foam density is measured by pound per square inch. The lower the foam poundage the more open the cells of the foam are. The foam used in hot tub covers is rated by an R- Value. Most standard covers would include 1 lb. foam density with an R-Value of 15.5; covers are also available in 1.5 lb. (R-16.5) or 2 lb. (R-17.5). Just like the thickness the higher the foam density the more strength the cover will have for load capacity and will provide added insulation.

Vinyl

When considering a hot tub cover make sure that Marine Grade Vinyl is used. This vinyl is the heaviest available and is also enhanced with UV inhibitors and mildew retardants, to keep you cover safe in direct sunlight and prevent mildew build up from the moisture.

Steam Stoppers

Purchasing a cover with built in steam stoppers will help with keeping the heat in your hot tub. This will cause you heater to have to run less as the temperature will be better maintained and this will also contribute to energy savings.

Vapor Barrier

Many cover manufacturers offer double poly wrapping, we actually recommend a Permaliner Vapor Barrier instead. The vapor barrier is a special thick blue plastic barrier that protects your cover against corrosion from chemicals and ozone, and will also help prevent a “water logged” cover.

At Hot Tub Warehouse, our hot tub covers are custom, made to order. Covers are not a one size fits all when it comes to size or needs and options. This is why we give our customers the opportunity to build a spa cover to meet all their personal needs. Our covers are always made from the highest quality marine grade vinyl, they start at a 4” to 2” tapered foam which can be upgraded, and a R- 15.5 insulation value which can also be increased. If you have any questions about building your custom spa cover please visit us at www.hottubwarehouse.com or give us a call.