Back to basics: Swim spa chemicals 101

Facebook Live: January 26, 2022

What is the best way to keep your swim spa water clear and clean? In this Facebook Live video, swim spa specialists Ben Gilliam and Mari Cuticielli share their best tips for adding chemicals to your swim spa.

Swim spas, like hot tubs,require products to keep the water clean and clear. Owners should have a basic chemical kit for routine maintenance and troubleshoot any water woes. What should you have on hand? Every spa owner should have a pH increaser, pH decreaser, sanitizer, and shocking agent. A sequestering agent and foam reducer can also be helpful.

All spa chemicals should be stored in a cool dry place, out of reach from kids and pets.

The most important swim spa chemical tip is to find a routine and stick to it. Spa owners can share their own tips but they might conflict. For example, some owners might prefer bromine over chlorine. But you can't just alternate between the two. Master Spas recommends using dichlor granules, as chlorine works best with the mineral filtration system.

Owners should check the chemicals in their spa every few days and balance as needed. When you balance the levels, always start with alkalinity and then pH. Chlorine cannot do its job if the other levels are not in range.

Spa strips or kits can give you readings on the pH or total chlorine. However, one of the best ways to check your water is looking at it. Swim spa water should look icy blue, and you should be able to clearly see the bottom.