One of the fun parts of having your own hot tub is the cozy feeling it gives, and the ability to go into it whenever you want without worrying if it is safe to use it or not.
However, this fun part can quickly come to an end when your tub begins to develop issues you never had. It can be very frustrating to realize that the tub you normally use anytime you want can not be used anymore because of a water balance problem.
Well, you can correct that without using chemicals like pH reducers. To lower the pH level in your spa naturally, you can use vinegar, which is a natural compound. Take four cups of vinegar and put it into the water. Do not forget to circulate the water in the tub before adding the vinegar.
pH, in its full meaning, actually means the power of hydrogen. The pH level is the amount of hydrogen ions present in the water. The concentration of hydrogen ions in the water is what determines if the water is acidic, basic, or neutral. It is to measure how much alkaline or acid is present in your water.
A pH range within 0–7 is considered acidic, a pH of 7 is taken to be neutral, and a pH range of 7–14 is taken to be basic. The pH level you should try to achieve is a pH level of 7.2 to 7.8. The ideal pH level is 7.5.
Can you use a hot tub if the pH is too high?
Everyone loves getting into their hot tub, especially after a long day at work and, to top it off, during a hot summer. It’s a feeling of comfort and pleasure all in one. Unfortunately, if your hot tub‘s pH level is too high, you need to consider taking a break and putting in the necessary measures to balance it, or else you might just be taking a risk.
Do not try to use your hot tub if its pH level is high, especially if it’s above 7.8. It can lead to you having itchy skin and burning eyes. It can also cause scale-ups, clogging your pipes and destroying your equipment. Take note: balancing your pH when your total alkalinity is off is impossible, so in your bid to curb this situation, do not forget about the alkalinity level either.
Now, in case you find yourself in this situation and want to know how to balance your pH levels, you’re at the right place. As we proceed, you will be familiar with the processes.
What do you do if your spa’s pH is too high?
Experiencing issues like scale build up, cloudy water, and poor water balance can be depressing, but not to worry. In this article, we shall be addressing what to do when your pH level becomes so high that it starts causing you problems in the hot tub.
It is very important that you keep your pH levels between 7.2 and 7.8. If your pH is higher than the stated figures, it can cause problems for your hot tub.
A high pH level causes calcium and scaling to build up at your tub’s water line. It also causes cloudy or murky water. It also makes it hard to keep your hot tub sanitizer levels balanced.
So here’s the solution: If you encounter this problem or you’re currently having it, use pH down to reduce the pH level to its normal range. You should also consider using baking soda to raise the alkalinity level too, to keep them both balanced.
How do I lower pH in my hot tub?
Every hot tub owner is aware of the fact that it is not easy or a day’s job to maintain it. Making sure the treatment is done right and keeping the water level balanced are among the vital parts of keeping your tub clean and hygienic.
Before embarking on lowering the pH level in your tub, it is important to first know the right chemical to put into the tub. Also take note that you have to lower both the alkalinity and pH level.
The common chemical known to reduce both alkalinity and pH levels is acid. There are quite a few options for an acid to be used, which are: liquid muriatic acid, dry sodium bisulfate. The acid lowers the hydrogen concentration, which in turn brings down the pH level and alkalinity.
Here are the steps you need to follow to ensure that you properly treat your tube at a low pH level.
- Measure the amount to use: do take note that when you’re trying to balance your water, the pH drops way faster than the alkalinity, so if you try to drop the alkalinity first, the pH will definitely adjust. Now, you need at least 1.23 liters of muriatic acid for every 10,000 gallons of hot tub water.
- Mix the chemicals: On the label is an instruction on how you should mix the chemicals. You will have to mix the chemicals with a small amount of water. Place 8 gallons of your tub water into a plastic bucket, then go ahead and pour the pH decreaser into the water in the bucket and allow it to dissolve. Do take note that the water has to be placed in the bucket first before adding the acid.
- Add it to your hot tub: Now it’s time to add it to your hot tub. Ensure your hot tub pump is turned on and running. Pour the chemical mixture into your bucket by gradually pouring it into the tub in a controlled motion, because if the acid touches parts of your tub, it may damage it.
- Keep the pump running: Allow the pump to circulate the water in the hot tub, and ensure all the equipment is working appropriately to prevent malfunctions or any issues.
- Retest the tub: after everything, retest the hot tub to make sure the water is finally balanced. If not, undergo the process again.
How can I use vinegar to lower pH in my hot tub?
Keeping your pH levels in check from time to time is the way to go if you want to keep using your pool for a long time without having to worry about your pool generating issues.
A pH level that is too high will cause the formation of white scaling along the walls of the tub. There are some products you can purchase from pool or tub supply stores that can help you lower the pH levels of your hot tub.
If you find it costly to afford the chemicals available to you to help lower the pH level of your hot tub, then try natural means like vinegar. Vinegar is very effective in lowering the pH level of your pool and is very affordable.
Here’s the process to follow towards lowering the pH level of your hot tub with vinegar.
- Test the pH level: test the pH level of your hot tub to know where it stands and how much vinegar it needs to get raised.
- Measure four cups of vinegar and pour it directly into the water. You can decide to use either apple cider vinegar or white household vinegar.
- Make sure your hot tub pump is running. Turn on your hot tub pump to ensure that the vinegar is properly circulated.
- Retest the hot tub after you’re done to check for progress.
Will baking soda lower the pH in a hot tub?
Baking soda is a natural alkaline, consisting of a pH of 8. If you add baking soda to your pool, what you’ll do is increase the pH levels in your hot tub.
So no, you cannot decrease your hot tub‘s pH levels with baking soda. If you’re looking to decrease the pH of your hot tub, then you should consider getting a pH reducer. It can be found in hot tubs and pool shops and it is very effective.
Another way to lower the pH level in your hot tub is by using muriatic acid. This chemical helps you lower your pH levels and alkalinity together, to keep the tub water balanced.
Will shock lower pH in hot tub?
If you think your hot tub has a high pH level, the first thing you check for is the alkalinity level, because when the alkalinity level is high, it signifies that the pH level is equally high too.
Now, shocking the hot tub would also increase the pH level in your tub massively. This is because it breaks up the combined chlorine while increasing free chlorine.
The reason why people use chlorine in their hot tubs is to kill bacteria, algae, and other contaminants that might be harmful to the pool, not to reduce the pH level, as this can be a terrible thing to do.
Using a pH reducer, an alkalinity reducer, or muriatic acid is vital to lowering the pH levels in your hot tub water and not by shocking or adding chlorine.
