Having the recommended level of chlorine in your spa or pool is very important. We have been emphasizing maintaining the right amount of chemicals in your spa.
Increase the level of chemicals when they are low and reduce them when they are high. But why do we need to do this all the time?
It has reached us that many are interested in that question because it takes a lot of energy to maintain hot tub or pool chemistry. On this blog, we tried to address the issue, and this post is one of the articles that helped us handle the topic.
So, what are the side effects of having too much chlorine in your hot tub?
Too much chlorine in a spa can cause health problems for the swimmers and also damage the hot tub. It can also damage the fabrics the swimmer is wearing.
Itchy skin and burning eyes and nose are the common side effects of having an excessive amount of chlorine in your spa. Nausea, vomiting, headaches, difficulty breathing, and other signs of chlorine poisoning are the side effects of too much chlorine in the pool.
If you have asthma or other respiratory health issues, entering a hot tub with high chlorine can complicate the problem further.
In this post, you will learn the different ways you can use to lower the chlorine level when it is high, how long it will take you to achieve that, and how to manage it properly. So, you don’t stop learning here. Continue reading…
What do I do if my chlorine is too high?
If the chlorine level in your spa becomes too high, the first thing to do is to stop using it. Then you can determine what to do next to fix the issue.
You can correct the chlorine levels in your spa with one or a combination of the following options:
- Allow the chlorine level to reduce by itself
If you don’t want to go through the stress of adjusting or draining water, this is the best option for you. But you must learn how to be patient.
Your hot tub‘s chlorine level will reduce within 24-48 hours. You need to stop using your spa during that period and allow the chlorine to deplete naturally.
To make the process faster, you can keep the spa open. If it’s outdoors, expose it to direct sunlight. The UV rays of the sun will rapidly reduce the chlorine level.
With sunlight, depending on the level, you can start using the hot tub after 24 hours. However, make sure you test the water with test strips to be sure that the level is down. The ideal range for chlorine is 1-3 ppm.
- Dilute the water
This is another method you can use to reduce the chlorine level fast. This is faster, but it might not be easy.
The chemical balance of the water might be affected after draining out some water and refilling it with a fresh one. The pH or alkalinity level might need a little adjustment.
This means that you might have to do extra work after adjusting the chlorine levels. So, you need to test the water after refilling it to be sure that everything is balanced.
- Use chlorine neutralizer
If you are not ready to follow the natural methods discussed above, you can use chemical means. A chlorine neutralizer can help you lower the level of chlorine in your spa.
This method is fast, but you have to be careful not to add too much. Check on the package. You will see the instructions to follow.
Once you are done, wait a while before testing the water again.
Can you get sick from too much chlorine in a hot tub?
Yes, you can get sick from too much exposure to super-chlorinated water. Chlorine poisoning is something you need to avoid by all means.
It’s not good for your health. When your body system becomes exposed to chlorine, it can lead to various respiratory issues such as pneumonia, asthma, and fibrosis.
So, ensure that you use your hot tub only when the chlorine is in the appropriate range of 1 ppm to 3 ppm.
How much is too much chlorine in a hot tub?
If you use bromine for your hot tub, anything between 1 ppm and 5 ppm is a safe range. But for chlorine users, the range shouldn’t be more than 4 ppm. Anything above 4 ppm is not safe for you.
1–3 ppm is the ideal range for chlorine. If it goes beyond that range, you will need to find a cost-effective method of reducing chlorine in your pool.
How long does it take for chlorine to dissipate in a hot tub?
After adding your chlorine sanitizer to the hot tub, wait for at least 30 minutes before using the spa. However, make sure that the hot tub is open and the jets are running.
But if the chlorine is added as a shock, you will need to wait for about 3-6 hours, depending on the dose. As we mentioned earlier, exposing the hot tub to the UV rays of sunlight makes the process faster.
Nonetheless, there is no specific time for the chlorine to deplete in a hot tub because of various factors, like the hot tub temperature, weather condition, the dosage of chemicals added, etc.
So, you need to make sure that the chlorine drops to the recommended range before you can use it. To achieve that, you have to test the water before using it again.
Should I put chlorine in my hot tub every day?
No, you don’t need to add chlorine to your hot tub every day. But if you use your hot tub heavily every day, you might need to add it every day to maintain the level.
Generally, adding chlorine 2-3 times a week is enough to maintain the recommended level. If you are using tablets, 3-6 tablets of chlorine or bromine added to your spa can serve for a week.
However, you need to test the water regularly to know when to add chlorine. Chlorine, as we know, depletes faster than bromine, especially in hot or warm water. So, it depletes fast in your hot tub.
That’s why a lot of people prefer bromine-based sanitizers to chlorine-based sanitizers. This means that you need to add chlorine more regularly than bromine.
How often should you shock a hot tub?
For chlorine shock, you can do it once a week. But if you only use your tub occasionally, you can shock it once every two weeks. You can even shock it more than once a week, depending on how you use it that week.
The most important thing is knowing how to monitor the chlorine level and when to add more chlorine. You shock the hot tub when you need an instant dose of chlorine to maintain the recommended level of 1-3 ppm.
Does chlorine affect pH in hot tubs?
The pH level of your hot tub should be within the range of 7.2-7.8. As long as the pH is within that range, you don’t need to worry about the effect of chlorine.
Yes, chlorine can affect the pH in hot tubs because it produces acidic compounds such as hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite. But due to the amount of chlorine added to hot tubs, its effect on pH is almost insignificant.
So, when you add chlorine to your spa, you may not be able to notice the change in pH. However, if you overdose the hot tub with chlorine, the pH level in the hot tub will reduce due to the excess amount of acid present.
But, the pH readjusts naturally as the chlorine depletes. As a result, you might not be able to notice any change in pH when you test the water later.
How many teaspoons of chlorine do you put in a hot tub?
Are you trying to add more chlorine sanitizer to your spa, or are you trying to shock it? If so, it’s obvious that you are wondering how many teaspoons or tablespoons of chlorine to put in the hot tub.
Well, it all depends on how low the chlorine level is. But generally, you need about 2 teaspoons of chlorine sanitizer for every 200 gallons of hot tub water.
For shock treatment, you want to temporarily raise the free chlorine level to 10 ppm. So, you will need about 4 tablespoons of chlorine for every 500 gallons of hot tub water.
