Cyanuric Acid Low In Hot Tub

Introduction

Every hot tub requires certain chemicals to maintain its chlorine levels for a more extended period. If the acidity level is high, it destabilizes the tub and leads to ultraviolet ray exposure. This exposure attracts contaminants and other harmful elements into the tub. A hot tub with low cyanuric acid helps to eliminate microorganisms and bacteria.

Cyanuric acid helps to keep chlorine in the water for a longer time. The hot tub stands a chance against bacteria and organic contaminants with chlorine present in the water. There are various ways of reducing the acidic level of CYA in the hot tub. One of them involves bringing down the water level and topping it up with fresh water.

This guide examines the importance of maintaining low cyanuric acid in hot tubs.

What Is Cyanuric Acid?

Cyanuric acid is a chemical stabilizer introduced into the spa industry as an alternative to sodium hypochlorite. Pool owners used cyanuric acid to ensure that the chlorine in the pool and spa lasted much longer. The constant chlorine loss to sunlight meant that bacteria and organic matter grew in the hot tub.

Cyanuric acid helps to keep chlorine in the water for more extended periods. Outdoor hot tubs lose large quantities of chlorine due to exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. With cyanuric acid present in the hot tub, it acts as a shield for chlorine against sun rays.

How Does Cyanuric Acid Work?

Hot tub owners use cyanuric acid to prolong the effects of chlorine in the tub water. In addition, it protects the hot tub\’s chlorine from harmful rays. Without protection from CYA, the chlorine breaks apart and evaporates when hit with UV rays from the sun.

Once you add chlorine to your hot tub, the sun starts burning the chlorine through various chemical reactions. The cyanuric acid extends the chlorine’s lifespan by shielding it from the sun\’s ultraviolet rays. When you add the cyanuric acid, it binds to the chlorine and forms a stable compound in the sunlight.

As the hot tub water uses chlorine, the cyanuric acid provides backup and protection from the sun. As a result of this, the free chlorine in your tub will then be available for long-term sanitization. As the lifespan of the chlorine increases, it becomes weaker than it was before. That is to say that a more extended lifespan leads to decreased cleaning power from chlorine.

Why Do Hot Tubs Need Cyanuric Acid?

Every hot tub needs a chemical compound that stabilizes its chlorine levels and keeps the water clean for a longer time. The stabilization process is where cyanuric acid comes in. Cyanuric acid is vital in protecting your hot tub from bacteria and organic contaminants. If CYA isn’t present in the hot tub, it can lead to severe chlorine demand.

There are three types of chlorine in every hot tub that require cyanuric acid to function. These three types of chlorine are as follows:

The Free Chlorine – The free chlorine acts as a sanitizer that cleans and purifies the water in the tub.

The Combined Chlorine – The combined chlorine acts as a sanitizer against organic matter. It kills algae, bacteria, and other harmful organic contaminants inside the water.

The Total Chlorine – As its name suggests, it consists of all the free and combined chlorine in the tub water.

Once you add chlorine to your hot tub, it becomes sodium hypochlorite and separates when hit by sun rays. As the sodium separates, the chlorine evaporates, leaving the hot tub water with little to no chlorine.

Cyanuric acid is essential if chlorine is to have a fighting chance against organic contaminants. The role of the CYA is crucial because it increases the lifespan of your hot tub\’s sanitizers. As the chlorine starts to evaporate, the cyanuric acid binds to its particles to ensure they don\’t break up.

Why Lower Cyanuric Acid in Hot Tubs?

Your hot tub requires cyanuric acid in lower levels to keep the chlorine working at optimal condition. If the CYA levels are higher than usual, you will have no other option than to dilute the hot tub water. You can do this by splashing out some water and topping it up with fresh water.

When cyanuric acid levels get high, chlorine becomes useless and ineffective against bacteria and germs. A few problems that come as a result of high cyanuric acid levels in a hot tub include:

Health Problems:

High CYA levels can lead to severe health issues. The chlorine won\’t kill harmful organic matter in the water due to its high acidity. Soaking in a tub with a high cyanuric level can lead to diarrhoea and digestive issues.

Inaccurate Alkalinity Readings:

High cyanuric acid levels in a hot tub lead to inaccurate alkalinity readings. It contributes to false carbonate alkalinity that leaves the water weak. Balancing the tub water will allow you to know the chlorine levels.

Decreased Oxidation Reports:

The oxidation-reduction potentials are what measure the water\’s chlorine capacity. When the cyanuric acid level is high, the water\’s oxidation reports decrease and become less effective.

Leads to Surface Decline:

High levels of cyanuric acid cause the chlorine to throw off the pH level of the hot tub water. The low pH level can lead to the gradual decline of the tub’s surface.

Slows Down the Effects of Chlorine:

Your hot tub\’s chlorine becomes weak and ineffective if there is a high cyanuric acid level in the water. This weakness results from the high CYA overpowering the chlorine level in the hot tub water. It leads to chlorine lock, cloudy water, and algae growth.

Ways to Lower Cyanuric Acid in a Hot Tub

It would help if you had the right balance of cyanuric acid in your hot tub. There are various ways to fix high levels of chemicals and other acidic compounds in your hot tub.

Some methods for lowering high cyanuric acid levels in a hot tub include:

Using Special Filters:

Another method for reducing the cyanuric acid level in a hot tub is special cleaning filters. Using special filters can be expensive, but it guarantees fast and accurate results. The reverse osmosis filter sends the tub water through an ultra-fine membrane and into a large pressure tank. The tank filters the water using a built-in charcoal system before sending the water back to the hot tub.

The reverse osmosis method is perfect for people in regions with water shortages and restrictions. A single water treatment using a special filter can last for years before wearing out. It can be a bit expensive as hiring a professional can cost you up to $500. Installing a tank system for reverse osmosis can take up to $2200.

Draining or Diluting the Water:

When looking to lower the cyanuric acid in a hot tub, you can choose to drain or dilute the tub. It can be time-consuming but is ideal for ensuring maximum results. Below are steps on how to drain or cut the hot tub:

Test The Water – The first step is to determine cyanuric acid level. You can test the water using a test strip or a digital test kit. Conducting a water test will let you know how much water you need to dilute.
Drain the Water – You can use a tub filtration system or a submersible pump to drain the hot tub. Using a submersible pump is ideal to avoid your hot tub system. Place the pump in the tub and attach a hose long enough to reach a drainage point before emptying the water.
Dilute the Water – Drain the hot tub halfway before diluting to lower cyanuric acid levels. Attach a garden hose and refill the tub with fresh water.
Rerun the Test – After draining or diluting the hot tub, retest the water to confirm. Be sure to repeat the process until the acidity level drops to between 31 PPM and 49 PPM.

Using a Cyanuric Acid Reducer:

When the acidity level is high, You decide to use a cyanuric acid reducer to lower it. You can choose to top it off by diluting the water after using the CYA reducer. Using the cyanuric acid reducer is pretty simple for adding to your hot tub.

Below are steps on using a CYA reducer to lower the acidity level.

Start by testing the water to ensure the chlorine level falls between 1 PPM and 5 PMM.
Fill up a 5-gallon bucket halfway, pour the CYA reducer into it and stir with a wooden stick.
Pour the solution into the hot tub water. Since the cyanuric acid reducer is safe, you can use the tub after adding it.
Wait for five days to 10 days before retesting the tub for cyanuric acid levels. Ensure to repeat the process if the CYA is high.

Conclusion

Having cyanuric acid is essential in keeping the chlorine in your hot tub active. Without it, any chlorine you add will be a waste as it would be powerless against algae and bacteria. The hot tub must be low in cyanuric acid for the chlorine to fight off bacteria. With proper testing, it guarantees chlorine protection and extends the lifespan of your hot tub.