Inflatable Spa Chemicals

Are you tired of seeing cloudy water in your inflatable spa?

We can understand the feeling!

Normally, an inflatable spa holds around 250-300  gallons of water and 4-6 people. So the ratio of water to people is usually high. This together with the normal 104º Fahrenheit operating temperature of the spa, produces a possible breeding medium for germs and bacteria.  Obviously, this is something none of us would want.

That’s why we shall discuss some of the most trusted inflatable spa chemicals in today’s market below that will help you manage your hot tub hygiene effectively.

Let us get started.

Inflatable Spa Treatment

An inflatable spa cannot be left on its own when it comes to keeping it in a hygienically safe position. It needs constant monitoring, particularly when it is being frequently used.

Testing the Water

So we have to look for a way to test the water in the inflatable spa. We need a very easy way to know the levels of ph, total alkalinity, and chlorine/bromine. And ideally, we should have just one kit that can test all these important water characteristics quickly.

Many products can do this job for you. In fact, it is kind of a little difficult to choose which one you should select. You can find handheld water chemical meters, digital testers, or go the old school way and pick the complete water testing kit.

We prefer the old-school way and recommend the U.S. Pool Supply Premium 5-Way Swimming Pool & Spa Test Kit. This may appear as a chemistry set, however, it is not. It is very easy to understand and use and comes with clear instructions. Moreover, it includes everything that you will need in one box.

But, if you are more of a gadget person, then you may prefer digital help for checking your inflatable spa chemicals, such as the AquaChek TruTest Digital Test Strip Reader.

Total Alkalinity and PH Levels

Adjusting and verifying total alkalinity is an important step in the spa hygiene check. We prefer a number of 80-110ppm. It is vital to get this value right because it will help us with the next step of our water check, which is adjusting the pH level.

If the water’s total alkalinity is correct, it will prevent all the wild swings in the pH values. There are simple and reasonable products available to achieve the desired window.

Likewise, keeping pH levels balanced is fundamental for the chemical treatment of the inflatable spa. A higher pH value means the water is highly alkaline, while a lower pH value means the water is very acidic. Your spa water should have an optimal value that is between 7.2 and 7.8.

The reason behind it is that too much acidic spa water can irritate eyes and skin, damage hair, make water sanitizers less effective, and reduce the life of your hot tub.

Spa water, which is too alkaline, can result in scale formation and messy water and also cause sanitizers to work poorly.

To adjust pH levels to the desired range, we recommend Leisure Time 22339A Spa Up Balancer For Hot Tubs and Leisure Time 22338A Spa Down for Spas and Hot Tubs.

Water Sanitizers

As the name indicates, a water sanitizer is important for keeping the spa water bacteria-free and sanitized. The most commonly used sanitizers are bromine and chlorine. While both are effective, each has its own advantages and disadvantages, ultimately that boil down the option to personal preference.

Bromine is a bit pricey compared to chlorine but doesn’t leave the distinctive, strong chlorine odor. Moreover, less bromine is required to keep the inflatable spa clean, and its sanitizing effects last longer than chlorine. The Leisure Time 45422A-02 Brominating Tabs for Spas and Hot Tubs is our recommended choice.

On the other side, chlorine is more reasonably priced and has much lesser maintenance cost ultimately. We recommend the Leisure Time 22337-02 Granules Hot Tub Chlorine.

Spa Shock

The next important thing on the list of inflatable spa chemicals is spa shock. It destroys all the organic contaminants, which were able to escape the regular sanitation methods.

Your spa needs to be shocked every now and then, and there are some compelling reasons for it.

The use of spa shock is dependent on the type of sanitizer you use. So you have to be careful when selecting in order to obtain the best results. The spa shock has to be specific to either chlorine or bromine-treated spas, not both. For a bromine-treated inflatable spa, go for a chlorine-free shock treatment.

Moreover, they are usually quick-dissolving that serves purposeful when you wish to chemically treat the spas in summers when they are being frequently used. Besides, this treatment doesn’t involve the use of test strips for testing, so following the manufacturer\’s instructions is necessary.

Chlorine treated spas are usually treated with granules, which have been shaken in the tub, so you should keep the pump running at a high speed to ensure a quick spread.

Our choice is in this regard is the Leisure Time 45310 Replenish Shock Oxidizer for Spas and Hot Tubs.