How To Keep A Hot Tub Clean Naturally

Increasingly many people are trying to live more naturally and without resorting to using harsh and abrasive chemicals. This obviously also applies to hot tub owners and many are now asking how to keep their hot tub clean in the most natural and environmentally friendly way possible. Unfortunately, hot tubs naturally attract bacteria and algae due to their high working temperature and high bather load per litre of water. However, there are ways to keep the water clean in as natural a way as possible. They do take a bit more time and effort than just zapping the water with chlorine or bromine but are well worth it in the end.

So, how do I keep my hot tub clean naturally? Your hot tub will stay naturally cleaner if you filter the water before filling it, you can also use mineral sanitizers or a saltwater sanitization system which is more natural. Ozonators, ionizators and UV systems also reduce the need to use as many harsh chemicals and if you shower before entering the hot tub and change the water frequently you will need to use less chlorine or bromine to keep the water clean.

So, it is definitely possible to keep your hot tub clean in a relatively natural way but you will most probably, at some point or other still need to add chlorine or bromine to keep the water clean. There are ways to minimize the amount of chemicals you will need to use as you will see below. Unfortunately, if you just fill your hot tub and then don't carry out any water maintenance at all it will go cloudy and start to harbor unpleasant bacteria really quickly. This is due to the high operating temperature of the water in a hot tub – it's perfect for breeding germs! Once we introduce our bodies with all of their associated dirt and bacteria as well the hot tub water doesn't stand a chance of staying clean and clear for long. If you didn't want to introduce any chemicals at all and wanted your water to be as natural as possible you would need to drain and refill your hot tub more or less in between every use. Obviously this isn't really practical for most people so lets have a look at some of the most natural alternatives!

Clean and flush the hot tub before filling

The first thing to do to give you a head start is to make sure that your hot tub is completely clean before you fill it with water. Bear in mind that any dirt, mold or bacteria on the hot tub will enter the water and quickly multiply meaning that you will need to resort to chemical treatments much sooner. To make sure that your hot tub is sparkling clean between water changes go through the following steps:

Use a flushing solution – Before you empty the hot tub of the old dirty water add a flushing solution. This will remove dirt and mold build-up from within the pipework and inner workings of the hot tub.

Run the jets for 20 mins – After you have added the flushing solution to the water run the jets for 20 minutes or so to flush out the dirt and debris. This should ensure that all the dirt is flushed out into the water.

Drain the water – Switch off the hot tub and remove the drain plug so that the water drains out. You can use a sump pump instead of doing this or in addition if you want to speed the process up. If you want to know what to do with your old dirty hot tub water then read my post here.

Clean the hot tub – This is the really important bit. You now need to clean the hot tub shell until it is spotless. A proper hot tub cleaning product is the best thing to do it with but vinegar and water is a more natural alternative. Make sure that the nooks and crannies around the jets are free from mold and that all the areas both above and below the waterline are as clean as you can get them.

Wash off the cleaning solution – Once you have cleaned the shell with the cleaning solution wash it off with clear water. It is very important that you remove all traces of the cleaner as if there is any left it will enter the new fresh water and could upset the PH levels very quickly.

Refill – Now you can replace the drain plug and refill with clean filtered water. Don't take water directly from the tap. It must pass through a filter on the hose to remove dirt and debris and most importantly any metal deposits in the water. The filter is relatively inexpensive and simply fits onto your hose. Making sure the water is as pure as you can get it at this stage will pay off in the long term as it will stay clearer and fresher for longer.

Regularly check your PH levels

The key to longer-lasting and clearer water is to make sure that your PH levels remain correct. This means checking and adjusting regularly, possibly even daily and adjusting as necessary. If the PH levels are incorrect then any sanitizer that you are using will be less effective. If you do need to add some chlorine to the hot tub then, if your PH levels are out, you will need to add more chemical to do get the same effect. Incorrect PH levels can also have an adverse effect on your skin so there is also a direct advantage to having them well balanced.

Checking PH levels is very simple. All you need is a test strip and then you add balancing chemicals where needed. It literally takes two minutes a day with a bit of practice and can potentially make your water last weeks longer in between changes.

Use an ozonator

An Ozonator passes ozone gas into the water of your hot tub where it scours the water of all sorts of impurities and contaminants. Obviously Ozone is a naturally occurring gas but it can also be artificially made as well. Using an Ozonator won't completely mean that you won't need to use man-made chemicals to keep bacteria at bay as well but it will lead to a dramatic decrease in the amount you need to use. So, using an Ozonator is a more natural way of keeping your hot tub clean than by using chlorine/bromine alone.

In practice, a lot of modern hot tubs are "Ozonator ready" which means that they are already designed with a coupling in the appropriate pipework to install the ozonator with a minimum of trouble. The Ozonator itself is just a small box and it is installed "inline" so that the hot tub water flows through it and is infused with the gas. An electrical connection is required as well but connecting an Ozonator to your hot tub is basically a DIY project.

Once in use, you will probably only need to occasionally shock your hot tub and you may well be able to use a non-chlorine shock as well. Remember that Ozone is extremely corrosive to the vinyl covering that you hot tub cover is made of so it is a good idea to always use a floating thermal blanket between the water and the hot tub cover to prolong it's life.

Use a UV filtration system

If you don't like the sound of creating Ozone gas and having it percolating through your hot tub's water then you might like to try a UV filtration system. A UV system passes the water through a UV light which basically kills everything in the water as it passes through. Again, the UV filter needs plumbing "inline" and you will also need to shock your tub on a regular basis but it does provide a clean and effective way of killing bacteria and germs in a relatively natural way.

Clean and change your filters regularly

It goes without saying that your filters are really your first line of defense in removing impurities and debris from your hot tub water. If your filters are dirty or clogged your hot tub will use more energy and will also be far less effective at keeping the water clean. This will mean that you will probably have to use a significantly greater amount of chemical to keep the water clean.

Make sure that you clean the filters according to the manufacturer's instructions and also change them at the recommended intervals as well. There's nothing wrong with cleaning them or replacing them more frequently than recommended as this will keep your water cleaner for longer. Also, do not be tempted to buy cheaper non branded filters. They are less effective, do not last as long and are, in the long term a false economy.

Change to a saltwater system

Saltwater sanitization systems are becoming increasingly popular and they do offer a realistic and more natural alternative to traditional chemicals. Basically a saltwater system requires you to add small amounts of salt to the hot tub water to soften the water. A tiny electrical current is then passed through the water and the resulting electrolysis creates a natural form of chlorine which sanitizes the hot tub. This natural chlorine does not smell and is not an irritant to the skin either.

The advantages of a saltwater system are that they are relatively cheap and simple to maintain. They are a good natural sanitization system and the slightly salted water has a nice soft and sparkling quality to it.

On the downside, it can be difficult to accurately produce the correct amount of chlorine quickly enough to provide adequate sanitation, particularly when the hot tub is being heavily used. This means that you will probably need to boost the chlorine levels with chemical chlorine periodically as well. Also, not all hot tubs are designed for saltwater systems as the salt water is corrosive to the metal parts of the hot tub and can cause expensive damage.

Use a non-chlorine shock

When used in combination with one of the more natural sanitization methods above or with a mineral system as below it's perfectly possible that you will be able to use a non-chlorine shock instead of a chlorine shock treatment. A non-chlorine shock is less powerful than a chlorine shock but it is obviously more natural and doesn't have any smell or skin irritation side effects. Bear in mind that if you want to just use a non-chlorine shock you will need to help things along a bit by being extra vigilant about keeping your filters clean, PH levels perfect etc etc as we have been discussing on this post. However, with some careful management, you should be able to mainly use a non-chlorine rather than a chlorine shock.

Bear in mind that your main priority, even though you are aiming to be as natural as possible, is that your water is clean and safe. A dirty hot tub can harbor some very unpleasant bacteria so always ensure that your sanitization is working as well as it should be before getting into your hot tub. If your hot tub smells, or the water is a strange color or the water is cloudy or foamy then you have a problem that needs addressing – do not use the hot tub until you have sorted the problem out!

Use a mineral sanitization system

Using a more natural mineral sanitization system in conjunction with either chlorine or bromine can cut your chemical usage by around 50%. A mineral sanitizer contains copper and silver ions along with activated charcoal and, as the hot tub water moves through it the ions are released and they attack the contaminants in the water. One mineral sanitization cartridge lasts up to around four months as they don't deteriorate. As the ions gather more dirt and deposits from the water they clump together and are eventually caught in the filter.

Depending upon the exact brand of cartridge you go for you just drop it into the filter cartridge chamber or use a floating dispenser. The cartridges are relatively inexpensive and you are likely to recoup their cost by using considerably less chlorine or bromine. Using them doesn't require and fitting or alteration to your hot tub, they are quick, easy, effective, natural and cost-effective.

Shower before entering the hot tub

Generally speaking, all of the more natural methods of hot tub sanitization outlined above are not going to be as effective as using 100% chlorine or bromine. You will still, in all probablilty have to use a certain amount of chlorine or bromine to keep your water as fresh and clear as possible. However, you can really help out your natutal sanitizers and reduce the amount of extra chemicals you need to use by keeping the hot tub water as clean as possible.

This means that you need to thoroughly shower before going into the hot tub in plain water. A vast majority of the contaminants in hot tubs come from the human body, bacteria, dirt, shampoo, soaps, makeup, moisturizer, sunscreen etc etc etc all contribute to making your hot tub water dirty. Washing in plain water can greatly reduce the amount of work your sanitizer has to do but you do need to shower before every hot tub session and remember not to use soap or body wash as this adds to the problem.

Drain the hot tub more frequently

If you really work hard with your water chemistry and hot tub maintenance you will be able to stretch your water changes out to around one every three to four months. However, if your goal is to use fewer chemicals and to keep your water clean in the most natural way possible then you might want to consider reducing the time between water changes. Would it be possible to change the water every two months or even on a monthly basis?

The main issue with this is that changing your hot tub water is a relatively time consuming process and it means that your hot tub will be out of action for 24 hours or so. However, with some practice, it isn't too arduous and it will save on the amount of chemicals you have to use. There is also, of course, the concern that you will be using a lot of water unnecessarily. You will definitely use more water but, compared with the amount of water that the average household uses per year a few extra fills of the hot tub is not really a big deal.

Andrew Hind

This post was created by Andrew. Enjoyer of hot tub soaking, fine cheese, music and photography.

How To Keep A Hot Tub Clean Naturally

Source: https://www.hottubfocus.com/keep-hot-tub-clean-naturally/

Posted by: noonjons1983.blogspot.com