When it comes to health and longevity, the idea of chemical use may seem to be counterproductive. More of us are trying to reduce our dependence on chemicals in our day-to-day lives. However, when it comes to something like a swim spa, chemicals are absolutely necessary to keep the water clean† and safe. Without chemical additives, swim spa water would eventually become a soup of bacteria, viruses, algaes and molds. Not only would the water look, feel and smell terrible, but it could also lead to serious health problems. So, what chemicals do you put in a swim spa and is there a way to reduce our reliance on them? In this post, we’ll find out.
What Chemicals Do You Put in a Swim Spa?
There are two main types of chemicals that are regularly added to swim spa water. The first types are water chemistry balancers. These are used to adjust the various levels that make up the swim spa water chemistry. The second types of chemicals you put in a swim spa are sanitizers and oxidizers. These are used to eliminate compounds in the water that can cause it to become cloudy, smelly or foamy. We’ll go into more detail about these two types of swim spa chemicals below.
Water Chemistry Balancers
As mentioned, water chemistry balancers are used to make adjustments to different levels that affect water chemistry. These could include pH increasers and decreasers to manage the acidity of the water, dry acid and sodium bicarbonate to adjust the total alkalinity and calcium chloride to raise the total hardness. There are other levels that may need to be managed from time to time, but these are the main types that you’d be handling regularly. Testing a sample of the swim spa water will provide you with results that tell you if the levels need to be adjusted with the use of chemical additives.
Sanitizers and Oxidizers
Sanitizers and oxidizers are added to the swim spa regularly – typically once a week – to break down organic compounds, eliminate odour-causing chloramines or bromamines and free up chemically bound sanitizers. Both sanitizers and oxidizers are usually chlorine or bromine-based but are used to achieve different results. Sanitizers kill bacteria by breaking down the chemical bonds that form the basis of their cellular structures which prevents organic growth. Oxidizers release chlorine or bromine that’s been bound by ammonia which increases the effectiveness of the sanitizers while eliminating odours.
Can You Cut Back on The Chemicals Added to Swim Spa Water?
The cleaner the swim spa water remains, the less need you’ll have for chemical additives. Maintaining a regular maintenance schedule will not eliminate the need for chemicals, but it can help reduce the amount of chemicals you need to add to the swim spa.
Maintain Your Water Filters
Water filters sift large particles out of the water which may otherwise cause damage to the swim spa components. These solids can also cause the swim spa water to become cloudy. Swim spa water filters should be cleaned with fresh water every week or two. They also need to be soaked in a cleaning† solution every three or four months. Water filters should be replaced once a year or whenever they’re beginning to show signs of damage or wear and tear.
Insist On Showering
A quick shower before getting into the swim spa will remove a significant amount of dirt, oils and residues from your body. Swimmers are often the biggest contributors to swim spa water contamination. Insisting on showers before swimming will reduce your need for chemicals.
Use a Swim Spa Cover
Replacing the cover after using the swim spa will reduce both evaporation and airborne contaminants from getting into the water. Both of these things affect the water chemistry and will require the use of chemical additives to rebalance the water. The more the swim spa remains covered, the less need for chemicals.
Now that you have a better idea of what chemicals you need to add to a swim spa, download a free buyer’s guide for more information, or visit us at our London swim spa store.