A soak in a hot tub can help you release stress and muscle tension, but it can also expose you to a host of harmful bacteria. The same warm, steamy conditions that make hot tubs so pleasant also make them a perfect breeding ground for nasty microbes that can cause infections of the skin, ears, eyes and lungs and even the very dangerous legionnaires' disease. Don't panic, though. With regular maintenance, you can keep your hot tub free of disease and make it a safe hangout for your family and friends.
Inspect the hot tub for slime, a sour smell or unclear water, all of which are signs of a bacterial infestation. If anyone has developed a skin rash after using your hot tub, consider that a sign of unhealthy bacteria as well.
Remove your hot tub's filter. If it is over a year old or in bad condition, replace it. Otherwise, dilute an overnight filter cleanser in 8 gallons of water or the amount specified by the manufacturer. Immerse the filter in the solution overnight. Rinse it in the morning.
Dilute 1 teaspoon of dichlor granular chlorine in 3 to 5 gallons of water. Immerse the hot tub filter in the solution for two to four hours.
Wipe down the underside of the hot tub cover and the filter hole in the hot tub wall with a bleach cleanser and a cloth. If the cover is waterlogged, it is irreparable and must be replaced.
Fill a bucket with water and dissolve dichlor chlorine in it. If your hot tub holds 100 gallons of water, use 4 3/4 tablespoons of dichlor cholrine; for a 250-gallon tub, use 3/4 cup; for a 500-gallon tub, use 1 1/2 cups; for a 1,000-gallon tub, use 3 cups. Pour the bucket of water into the hot tub as a shock treatment.
Add water to the hot tub until the water level is about 1 inch higher than usual. Close the cover, and turn on any water jets, air blowers or water circulators on their highest speeds. Run the hot tub gadgets for 30 minutes to thoroughly disinfect the tub. During this time, turn air injectors on and off every five minutes or air blowers on for one minute and off for four minutes.
Measure 4 tablespoons of a hot tub system flush product for each 100 gallons of water in your hot tub, or the amount specified on the product's label. Add the system flush to the water and run the hot tub gadgets the same way as before for another 30 minutes. This cleanses all the plumbing running to and from the hot tub.
Drain the hot tub. Inspect the inside for signs of algae or scum. Scrub off any residue you find with a scrub brush and a cleanser containing bleach.
Put the filter back in place and refill the hot tub with water. In a bucket of water, dissolve 2 tablespoons of dichlor chlorine for each 500 gallons in the tub. Add the treatment to the hot tub.
Dip a hot tub test strip into the water. The test strips change color according to the level of chemicals in the water, and they come with a chart to help you interpret the colors. Use the chart to check the chlorine concentration in the hot tub. It should be around 10 ppm. If it isn't, add more dichlor chlorine or fresh water as necessary.
Turn the hot tub on, cover it and let the water circulate for eight to 12 hours or overnight. Dip another test strip into the water and check for free chlorine. If the strip shows the presence of free chlorine, your hot tub is now clear of bacteria. If the strip doesn't show free chlorine, the tub needs to be cleaned and treated a second time.
Maintain your hot tub properly to prevent the bacteria from returning. Add a commercial sanitizer containing either chlorine or bromine to the water, and test the levels of sanitizer before and after using the hot tub. Shock the hot tub water each week with a nonchlorine shock treatment, and drain and scrub the tub every three to four months.
Things You Will Need
- Filter cleanser
- Dichlor granular chlorine
- Bleach cleaner
- Hot tub system flush
- Scrub brush
- Test strips
- Hot tub sanitizers
- Nonchlorine shock treatment
- The more often you use your hot tub, the more often you will need to add sanitizing chemicals.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands while working with pool chemicals or bleach.
- In addition to sanitizing chemicals, maintain your hot tub's pH level and calcium levels.
- Run the hot tub's pump for a few hours twice a day, even when the tub is not in use. This prevents gunk and bacteria from building up in the plumbing.
- Shower before you get into the hot tub. This removes any contaminants from your skin and hair so you don't bring them with you into the water.
- Never mix bleach and ammonia, as this produces a toxic gas.
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