Chlorine and bromine are the go-to chemicals recommended by most tub companies for cleaning purposes. So, how soon can you use a hot tub after adding chemicals?
It is recommended to wait for at least 30 minutes, if not longer, before using it. The waiting time typically depends on how quickly you can achieve the desired pH levels. The best way to check whether you’ve achieved the safe-to-use desired pH level is by using a test strip.
The statement may seem pretty straight-forward, however, there are more technicalities to it which we will be covering in today’s article.
How Soon Can You Use a Hot Tub After Adding Chlorine?
Chlorine is a sanitizer that oxidizes contaminants. To put it in simple terms, it’s used more often by hot tub owners to clean their tubs from harmful bacteria and other invasive stuff which makes it unhygienic.
Chlorine is good at killing contaminants compared to its alternative bromine. This is because it does this job at a much faster rate. But does that mean that you can jump straight into your tub after having poured it? No.
No matter how much chlorine you add to your tub, it is recommended by both, the tub manufacturing companies and the chlorine manufacturing companies to wait for at least 30 minutes for the chlorine to dissolve appropriately in the water.
30 minutes is not a bottom-line figure. It is simple math, the more chlorine you add the more time it will take for it appropriately dissolve in water.
Once 30 minutes have passed you should test the hot tub using test strips. Just put the test strip into the water and compare the colors. The chlorine levels should be 2 to 4 parts per million.
How Soon Can You Use a Hot Tub After Adding Bromine?
Typically, it is recommended by many experts to wait for at least 30 minutes after using bromine. This will ensure that it dissolves appropriately, making it safe to consume.
Bromine compared to its alternate Chlorine is an iodizer. It is a sanitizer but it works a bit differently to get rid of bacteria and other harmful invasive stuff. To make it more simple, it destroys the harmful stuff from inside-out while remaining active for a longer time as compared to Chlorine.
Does that mean that it is faster than chlorine because it stays active for a longer period? No. It is relatively slower than chlorine in killing bacteria, however, it is also more efficient and stable as it stays active for long.
Because bromine takes longer to kill harmful bacteria and dilute in water, you cannot get into the hot tub faster if you use it as a replacement for chlorine. Once 30 minutes have passed you can check the bromine levels using a test strip. The bromine levels should be between 1-3 ppm.
Related Read: Can You Use Liquid Bleach In A Hot Tub?
How Long Do You Have to Wait to Get in a Hot Tub After You Shock It?
Shocking a hot tub means adding more than usual the amount of chlorine or non-chlorine substance to kill the bacteria manifesting therein. This process is usually done every once a week to prevent bacteria from growing.
There are two ways a hot tub can be shocked. One is by using a chlorine substance and the other is by using a non-chlorine substance.
The amount of time required to wait before using a hot tub after shocking it depends on case to case. It is generally recommended to wait at least anywhere between 20 minutes to 24 hours after the hot tub has been shocked.
You should always use a test strip to check whether the pH levels are on the safer side before using a hot tub after it has been shocked.
Primarily you should be shocking your hot tub with a chemical substance that you will be using more often. This is generally the case to make your tub more accustomed to using a certain type of chemical.
After shocking the tub, you should add fresh water and mix it with the normal quantity of chlorine before using it. Make sure to test the pH level to ensure it is between 2 to 4 parts per million.
In cases where you’re using a non-chlorine substance to shock the tub, it is generally recommended to use bromine afterward.
Related Read: Do You Have To Shock The Hot Tub After Re-filling?
How Long To Wait After Adding pH Up To A Hot Tub?
After adding pH increaser, you need to wait at least 2 hours before using the hot tub again. It takes up to 2 hours for pH increase to do its effect.
You just also turn on the jets so the chemicals can react faster. The pH levels should be between 7.2 and 7.5. Anything below that, or higher than that isn’t good for your hot tub. Once two hours have passed, take a test strip and test the water.
If the pH levels are still low, you need to add more pH increaser and wait 2 more hours. If you can’t get the pH levels to normal, then you should adjust the total alkalinity first and then pH.
Low levels of pH mean that the water is acidic. A low level of pH can cause hot tub corrosion and many different problems to the bather and hot tub.
How Long To Wait After Adding pH Minus To A Hot Tub?
Having a hot tub with high pH levels means that the total alkalinity is off. Alkalinity acts as a guard to pH and keeps it on a normal level. Once the total alkalinity levels change, then the pH levels change too.
If you see the pH levels that are way above the normal levels, then you should add pH minus. A very common pH minus is sodium bisulfate. Sodium bisulfate is a dry acid that will drop the pH levels.
Once you add the pH minus you should wait at least 2 hours before you can use the hot tub. After 2 hours test the water again, and if everything is good then you can use the hot tub.
But, chances are that the pH levels won’t get to normal. Keeping the pH to a normal level is an everyday thing. You have to maintain water and add pH minus (or plus) daily. If that didn’t work, then you can try again the same thing.
If the pH levels don’t drop again, then you can use liquid chlorine. Liquid chlorine has a pH level of 3, and this will easily drop the pH levels. After you have added liquid chlorine it’s best to wait at least 3 hours before you use the hot tub again. Make sure to keep the hot tub jets on as well.
If this still doesn’t work then you have to shock the hot tub or drain and re-fill the hot tub. Here’s an article that explains why your pH levels are high.
How Long To Wait After Adding Alkalinity Increaser To A Hot Tub?
After adding alkalinity increaser, you should wait at least 1 day before you can use the hot tub again. An alkalinity increase will also increase the pH levels.
Alkalinity and pH levels go hand to hand. If you raise one, the other one will raise as well. But, the levels of raise will be different.
Using a hot tub with high or low alkalinity isn’t recommended. The levels of alkalinity should be between 80 – 120 ppm. Anything that’s not on this range will be bad for you and your hot tub.
Your alkalinity levels will drop if you added too many chemicals to your water. If you just shocked your hot tub, then alkalinity levels will drop. The levels can also drop from natural causes, such as acidic rain.