Why You Should Get Your Hot Tub and Pool Water Tested

Nothing is more of a turn off than pulling back the cover on your hot tub or pool and discovering cloudy, murky water with an off-putting odour. How does this happen to once pristine and crystal clear water? In the article below, we will discuss why you should get your hot tub and pool water tested and what signs to look out for.

What Is Water Balance?

Water balance is the relationship between the water in your spa or pool as well as the chemical ratios. To get a little technical, water will dissolve and hold minerals up until the point where it reaches an oversaturation level and cannot hold anymore. If water is over saturated, it is considered ‘scale forming’. This means that the excess minerals that cannot be absorbed collect and form together on the water surface. When the opposite happens, meaning there is not enough balance of minerals in the water it will cause water to become corrosive and try to saturate itself by dissolving anything that submerged in it.

Why Does Water Balance Change?

Anything that interacts will water can cause its balance to change. Common factors include weather, bathers, chemicals, dirt, dust and more. Any foreign substance has its own unique PH and alkalinity level that interacts with your hot tub or pool water or alkalinity level and change the overall water balance. It is for this reason it is important to get your hot tub and pool water frequently tested.

If the Water Looks Clean Do I Need to Test It?

Even if the water in your pool or hot tub looks sparkling clean, it does not mean that the water balance is correct. While clear water is generally a good thing, it can indicate serious problems such as too much acidity in the water. Basically, without having your water tested, there is no way to know whether or not you have the proper water balance. The top reasons for why you should test on a regular basis are:

• Properly balanced water saves you money over the long run
• Maintaining properly balanced water increases the lifespan of your pool or hot tub
• Properly balanced water is comfortable to swim or soak in
• Properly balanced water contains enough sanitizer to keep it safe and bacteria growth at bay

Balanced Water Increases Lifespan

As mentioned above, maintaining the proper water balance in your hot tub or pool will increase the lifespan of your unit. For most homeowners, a pool or hot tub is a significant investment and one that they want to protect and keep functioning optimally for as long as they possibly can.

When water becomes corrosive, it will quickly rust metal components such as water pumps, heaters, water jets as well as degrade rubber and plastic parts like 0-rings. When these parts fail, they can be expensive to replace or repair. Oversaturated, or scale forming water can create calcium deposits which can be harmful to the heating system of a pool or hot tub. The layer of residue can reduce a heaters efficiency but up to 50%.

How Often Should the Water Balance Be Checked?

As a rule of thumb, you should check your pool or hot tub water 2-3 times per week. In particular, take note of the bromine and chlorine levels and adjust as necessary. Even though you should be checking your water levels each week, it is also recommended to have your water tested by a professional every month. Or, if you notice a serious issue such as consistently low pH, call a professional to test immediately.

To find out more about maintaining the proper water balance in your hot tub or pool, click here to download a buyer’s guide.