How to Balance a Saltwater Hot Tub in 5 Steps

Have you ever wondered how those big, beautiful saltwater hot tubs get their water so perfectly balanced? The simple answer is that they don't—at least not all on their own. Just like any other hot tub, saltwater tubs need regular maintenance to ensure that the pH levels in the water are where they should be. Below, we'll walk you through the process of balancing the pH levels in your saltwater tub step-by-step.

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1. Test your water's pH levels.

The ideal pH level for a saltwater hot tub is between 7.2 and 7.6. You can test the pH levels of your tub's water using test strips, which are widely available at any hot tub store or online. Simply dip the strip into the water and compare the color it turns to the chart included with your strips to determine what your current pH level is.  

2. Adjust accordingly.

If your pH levels are below 7.2, you will need to add some ph increaser to the water to bring them up.  pH Increaser is widely available at hot tub stores or online and can be added to the water according to the instructions on the bottle.

Dosage charts can be found at this link.......................

If your pH levels are above 7.6, you will need to add pH deccreaer to the water to bring them down. Decreaser is a common choice for this purpose and can also be found at any hot tub store.  Be sure to follow the directions on the packaging when or download the dosage charts.  

3. Test again

 Wait for 24 test again and repeat as necessary until desired pH level is reached. Once you have added either increaser or decreaser to your tub's water, retest the pH levels using another test strip and adjust as necessary until you have reached the desired range of 7.2-7.6.  Your alkalinity is in direct correlation to the pH so make sure it is between 80-120 ppm

4.  Check the Hardness

Saltwater hot tubs absolutely have to have a hardness of 75 ppm or lower to function properly.  If you hardness is too high a great product to get that down would be Vanishing Act.   Be sure to read the instructions on the package.  It works great for lowering hardness in a salt water hot tub.  

If you need to raise your hardness super simple to do with a product called Calcium Hardness Increaser.  Again easily found at any hot tub store or online.   

4. Add salt .

Most saltwater hot tubs have to be at 1750 ppm of salt, but it's always best to consult your owner's manual or the manufacturer of your particular model for specific recommendations regarding the amount of salt needed for optimal performance. Once you have determined how much salt you need, dissolve it in a bucket of warm water according to package directions and then slowly pour it into your tub while running both the filter and jets simultaneously until it has been fully dispersed throughout the entire body of water.

5 Not done yet!

Even after following all of these steps, you're not quite finished balancing your saltwater hot tub just yet—the final step is ongoing maintenance . To keep things running smoothly (and avoid having to start from scratch), test and adjust your tub's pH levels at least once a week and add chlorine as needed according to manufacturer recommendations (usually every 30-60 days). With regular maintenance, you should be able to enjoy worry-free soaks in your beautiful saltwater hot tub for years to come!

Conclusion:

Achieving and maintaining perfect pH balance in a saltwater hot tub may sound daunting, but we promise it's really not that difficult— especially when you break it down into simple, easy-to-follow steps like we've done here. Just remember to test regularly, add either acid or base (depending on what's needed) until desired pH level is reached, add salt according to package directions, and perform regular maintenance according to t o manufacturer recommendations, and you'll be on your way to stress-free soaks all season long!