You may have heard this term.
Shocking your hot tub is the easiest way you can ensure that the water is safe and free from all contaminates. Whenever you open your hot tub, or after a period of inactivity or even heavy use, it is a good idea to shock it before you begin using it. Let’s take a look at everything you should know about shocking your hot tub so you are prepared to care for your spa the right way.
Why Shock Your Hot Tub?
The most obvious reason for shocking your hot tub is to clean the water so it is safe for soaking. If your water is cloudy, shock may take care of that as well. But what does shock really do for your water?
There are four main reasons to shock your hot tub:
- Remove organic compounds from the water. If you use your hot tub often or you have 3 or 4 bathers in there at once, the level of organic compounds can spike quickly. Removing these compounds is a must for clean water.
- Kill bacteria. Chlorine and bromine based shock compounds can easily kill bacteria growing in the water so it is safe. However, if you use other types of shock compounds, they will not disinfect the water.
- Remove bromamides or chloramines from the hot tub. Adding shock once a week will help break the bonds that form these contaminates so they can easily be removed from the water.
- Reactivate bromides in the spa. If your hot tub uses bromine, adding shock once a week will help activate it to properly clean the water of your hot tub.
Shock Compounds
There are two main types of shock compounds available today – chlorine based shocks and non-chlorine based shocks. Both offer their own strengths and weaknesses and should be a part of every hot tub owners maintenance schedule.
1. Chlorine Based Shock
These types of shock are both oxidizers and disinfectants as well. They should be used periodically but not every single time you need to give your hot tub a good shock as the chemicals can be rather hard on your hot tub’s plumbing if you’re not careful.
Chlorine based shock is best used when you first open your hot tub or when you change the water and when you need to give it a good cleaning after a heavy bather load.
2. Non-Chlorine Shock
These shocks won’t disinfect the water, so if you are worried about bacteria this isn’t the right one to use. They are, however, great at oxidizing other contaminates and cleaning up the water.
This type of shock is recommended for regular use such as on a weekly basis to keep the water in great shape while you are using your spa on a fairly regular basis.
How to Shock Your Hot Tub
The shocking process is relatively easy and can easily be done yourself without the help of a professional. All you have to do is add the shock and let it work its magic. To shock your hot tub, simply follow these easy instructions.
- Adjust the pH levels of your spa’s water to between 7.4 and 7.6.
- Remove the hot tub cover so your spa can breathe while being shocked.
- Turn off the air to the jets but leave the circulation pump running so the water is moving but is not too agitated.
- Measure the amount of shock you need for the number of gallons of water in your hot tub. Check your shock’s label instructions to find this information.
- Add the shock to your hot tub carefully. If you’re outside, be extra cautious as high wind could blow the shock right in your face.
If you accidentally spill the shock, make sure you clean it up immediately and dispose of it safely. As always, make sure you keep shock out of the reach of children at all times. It’s always a good idea to wear gloves and goggles when working with hot tub chemicals.
When Is It Safe for a Soak after Shocking?
There is no hard and fast rule about when you should get into your hot tub after you have shocked it.
Test the water. If the chlorine levels have dipped down to 5 ppm, then it is safe for a soak. How long it will take for the chlorine levels to reach this depends largely upon how much shock you used. In some cases, it can be only 20 minutes to an hour after shocking, in other cases 12 hours, while still others you should wait a day.
Check your shocks instructions to see when it says it is safe and test your water before you decide to take a dip just to make sure it is safe.
Final Thoughts
Cloudy or dirty spa water is not the place where you want to relax. No matter what you use to keep your water clean, every now and then it will need a good shock to keep things clean and everything in balance.
Understanding why you must do this and how you do is key if you want to own a hot tub and make sure it is well cared for. So add shock to your regular maintenance routine of your hot tub so your water stays clean and fresh and ready for you to enjoy a nice relaxing soak.