Hot Tub - My Machine
May 30, 2024 6:26 PM Subscribe
Looking into hot tubs and I've just learned about chlorine vs saltwater. This sells salt water pretty hard.
What is your experience?
I also remember a old gf had a hot tub that didn't use chlorine but also wasn't saltwater. What was it?
Also also, I notice that Arctic Spas forces you to request a price. I assume that means they are outrageously expensive.
I also remember a old gf had a hot tub that didn't use chlorine but also wasn't saltwater. What was it?
Also also, I notice that Arctic Spas forces you to request a price. I assume that means they are outrageously expensive.
Response by poster: @justkevin: Ha, you may be right. I didn't read it closely enough
posted by falsedmitri at 7:42 PM on May 30
posted by falsedmitri at 7:42 PM on May 30
A found this forum pretty great back when i was looking after a pool, and they have a spa forum
https://www.troublefreepool.com/forums/spas-and-hot-tubs.15/
As I understand it for pools a salt water generator uses electrolysis to turn the salt into chlorine anyway?
The alternative to chlorine that is commonly used is bromine.
posted by onya at 7:59 PM on May 30 [6 favorites]
https://www.troublefreepool.com/forums/spas-and-hot-tubs.15/
As I understand it for pools a salt water generator uses electrolysis to turn the salt into chlorine anyway?
The alternative to chlorine that is commonly used is bromine.
posted by onya at 7:59 PM on May 30 [6 favorites]
I’ve used a Saltron mini for several years and love it. Once I got the timing right I rarely have had to add extra chlorine unless there’s a much higher bather load, water quality is so much nicer without bromine/chorine odor, and it’s easier to maintain pH balance in my experience. It does void the warranty on most hot tubs as there is some concern re corrosion, so something to keep in mind esp if you’re getting a new hot tub, but I went for it anyway and so far so good.
posted by loopsun at 10:01 PM on May 30 [2 favorites]
posted by loopsun at 10:01 PM on May 30 [2 favorites]
Oh ya. Salt water for the win. The process makes low levels of chlorine but the water doesn't smell, doesn't sting your eyes, doesn't green your hair or ruin bathing suits. I've had 2 salt water pools and I would never ever go back to chlorine. It'd just a night and day difference.
Also worth mention is how much less work there is to do. Brush the sides, clean the salt cell every month or so if you have hard water. That's it.
posted by chasles at 5:29 AM on May 31 [5 favorites]
Also worth mention is how much less work there is to do. Brush the sides, clean the salt cell every month or so if you have hard water. That's it.
posted by chasles at 5:29 AM on May 31 [5 favorites]
I don't have a hot tub, but I did buy a house with a pool last year, and we converted it to a salt system. As people above have noted, the salt system has some sort of cartridge in it that reacts with the salt to produce chlorine. So it will still be chlorinated, but it's a bit gentler on everything (eyes, skin, hair, bathing suits) because it's making low levels continuously, rather than dumping in a whole bunch all at once. We really like it.
posted by number9dream at 6:38 AM on May 31
posted by number9dream at 6:38 AM on May 31
My understanding is the end result is chlorine either way.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 6:55 AM on May 31
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 6:55 AM on May 31
The concern with chlorine and hot tubs is that the higher water temperature breaks down the sanitizing element faster than in a pool. I have no idea about salt water hot tubs, but make sure that the low levels of chlorine they generate will withstand this breakdown.
People use bromine in spas because it withstands the heat better (but UV worse, so keep that in mind if the tub is used in direct sunlight)
Costco almost always has a hot tub available online. We paid about half from any comparable sized tub from a dealer.
posted by Huggiesbear at 7:26 AM on May 31 [1 favorite]
People use bromine in spas because it withstands the heat better (but UV worse, so keep that in mind if the tub is used in direct sunlight)
Costco almost always has a hot tub available online. We paid about half from any comparable sized tub from a dealer.
posted by Huggiesbear at 7:26 AM on May 31 [1 favorite]
We had an in-ground spa pool for about 8 years on bromine, and I don't know if there's a significant difference because the water volume was significantly higher in ours than a freestanding spa, but there was no dumping (except a bottle of water starter when we drained and refilled it), no stinging eyes, no bathing suit damage, it just didn't require the amount of disinfection as, say, a public or gym swimming pool.
Because, you know, we didn't poop in it. And we could be sure of that.
(But people have buttholes, so it's not a guaranteed e.coli-free system.)
You don't have to over-treat your water if you observe best practices (and for a small volume like a freestanding spa, that also means you really should shower before using it), particularly using your cover consistently. If you don't have Code Brown risks then your biggest challenge is algae*, which wants sunlight. You absolutely DO want to treat it enough, because of jets and tubes and...I don't like thinking about it honestly, I want disinfectant thrumming through my jets with mighty power, but yes also I don't want my hair turning green.
I ended up on a deep dive about water treatment and disinfection after moving into the house with the in-ground spa pool and it cured the hidradenitis suppurativa I'd had for over 20 years in maybe 3 weeks of 2-3x weekly use.
It's good! Like, it's not bad to chlorinate or brominate the nasties out of your large recreational (mostly-) standing water tank!
When you're getting quotes, ask about equipment life with salt vs chlorine vs bromine. If you can stand Nextdoor, ask what your neighborhood uses and if they're happy with it.
*While the maintenance challenge is algae, the danger is dangerous pathogens. Always remember the point of the treatment is for the stuff you can't see. Do not die of amoebiasis or e.coli, please.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:36 AM on May 31 [1 favorite]
Because, you know, we didn't poop in it. And we could be sure of that.
(But people have buttholes, so it's not a guaranteed e.coli-free system.)
You don't have to over-treat your water if you observe best practices (and for a small volume like a freestanding spa, that also means you really should shower before using it), particularly using your cover consistently. If you don't have Code Brown risks then your biggest challenge is algae*, which wants sunlight. You absolutely DO want to treat it enough, because of jets and tubes and...I don't like thinking about it honestly, I want disinfectant thrumming through my jets with mighty power, but yes also I don't want my hair turning green.
I ended up on a deep dive about water treatment and disinfection after moving into the house with the in-ground spa pool and it cured the hidradenitis suppurativa I'd had for over 20 years in maybe 3 weeks of 2-3x weekly use.
It's good! Like, it's not bad to chlorinate or brominate the nasties out of your large recreational (mostly-) standing water tank!
When you're getting quotes, ask about equipment life with salt vs chlorine vs bromine. If you can stand Nextdoor, ask what your neighborhood uses and if they're happy with it.
*While the maintenance challenge is algae, the danger is dangerous pathogens. Always remember the point of the treatment is for the stuff you can't see. Do not die of amoebiasis or e.coli, please.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:36 AM on May 31 [1 favorite]
+1 Costco to save over 50% from any dealer. The aquaterra brand is made by Watson which is a major spa company.
For sanitation, we use the “only shock” method. You can find people talking about it in old forums. The idea is, instead of maintaining a low level of chlorine all the time, you completely sanitize the water between uses, which then boils out.
It’s complicated ahead of time, but we’ve had a lot of luck just winging it. Your tub will turn green or smell if your sanitation is wrong. And for what it’s worth, we have completely sanitized water all the time, with no chlorine smell or whatever! We just put about a 1/2 shot glass of dichlor granules every time we use it. If we go over a week without using, just put in about a full shot glass and it’s fine!
posted by bbqturtle at 11:39 AM on May 31
For sanitation, we use the “only shock” method. You can find people talking about it in old forums. The idea is, instead of maintaining a low level of chlorine all the time, you completely sanitize the water between uses, which then boils out.
It’s complicated ahead of time, but we’ve had a lot of luck just winging it. Your tub will turn green or smell if your sanitation is wrong. And for what it’s worth, we have completely sanitized water all the time, with no chlorine smell or whatever! We just put about a 1/2 shot glass of dichlor granules every time we use it. If we go over a week without using, just put in about a full shot glass and it’s fine!
posted by bbqturtle at 11:39 AM on May 31
We have some sort of magic ozone lamp (I think it’s the Fresh Rain system) which seems to work and keep things clean. I presume there are similar systems from other vendors. We chuck in a little chlorine every so often as well. I would recommend it. (Not our local dealer though).
posted by leahwrenn at 4:48 AM on June 1
posted by leahwrenn at 4:48 AM on June 1
Response by poster: Thanks for the input. One difficulty with Costco is that they don't have tubs in the store. I can't buy one sight unseen.
posted by falsedmitri at 6:59 AM on June 1
posted by falsedmitri at 6:59 AM on June 1
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While basking under the sun might be delightful for sunbathing, direct sunlight on your hot tub can lead to unnecessary heating and increased energy consumption. The sun’s rays can rapidly raise the temperature of the water, causing your hot tub’s heating system to work overtime just to maintain a comfortable bathing temperature.
posted by justkevin at 7:35 PM on May 30 [6 favorites]