You don’t have to go far from home if you miss the beach and the salty feeling on your skin when dipping in ocean water.
As convenient as it is, the same hot tub that you use to enjoy a relaxing warm bath can also give you a saltwater experience.
So if you want to enjoy a more refreshing bath with minimal maintenance to your hot tub, stick to this article until the end to learn how to convert a hot tub into saltwater in simple steps.
5 Simple Steps To Convert A Hot Tub To Saltwater
If you decide to switch, the outline below presents a comprehensive guide to help you convert your hot tub to salt water.
Step 1. Determine First If You Want To Convert Using Chlorine Or Bromine
Chlorine and bromine generators are the two ways to obtain a saltwater hot tub. Since chlorinators are less expensive than brominator, they are more often used. There are also saltwater systems that, depending on the salt you use, can create chlorine or bromine. You must read the hot tub manual first to make sure that the salt you choose is suitable for your hot tub.
Chlorine has a detrimental effect on wood; hence only use bromine generators if you have a wooden hot tub.
Step 2. Determine What Device You Will Use In The Conversion
Drop-in and In-line are two saltwater system construction that you can use when converting your hot tub to salt water.
All you have to do for Drop-in generators to operate is submerge the cell in the hot tub water. Simple construction consists of two key components:
- Control Panel. Depending on the type, this control unit allows you to change the amount and strength of chlorine or bromine extraction and other features like a timer.
- Electrolytic Cell. Chlorine or bromine is produced via an electrolytic cell, which consists of an electrode-filled plastic box. Titanium is typically used to make them which is also a corrosion-resistant material.
Similarly, in-line saltwater generators install their cells by joining them directly to the hot tub’s plumbing. There are two main components to construction:
- Control Panel. This is a control device that, depending on the type, can be used to change the strength and volume of chlorine or bromine extraction, set the timer, and perform other tasks.
- Electrolytic Cell. Creates chlorine or bromine, inserted in the hot tub’s pipe. As a result, it is concealed and does not present a problem.
Step 3. Purchase The Things Need For The Conversion
Once you have identified what you will use and what device or salt generator you will utilize. It is time to purchase the things you need to do to start the conversion process. Below are some items you need to buy, but if you already have them, skip them to cut your expenses.
- Saltwater System. After determining which device best meets your needs, purchase a saltwater system.
- Salt. Use only the NaCl pool salt of the required high purity. Consider putting 75% of the advised salt content before testing the water. Keep in mind that decreasing a pool’s salinity is much more difficult than increasing it.
- Test Strips. Test strips for pH, alkalinity, total hardness, and chlorine are commonly used in hot tubs.
- Kit For Maintaining A Hot Tub. You should get a Hot Tub Chemical Balancer Maintenance Kit since saltwater systems can only be started with balanced water.
- New Filters Or Filter Cleaner. You will need to change your filters before starting the saltwater system. You can also buy a filter cleaner if you don’t want to replace them yet.
- Garden Hose. This is required to add fresh water to your hot tub.
Step 4. Prepare The Hot Tub
You must now get the hot tub ready to install the saltwater system. Start the system with new and clean water to ensure efficient operation. The saltwater system will not function properly if contamination or the hot tub sanitizing residue occurs.
- Clean a hot tub and drain it. Before draining the hot tub, clean it with a cleaner to eliminate any impurities that may have built up inside the pipes and jets. Clean the surface after draining the water.
- Load the hot tub up. Fill the hot tub as usual, but use a hose with a filter to ensure the purest water possible.
- Examine the hot tub’s water chemistry. Water must be balanced and pure for saltwater systems to start and function properly. Use test strips to check the water and adjust the pH as necessary.
Step 5. Installation of The Saltwater System
The greatest option for hot tubs is the drop-in salt water system due to its low cost, simple installation process, and ease of maintenance:
- Install the control panel and mobile phone holder next to the spa wall. Pick a spot that will shield you from rain, wetness, and harsh sunshine.
- Salt should be added; the quantity depends on the spa’s size. Warm water and salt will help the salt dissolve more quickly.
- Dip the cell into the water; it should dangle vertically in the deepest part of the hot tub; the filter area is not advised.
But if you chose the in-line saltwater generators, it could be challenging.
After the filter and heater are in the spa plumbing, the cell should be placed. This will ensure that water enters the cell in the proper direction and that concentrated chlorine won’t leak into or harm any other equipment. It is best to get the help of experts.
What Is A Saltwater Hot Tub?
Hot tubs that use saltwater for sanitization have grown in popularity during the past ten years. Many people are unaware that a hot tub might contain saltwater. Simply put, salt water sanitizers destroy bacteria by combining salt and electricity.
This occurs when an electric current divides salt molecules into sodium and chlorine. After then, the chlorine begins to kill germs before being transformed back into salt. You won’t experience any nasty chlorine odor or skin irritation since the chlorine is turned back into salt.
There are several names for saltwater sanitizers, including Salt Chlorinators, Chlorine generators, and Bromine generators, in case you want to go with bromine.
A salt cell, also known as a chlorine cell, is the main part of every saltwater sanitation system. With the aid of an electrical current, that salt cell divides the salt molecules into sodium and chlorine. Additionally, it is too saltwater hot tubs are not too salty. It only has a suggested salinity of 2,500 parts per million. In contrast, ocean water salinity is roughly 35,000 ppm.
Why Should You Go For A Saltwater Hot Tub?
Many people want to utilize their hot tubs in healthy ways. Modern saltwater hot tubs are made to produce their own calming and healing effects using pure water without the risk of chlorine toxicity. The following are typical advantages and good reasons to switch to a saltwater hot tub.
Minimal Maintenance
As soon as your saltwater hot tub is set up, the salt system begins to do its duty of regularly sterilizing water. Simply checking the water at least once weekly will do. Additionally, you will not necessarily need to purchase or use hot tub chemicals like bromine or chlorine tablets, which pose a risk to children and animals if improperly maintained.
Gentle To The Skin
Contrary to basking in chlorinated water, sensitive eyes and skin are vulnerable to irritation. But saltwater hot tubs don’t. Since they naturally produce chlorine, chloramines are less prone to accumulate and cause irritation to your eyes and skin.
Improved Buoyancy And Softness In Water
Before emptying and refilling your hot tub water, the mild quantity of chlorine created by the salt system maintains your water quality continuously soft for a longer.
The consistent flow of chlorine created organically decreases the likelihood of dry, cracked skin brought on by harsh chemicals. Additionally, salt increases water’s buoyancy, making soaking more relaxing.
Increased Water’s Ability To Act As A Buffer
The hot tub water will be more resilient to changes in water chemistry if you add the correct quantity of salt to it. Salt minerals can tolerate alkalinity, pH, and calcium hardness fluctuations.
No Bad Odor
After a soak, chlorine solutions leave your skin and hair with an acrid odor that sticks to them. Because natural chlorine molecules revert to unscented sodium chloride or salt when consumed, salt systems prevent the conversion of chlorine into chloramines, which are responsible for the unpleasant odor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Salt To Add To Hot Tub with 350 Gallon Of Water?
About 6 and a half pounds should do. It only takes approximately 2 pounds of salt to season 100 gallons of water, so be careful not to add too much, or you’ll have to drain some of the water and replenish it.
Why Did Canada Ban Salt Water Hot Tubs?
The government determined in its most recent reevaluation—all pesticides in Canada are routinely reevaluated for safety—that the risk to human health from consumer abuse of sodium bromide was too great to keep it accessible to individual Canadians.
Can I Use Table Salt In My Hot Tub?
Table salt also comprises micro granules that disintegrate extremely fast in water above 98 degrees. Thus, don’t bring salt from your salt shaker into hot tubs to prevent issues with chemical changes and harm to your spa.
Conclusion
Salt water hot tub has become very common because they provide good benefits not experienced by regular hot tub waters. However, before deciding to switch, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of using saltwater in the hot tub to avoid regretting the decision. Nevertheless, you can follow the complete guide listed above when converting your hot tub to salt water.
