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How And When To Shock Your Hot Tub
By SANDY BAKER
Owning a hot tub often means performing some maintenance, such as shocking your hot tub once per week with a dose of chemicals to keep it clean.
Start by testing the current pH level of your hot tub. Your goal should be a range of 7.2 to 7.8. If the pH is low, there's too much chemical in it.
The next step is to select the product. If the water seems to be cloudy and difficult to see through when the jets are not on, use a non-chlorine shock to raise the pH level.
If the hot tub is dirty, you can see material floating on it, or the water is green, it's time to use a chlorine shock. This will do a much more thorough job of sanitizing the hot tub.
First, remove the cover of the system to let oxygen reach the surface. Then, verify the amount of water your hot tub holds, as that will help decide how much shock you need.
Turn on the jets and allow them to run for a few minutes. Then check the pH level and add the appropriate product in the right dosing, following the package directions.
After adding the shock, wait at least 20 to 30 minutes before doing anything else. Then, check the pH level to be sure it's in a safe range before using your hot tub again.