What Chemicals Does One Need for a Portable Spa?

pH Levels

• Chemicals are used in spas to control the pH level of the water. It is the measure of how acidic a substance is on a scale, the substance in this case being the water. Water is spas needs to have a certain pH level in order to kill germs and bacteria, making the pool safe. There are testing strips that come with almost every home spa that can be used to test the water's pH level and tell you if you need to add more chemicals or perhaps let the water sit until the acid level has gone down a little.
  
  

Granular Chlorine

• The most common type of chemical used for portable spas is granular chlorine. This comes in powder form and can be applied to hot water in order to raise the pH level and kill bacteria. More advanced systems may utilize a chlorine injector with the water filter, which injects small amounts of chlorine directly into the water as it is being cleaned. These systems require pure chlorine formulas, which can be purchased or ordered from spa product suppliers. Less common substances such as bromine are sometimes used, but these pose greater health risks.
  
  

Aromatherapy

• Except for the necessary chlorine or chlorine formula sold by almost all spa companies to control the water's pH level, there are few other chemicals that small spas require. Some people choose to add aromatherapy packets, which are small dissolvable bags of chemicals designed to produce pleasant odors in hot water. This gets rid of the chlorine smell and makes soaking in the spa more enjoyable, but be sure to use only aromatherapy bags designed to be used in small spas.
  
  

Water Maintenance

• You should fill your spa with fresh water, preferably water from a garden hose or similar source. The water should be changed over about every three months, and filters should be cleaned about every month for optimal quality. You should be ready to adjust the pH level of water every time the spa is refilled and heated.
  
  

Ozonators and Other Options

• Many spas use extra systems in addition to chlorine injectors to help cleanse the water, some of which can act as complete replacements for the chlorine, getting rid of the annoying chlorine smell. Ozonators, or ozone generators, are a popular option, and while many use these in conjunction with chlorine treatments, others use only a high-powered ozonator or infrared devices to clean the water.