Soaking in a hot tub can be a very relaxing experience that provides excellent health benefits. Hot tubs are a wonderful addition to your home where you can relax, refresh after a long day at work, and spend time with family and friends.
Not only will you need to decide on the specific model that will most suit the surroundings and your lifestyle, but you also need to consider what water care system is right for you.
Consider the following factors when deciding whether a saltwater or chlorine hot tub is right for you.
Using Chlorine to Sanitize Hot Tubs
Most people think of chlorinated water when they think about pools or hot tubs.
Engineers discovered the use of chlorine to disinfect water in the early 1900s. However, prior to that discovery, pools were sanitized through consistent backwashing and filtration. The first time chlorine was used to sanitize a pool was at Brown University in 1910.
When using chlorine to disinfect water, it is added in dissolvable tablets or liquid form. When at room temperature, chlorine is gaseous. However, in the water, it mixes with hydrogen and oxygen to form hypochlorous acid. Bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella, and the influenza virus do not stand a chance against this extremely effective compound.
Bacteria in the water are attacked by the hypochlorous acid and byproducts called chloramines are formed.
If you’ve ever been around a chlorinated swimming pool or hot tub, you have experienced the smelly odor of these byproducts. Before you get scared thinking about this acid in your pool water, take a breath. Your stomach contains even stronger acids. However, chlorinated water can irritate sensitive areas in our bodies, like the skin and eyes.
The initial cost is less than a saltwater hot tub. However, the long term costs are higher than if you had a saltwater system.
Hot Tub Sanitization with Saltwater
The first time saltwater was used for purification purposes was in Australia in the 1960s. This discovery in Australia was considered a cheaper alternative to using chlorine to keep pools free from bacteria.
Approximately 80 percent of the pool water in Australia currently uses saltwater treatments. Saltwater treatments in the United States began in the 1980s. This water purification process for pools and hot tubs is now more popular than chlorine water treatments.
If you decide to go with the saltwater hot tub, you don’t have to worry about the water being as salty as seawater, because the opposite is true. The salt concentration in the ocean is approximately 35,000 parts per million (ppm). There is only around 1,750 ppm in a saltwater hot tub. You will not taste any salt in water unless there is around 3,000-4,000 ppm.
With saltwater-treated hot tubs, you will not need chlorine, the water is odor-free, and you’ll benefit from softer water. With this somewhat salty water, your skin will be refreshed and feel softer. Salt is corrosive by nature, so your equipment may experience more wear over time.
The upfront costs are higher, but you will save money in the long run.
With proper maintenance, your saltwater or chlorine hot tub will provide many years of relaxation and enjoyment for you and your family. You’ll know that every time you step into the relaxing hot water, your soak inside will be beneficial and safe from bacteria.
Are You Ready For a Saltwater Hot Tub?
Do you need to decide which is better for you? Contact Skovish Pools and Spas. We can provide all of the help and information you need. We have 2 locations, one in Luzerne, PA, and the other in Shickshinny, PA. Stop by, give us a call or contact us here.