Shocking your hot tub with the right type and amount of chemicals helps maintain its sanitary condition. It keeps the tub germ free and also prevents slimy surfaces, water cloudiness, and unpleasant hot tub smells.
If you’re going to use the hot tub for the first time, you should add in the required dose of shock chemicals to make it safe for use. Moving forward, you’ll find out a step-by-step guide on how to shock a hot tub for the first time.
So let’s get into it!
Do You Need to Shock Your Hot Tub Before the First Use?
Yes, you should shock your hot tub when you first fill it up. Most experts recommend you shock your hot tub before the first use as it helps to reduce the frequency of high chemical doses to maintain its hygiene and improves the lifespan of your spa.
In the long run, you must shock your tub at least once a week or more if it is frequently used by a lot of people. Other than that, you should also shock your hot tub if it hasn’t been used in a long time.
Types of Shock
There are two basic types of shock compounds that you can use for your hot tub.
- Chlorine Based Shock
- Non-Chlorine Based Shock
Both types of shock compounds have their own pros and cons. However, a chlorine-based shock is particularly recommended when you’re shocking the hot tub for the first time or if it needs a deep clean. Non-chlorine shocks, on the contrary, are recommended for weekly shocking sessions.
Recommended Chlorine Shock:
Recommended Non-Chlorine Shock:
How to Shock a Hot Tub for The First Time?
To shock the hot tub for the first time, you’ll need the following things:
- Safety gear
- Water test strips
- Hot tub shock
- A measuring tool
Once you have these things at hand, follow the steps below to shock your hot tub:
Test the pH
First of all, you must test the pH of the tub water because it greatly impacts the performance of the shock chemicals. For a successful shock, the pH of the water should be within the range of 7.2 to 7.6.
Note: If the pH levels are off, the shock will not work as effectively as it should.
Turn off the Jets
Before you shock the hot tub, turn off the jets to prevent the shock chemicals from dissipating too quickly. However, keep the circulation pump running so the water keeps moving and the shock distributes evenly throughout.
Put on Your Safety Gear
If you’re going to use any chemical, the first thing you should do is reach for your safety gear. No matter how safe the product is, it’s still a chemical after all. You can get these Sellstrom Safety Goggles from Amazon in under $8.
Wear your safety goggles and gloves to avoid getting your skin in contact with the chemical. An even better approach is to cover any exposed skin area to prevent damage in case of accidental spills or anything like that.
Measure the Shock
It is important to add only a specific amount of shock in your hot tub. Find the adequate amount of shock by referring to the instructions on the shock label. Next, take a measuring cup and measure the required amount of shock carefully.
Generally, 17g of non-chlorine shock product is sufficient for 1500 liters (396 gallons) of water. Whereas, the same amount of water requires 35g chlorine shock. A chlorine- based shock is recommended for shocking a hot tub for the first time, however.
Our recommended SpaGuard Spa Chlorinating Concentrate does this job extremely well. You can check out its price on Amazon by clicking on the link below:
Uncover the Hot Tub
Remove the cover of the hot tub before you shock it. Once you add the shock, leave the tub uncovered for 20-30 minutes. This allows the shock chemicals to off gas and dissipate, as required.
Add the Shock
Finally, add the shock to the hot tub carefully as recommended by the manufacturer.
Benefits of Shocking Hot Tub
Some of the benefits of shocking your spa regularly are mentioned below:
Kills Bacteria
Hot tubs are notorious for housing various viruses and bacteria, which can cause diseases and problematic skin conditions. Chlorine and bromine-based shocks can help wipe out these bacteria and keep the hot tub germ free.
Removes Contaminants
A massive amount of organic contaminants is introduced into the hot tub each time you step in for a soak. These organic contaminants can be in the form of SPF, shampoo, makeup, body oils, etc. With time, these contaminants can build up and cause scum deposits and water cloudiness.
Shocking increases oxidation in the hot tub water, which helps to break down the organic contaminants and hence, keeps the tub clean.
Gets Rid of Chloramines and Bromamines
Chloramines and bromamines are the by-products that are released when chlorine/bromine reacts with water. An increased concentration of these by-products causes an unpleasant odor in the water. Shocking the hot tub is an effective solution to get rid of any chloramines or bromamine deposits in the tub.
Reactivates Chlorine/Bromine
If you use chlorine or bromine as sanitizer in your tub, you should know they become less effective with time as they deal with different water contaminants. Shocking can help reactivate them and restore their function.
On a related note, you might want to read on What To Do if your Brand New Hot Tub is Leaking.
Here a few other hot tub guides to help you get the most out of your spa:
