Hot tub or swim spa pH is a measure of how acidic or basic your water is. Staying within the ideal range keeps your water safe, comfortable and effective at staying clean.
The Ideal Hot Tub or Swim Spa pH Range is 7.2 to 7.6.
Why Is pH Important?
Maintaining a proper pH level in your hot tub or swim spa is essential for other chemicals, including chlorine, to do their work. As pH rises, chlorine becomes less effective at sanitizing your hot tub or swim spa. Keeping pH in the recommended range of 7.2–7.6 helps your sanitizer work effectively while keeping the water comfortable and protecting your equipment.
Low pH in Hot Tubs or Swim Spas
A low pH level means your water is acidic, which can reduce your ability to control Total Alkalinity and cause an uncomfortable experience for your family and guests. Acidic water can sting the eyes and strip away the skin’s natural oils, leaving it feeling dry and itchy.
What Causes Low pH?
Many things can lower the pH in your hot tub or swim spa, including:
- Your water source having a low pH
- Heavy usage introducing natural contaminants to the water
- Organic matter such as grass, insects and dust
- Adding too much pH decreaser
- Shock treatments
How to Raise pH in a Hot Tub or Swim Spa
Add fresh water. Water from your hose may have a higher pH and Total Alkalinity than the water in your hot tub or swim spa, so adding fresh water may help raise your pH slightly.
Use a pH increaser. FROG JumpH® quickly raises pH when it’s too low. The FROG TruDose Cap™ and easy-to-follow dosing instructions take the guesswork out of measuring the right amount. Here’s how:
- Turn on your jets for circulation
- Add a pH increaser like FROG JumpH to your unoccupied hot tub or swim spa
- Circulate jets for 30 minutes with the cover off
- After 2 hours, retest water
- Repeat as needed
High pH in Hot Tubs or Swim Spas
When your water has a high pH, it is too basic and can lead to scale buildup on filters, plugs, pipes, jets and other equipment. Over time, scale can restrict water flow, reduce circulation and put added strain on your hot tub or swim spa equipment. If left uncorrected, high pH can eventually damage equipment and affect its performance.
What Causes High pH?
Many things can raise the pH in your hot tub or swim spa, including:
- High pH in your water source
- Adding too much pH Increaser
- Mineral build-up
How to Lower pH in Hot Tub or Swim Spa
Use a pH decreaser like FROG DropH® to quickly drop pH levels. Its FROG TruDose Cap™ and easy-to-follow dosing instructions take out the guesswork surrounding how much product to use. Here’s how to use it:
- Turn on your jets for circulation
- Add a pH decreaser like FROG DropH to your unoccupied hot tub or swim spa
- Circulate your jets for 15 minutes with the cover off
- Retest the water
- Repeat as needed
Quick pH Adjustment Guide
| Issue | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Hot tub or swim spa pH too low | Use pH increaser (FROG JumpH®) or add fresh water |
| Hot tub or swim spa pH too high | Use pH decreaser (FROG DropH®) |
FROG® Test Strips
If you are using a FROG® Serene or FROG® Filter Mate® Systems, be sure to use FROG Test Strips. They are specifically designed to measure the unique, low-chlorine or low-bromine levels maintained by FROG mineral systems for pools, hot tubs and swim spas. In addition to chlorine, they also test pH, Total Alkalinity and Total Hardness for balance. If you are using a FROG® @ease® System, be sure to use FROG® @ease® Test Strips.
See, Feel and Smell the Difference
FROG® Sanitizing Systems transform your hot tub or swim spa by combining proprietary FROG Sanitizing Minerals® with low levels of chlorine to destroy bacteria. The result is Fresh Mineral Water®∞, our signature water quality experience that’s gentler on skin and free from the harsh, over-chlorinated feel of traditional hot tub care.
- Uses up to 75% less chlorine*
- Creates water that is Cleaner, Clearer and Softer
- Easier on skin, swimsuits and hot tub surfaces
- No harsh odors
* Compared to the minimum ANSI recommended chlorine level of 2.0 ppm for a hot tub or swim spa
∞ Cleaner, Clearer and Softer water for pools, hot tubs and swim spas
