Chlorine or Bromine Levels Low in Your Hot Tub? Act Now!

Are your hot tub chlorine or bromine levels testing low? Worry not! Low sanitizer levels in your hot tub water can happen, but we’ll tell you how to raise them and manage them in no time.

In this blog post, we will uncomplicate the process to help you get your bromine or chlorine levels back in the ideal range. So, break out that test kit, and let’s fix your sanitizer levels with a smile, because you’ve got this!

Why Sanitizers Matter

Hot tubs must use a sanitizer like chlorine or bromine. Without a sanitizer, your hot tub becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses and other contaminants. Chlorine and bromine rid your hot tub water of these undesirable guests so you can enjoy clean water every time you use your hot tub.

How do you know if your sanitizer levels are low?

Signs Your Sanitizer Levels Are Low

• Cloudy Water

• Unpleasant Odors (musty or swampy smell)

• Skin and eye irritation

• Slimy surfaces

Why it’s Important to Spot Low Sanitizer Levels

You’ll want to prevent water care problems that include potential health risks as well as buildup of scale and corrosion that can damage hot tub surfaces, leading to expensive repairs or shortening the life of your hot tub.

Here’s how to verify low sanitizer levels:

Test Your Water

Water Care Expert Tip: Check the expiration date on your test strips or test kit. Most test strips and testing reagents last only 12 to 18 months. After that date, they may not register readings properly.

What number should my sanitizer levels test at?

Most commonly, chlorine levels should be between 3 – 5 ppm. If you use bromine in your hot tub, it should test between 3 – 6 ppm.

However, you can lower sanitizer levels with mineral systems like FROG^® because minerals  kill bacteria.

For example, if you use FROG Serene^® or FROG^® Filter Mate^® in your hot tub, you’ll use up to 50% less the ideal bromine or chlorine*, because bromine or chlorine work together with FROG Minerals to kill bacteria. With FROG, the ideal chlorine or bromine level is between 0.5 – 1.0 ppm.

If you use FROG^® @ease^® in your hot tub, the ideal level will be consistently 0.5 – 1.0 ppm. FROG @ease uses SmartChlor^®, a unique patented chlorine. Plus, the FROG @ease test strip has a Single Color Match indicator on the bottle that quickly shows when it’s time to replace SmartChlor..

The Solutions

If your hot tub’s chlorine or bromine levels test low, there’s no need to panic. We have simple solutions to raise sanitizer levels! We recommend these steps:

1. Balance Your Water

Water balance is critical to proper sanitization. Poor water balance, which means that key parameters are not within ideal levels, can cause chlorine or bromine to be ineffective or used up too quickly.

When you balance the water always adjust as needed in this order: Total Alkalinity, pH and then Total Hardness (also known as Calcium Hardness). Keep them in these ideal ranges:

• Total Alkalinity: 80 – 120 ppm

• pH: 7.2 – 7.6

• Total Hardness: 150 – 250 ppm

Water Care Expert Tip:  If any one of these levels is out of the ideal range, add adjustment chemicals in small increments and wait at least 6 hours to retest so they have time to work.

Want more details on water balancing? Watch our video:

2. Add Sanitizer

Once your water is balanced, and testing shows that your chlorine or bromine level is below 2.0 ppm, use a shock treatment. Always follow the dosage instructions from the manufacturer for your hot tub’s gallon size.

Water Care Expert Tip: As you add the shock treatment, run the jets for at least 15 – 20 minutes to ensure even distribution throughout the hot tub.

3. Check Your Dial Setting or Floater

Check to make sure the sanitizer you use –  a chlorine or bromine floater, chlorine or bromine cartridge or a salt system – is still delivering chlorine or bromine to the hot tub water.

The issue could be that you forgot to refill your floater. If you use a floater, fill it to its maximum capacity, then check the levels again in a few hours.

Or the problem could be as simple as adjusting the floater’s vents or positioning it in a spot with better circulation.

If you use a salt generator, you can adjust the dial as needed.

To find the correct setting that will maintain ideal chlorine or bromine level, adjust only one setting per day and retest the water after 24 hours.

If you manually add granular bromine or chlorine, if could be that you forgot to add it when you last used the hot tub.

Additionally, you may need to increase the amount of granules or the frequency of adding them. Start with small increments to avoid adding too much sanitizer.

Finally, if you use a FROG System, check the Cartridge to ensure it’s still full.

If it is, then turn the dial up a setting. Turn up the dial one increment at a time over overchlorination.

Once you find the correct setting or sanitizer routine, don’t change it, unless you use it more frequently or more people use it than usual – like a hot tub party – then it’s probably time to add more sanitizer.

Or shock the water. Consider using FROG Maintain, a nonchlorine shock that helps keep water crystal clear.

4. Check Your Filter

Check your hot tub filter(s) regularly. A dirty or broken filter can cause the sanitizer to be less effective. Clean or replace your filter if either is the case.

5. Look for Visible Signs of Algae

If algae is in your hot tub, the sanitizer can be used up quickly in its effort to destroy the algae. If you haven’t already, shock the water and add an algaecide. Then brush the sides of your hot tub to prevent further algae growth.

6: Drain, Purge and Refill

If low levels of sanitizer persist after you’ve done all of the above, it may be time to drain, purge and refill your hot tub with fresh water.

Over time, biofilm – a sticky substance made up of microorganisms like bacteria – can develop inside the pipes, even in well-maintained hot tubs. This buildup uses up sanitizers and can cause low levels of chlorine or bromine.

Draining and purging helps remove biofilm.

This process involves using a shock treatment and a purging additive, followed by a good cleaning of all hot tub surfaces and components.

Proper purging ensures that your sanitizer effectively kills bacteria. For a more detailed guide on Hot Tub Purging click here.

Once you’ve purged, refill your hot tub with fresh water, balance the water and add sanitizer. Need help with water balancing? Here’s our guide.

Tips to Maintain Sanitizer Levels

Once you’ve fixed your low chlorine or bromine level, you’ll want to keep it that way! Here’s a couple of tips to keep your sanitizer levels within the ideal range:

• Test Your Water Regularly: Test your hot tub’s sanitizer levels at least once a week, and more frequently with heavy use.

• Shock Treatments: Regularly shock your hot tub to eliminate contaminants. This is especially important after heavy use or when you notice a dip in sanitizer levels.

• Keep Water Balanced: Ensure that Total Alkalinity, pH and Total Hardness are within ideal levels. Unbalanced water can reduce the effectiveness of your sanitizers.

• Cover It: Use a hot tub cover when the tub is not in use. This helps prevent the accumulation of debris and contaminants that use up your sanitizer.

Spot-On Sanitizer Levels

With these steps and tips, your bromine or chlorine levels can rise and stay within the ideal range. Follow this routine and you’ll enjoy clean hot tub water every time you take a dip.

If you’re tired or frustrated with yo-yo levels of bromine or chlorine, check out FROG @ease. It uses SmartChlor, a unique chlorine that “self-regulates,” keeping the chlorine levels consistently between 0.5 – 1.0 ppm. Plus, you use up to 75% less chlorine*!

Happy soaking!

* Compared to the minimum ANSI recommended chlorine level of 2.0 ppm for a hot tub or swim spa