How to Balance Hot Tub Water

Do you know the secret to maintaining clean, crystal clear, luxuriously comfortable hot tub water?

It’s water balance. 

When your hot tub’s water is perfectly balanced, your sanitizer works most effectively, surfaces and equipment stay protected and every sock feels like a dream.

In this article, we’ll touch on:

• What is Water Balance? – Understand what “balanced water” means and why keeping chemical levels in harmony is key to clean, clear and comfortable hot tub water.
• Water Balance is Your Number One Priority – Learn why maintaining balanced water chemistry is essential and how everyday habits can throw balance off.
• How to Balance Hot Tub Water Step-By-Step – Follow this simple, guided process to properly adjust alkalinity, pH and hardness for ideal water chemistry.
• Balance and Sanitize – Discover how sanitizing complements balanced water and explore easy ways to keep water Cleaner, Clearer and Softer^® with FROG^® products.

Let’s walk through what it means to balance your water, why it matters and most importantly, how to balance your hot tub water.

What is Water Balance?

In simple terms, balanced water means that the chemical levels in your hot tub are in harmony; it means the water’s chemical levels are in ideal ranges to keep it clear, clean and pleasant to soak in.

To maintain balanced water, focus on keeping the top 3 chemistry levels within their ideal ranges:

When these levels are within their ideal range:

• Your sanitizer (chlorine or bromine) works most effectively

• Water stays cleaner and clearer

• Equipment and surfaces are protected from corrosion and scale

When these levels are outside their ideal range, you’ll notice issues like:

• Cloudy water

• Foam

• Irritated, itchy skin

• Smelly water

• Hard-to-manage water chemistry

The 3 Most Important Chemistry Levels for Hot Tub Water:

1. Total Alkalinity (TA) is the measurement of alkaline substances in your hot tub water. TA acts as a buffer to stabilize pH levels. When TA is out of range – high or low – pH levels often aren’t stable. And when pH isn’t stable, it can lead to metal corrosion, hot tub surface stains, cloudy water, decreased chlorine efficiency and a generally uncomfortable soaking experience because the water is either too acidic or alkaline.

2. pH is the measure of how acidic or basic (alkaline) your hot tub water is. Low pH levels are acidic. High levels are alkaline. One of the reasons keeping pH balanced is that your sanitizer – typically chlorine or bromine – is much less effective at higher pH levels; in fact, at a pH of 8.2, chlorine is only 15% effective. For reference, this is compared to 50% effective at a pH of 7.5, so chlorine is one third as effective at a pH of 8.2 versus a pH of 7.5.

3. Total Hardness (also known as Calcium Hardness) is the measure of how hard or soft hot tub water is. Total Hardness measures the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in your hot tub water. It’s important to keep the Total Hardness within the ideal range to prevent your hot tub water from becoming corrosive or scaling. In fact, testing your water for Total Hardness is your first step. It comes before you balance your water – check out the FROG^® Water Balancing Guide or read on for detailed steps.

What About a Sanitizer?

Water Balance is Your Number One Priority

When it comes to maintaining your hot tub, balancing your water chemistry tops the list. Balanced water is clear, sparkling and enhances your hot tub’s appearance.

What Impacts Water Balance?

Several everyday things can throw your water off balance, especially:

• Frequent and heavy use – more people than usual use it more often

• Organic debris (leaves, dirt, twigs)

• Water temperature fluctuations

• Oils, lotions, hair products

• Detergents and soap – especially from swimsuits

Combat these with simple habits:

• Rinse off with only water before use

• Use a dedicated swimsuit

• Rinse swimsuits with water, don’t use soap or detergent

• Wipe down surfaces after use

• Remove debris immediately

• Use a hot tub cover that fits well, and keep it clean

• Drain and refill every 3-4 months (if you use FROG^® @ease^® or FROG Serene^®, every time you replace your Mineral Cartridge)

Before You Balance: Expert Tip

Before you begin balancing your hot tub water, take a sample of the water you plan to use for filling or topping off your hot tub to your local dealer and have them check the Total Hardness.

If it’s over 250 ppm, it’s best to avoid using that fill water for your hot tub. Don’t worry – a simple hose filter from your local dealer can help resolve this issue.

You can also have them test your water for metals. If it tests high for metals, they will recommend a metal out product.

How to Balance Hot Tub Water Step-By-Step

Balancing your hot tub water can be easy. Just grab your test strips or test kit of choice and go!

Test your water and adjust it to the ideal ranges; always start with Total Alkalinity, that makes it much easier to get everything else correct.

Step 1: Adjust Total Alkalinity

Start here first.

• Ideal Range: 80 – 120 ppm

• If low: Add TA Increaser or TA Up

• If high: Add pH Decreaser or pH Down (this chemical is used to lower both TA and pH)

• Make sure TA is in the ideal range before moving on to balance pH

Step 2: Balance pH

Once TA is good, move on to pH.

• Ideal Range: 7.2 – 7.6

• If low: Add pH Increaser or pH Up

• If high: Add pH Decreaser or pH Down

• Wait 6 hours, test and tweak if needed

Step 3: Adjust Total Hardness

Check Total Hardness again, to protect equipment like heaters.

• Ideal Range: 150 – 250 ppm

• If low: Add Hardness Increaser

• Wait 6 hours, test and adjust if needed

• Do not overdose – there is not Hardness Decreaser!

Water Care Expert Tips:

• If it takes more than two days to balance the water, add a chlorine shock like FROG Jump Start^® to prevent bacteria from taking hold; or use bromine if you plan on using a bromine sanitizing system.

• Add chemicals in small increments following label directions.

• Wait 6 hours between adjustments for chemicals to work before retesting.

Once Total Alkalinity is within 80 – 120 ppm, pH is between 7.2 – 7.6 and Total Hardness is at 150 – 250 ppm, your water is balanced and you’re ready to add your choice of sanitizer!

Balance and Sanitize

Sanitizing your hot tub is just as important as balancing it. Balanced water allows sanitizers to work more effectively.

Keep it Simple with FROG^® Products

Want to make water care easier? And how about using less chlorine? Consider using FROG^® @ease^® to sanitize your hot tub. FROG @ease helps keep water Cleaner, Clearer and Softer^®. It kills bacteria with a low amount of SmartChlor^®, a unique, patented type of chlorine that self-regulates and works with FROG Sanitizing Minerals^® all while using up to 75% less chlorine*.

Less chlorine means water feels softer, swimsuits don’t fade and surfaces are protected.

Plus, FROG Sanitizing Minerals help kill bacteria, condition the water for softness and absorb acids.

Water Care Expert Tips to Keep Water Balanced

• Test water 1-2 times a week

• Clean your hot tub surfaces and cover regularly

• Always balance Total Alkalinity first

• Use a hose filter if your fill water has high Total Hardness

Get Help Anytime

Life’s all about balance — and that includes your hot tub. Stay on top of it with the FROG Water Care^® App. Download it now on the App Store or Google Play for 24/7 support, guides and videos.

Need one-on-one advice?
📞 Call us at 800-222-0169, Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM CST
📧 Email us: customer.service@kingtechnology.com
💬 Or chat with us at frogproducts.com

The Benefits of Balance

The real secret? Maintaining a clean, clear hot tub can be easy when you focus on water balance. With the right tools, habits and a little help from FROG, you can enjoy a hot tub that’s ready when you are! Happy soaking!

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