Spa Water Testing

Chlorine/Bromine

Method of Testing: Balanced Water Test Kit or Test Strips.
Ideal Range: 2-4 ppm (chlorine) 3-10 ppm (bromine)
Reason for Testing: Testing the chlorine/bromine level in your spa is essential to ensure that you have enough sanitiser and to prevent overdosing. Maintaining a correct level of chlorine/bromine in your spa kills bacteria and viruses and therefore protects the bathers. A test should be done every time you use your pool/spa, or each day during hot periods.

pH

Method of Testing: Balanced Water Test Kit or Test Strips.
Ideal Range: 7.2 - 7.6
Reason for Testing: To allow Chlorine to work to its full potential and to prevent any corrosion or scale forming it is important to maintain a pH within the ideal range. The correct pH level also provides comfortable bathing conditions for the bather as it reduces the chances of irritation occurring.

Alkalinity

Method of Testing: Balanced Water Test Kit, Test Strips or Alkalinity Tablets
Ideal Range: 80-120 ppm
Reason for Testing: Maintaining the correct level of alkalinity in your spa helps prevent considerable changes in the pH levels. An alkalinity level greater than 80 ppm stabilises the pH of the water so that any chemical treatments or environmental factors will not rapidly alter the pH.

Calcium Hardness

Method of Testing: Balanced Water Test Kit, Test Strips or Calcium Hardness Tablets
Ideal Range: 20 - 100 ppm
Reason for Testing: Calcium hardness is usually a problem for spas in hard water areas. Large concentrations of calcium will cause; the heater to scale to scale up, become inefficient and alternatively fail. A small amount of calcium (20 ppm) is necessary to prevent corrosion. A larger concentration of calcium (100 ppm minimum) is required on tiled spas to prevent etching or grout erosion. This is not necessary on spas manufactured from plastic.