Hot Tub and Spa Water Care Made Easy With SilkBalance

The relaxation provided by a hot tub and spa is hard to match.  Soaking your aching muscles in the hot water really is rejuvenating.  As a hot tub owner for the last 10 years I can tell you about the wonders of owning a spa, and the horrors of owning a spa.  Let’s start with the many health benefits of spas and hot tubs.

The number one benefit I get from my spa is a good night sleep. After soaking in the hot water for 15-30 minutes, you body relaxes. The water raises your body temperature which helps you get to a deep sleep faster and allows you stay in the deep sleep longer, giving you a better rest. I always wake up feeling fresh and rejuvenated. The relaxing waters also melt away your stress and are great at getting rid of a bad headache. There is nothing better than a good soak after a longs day work.

Hydrotherapy in hot tub spas is used by athletes around the world for a reason. It works. The hot tub will massage your muscles, increasing the blood flow that helps the muscles heal faster. The natural buoyancy of the water helps remove the pressures of gravity on your joints, giving them a break and the time they need to heal. Arthritis suffers have long enjoyed the health benefits of hot tub spas, using hydrotherapy to help remove their aches and pains.

The number one issue with hot tubs and spas is the maintenance. Every few days you have to check the pH balance, total alkalinity, sanitizer levels, and water hardness. Depending on what you find you will have to add or mix toxic chemicals. Any mistakes can lead to unpleasant or unusable water. There is a lot of work in keeping sparkling clean water in your spa and bad water can lead to health issues.

Rashes are the most common health issue caused by hot tubs. These are usually caused by the harsh chemicals used to treat the water. Having too much chlorine or bromine will dry you skin out and can cause a rash in people with sensitive skin. The bacteria that can grow in the hot tub water can cause respiratory problems and urinary tract infections which can be life threatening if untreated. Who would want to soak in that nasty water?

I have used many different types of chemicals over the years. Chlorine and bromine were the first two sanitizers I tried. They work fairly well but have a bad smell, fade your swim suits, require bi-daily maintenance, and adding too much makes the hot tub unusable for days. For the last several years I have used the Baquaspa products. They don’t really have an odor and only require weekly maintenance. The problem is that they have at least 5 different chemicals you have to add and measure. If you make a mistake with any of these chemicals you end up with spoiled water. This has all come to an end with my discovery six months ago of BioFilm Dispersion Technology.

A new product called SilkBalance uses BioFilm Dispersion Technology to keep spa water crystal clear and fresh for months. All you have to do is add 4oz once a week and it balances your water and keeps the bacterial slime from growing. SilkBalance lowers the surface tension of the water, inhibiting the buildup of BioFilm in the hot tub plumbing and shell. BioFilm is where bacteria grow. The growth and decay of bacteria is a major cause of pH and alkalinity swings. By not allow the bacteria to grow, the pH and total alkalinity stay stable, eliminating the need for testing and chemicals to control them. The lower surface tension also as makes the water feel silky smooth and soft.

Switching from a different spa sanitizer is easy just follow these steps:

1. Run the spa with a spa flush cleanser. I use Spa System Flush. Use 8oz per 400 gallons and let the hot tub jets run for about two hours. Make sure all of the jets are used so you may have to change the flow options on your spa during the high speed clean. After all of the jets are clean let the cleaner stand in the spa for 24 hours.

2. Empty the water from the spa.

3. Clean the shell of the spa very well and rinse it well. Be sure not to use any kind of soap unless you like lots of bubbles.

4. Fill the spa like you always do.

5. After the spa is full, I add some suspend as we have really hard water.

6. Add 4oz of SilkBalance.

7. Add two Tsp of Non-Chlorine shock.

8. Once the water heats up, enjoy!

That is how easy it is to use. Every week I add 4oz of Silk Balance and add 1 Tsp Non-Chlorine shock after every use. This has been my routine for the last 6 months and I don’t think we have enjoyed our spa more in the last 10 years.

I do change the water every 4 months using the method above. The water could be used longer but old habits are hard to break. My hot tub uses a Silver Ion cartridge along with an ozone generator to help sanitize the water, so if yours doesn’t check with you local pool supply company to see how much extra Non-Chlorine Shock you should use. I read online that you should add 2 Tsp twice a week, but check to be sure.

Silk Balance has changed how we use our hot tub for the better. It literally takes less than 10 minutes a month to keep the water sparkling in our hot tub. We couldn’t be happier.