Do You Need A Special Hot Tub For Salt Water?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,


No hot tub can

. But you can expect several benefits from a system you won't get from using a standard spa sanitizer, such as chlorine or bromine. If low-maintenance, low-cost, gentle soaking is what you're after, switching to salt is the way to go.

Can any hot tub use salt water?


Any hot tub can be a saltwater hot tub with the addition

of a salt chlorine generator. … Because you'll need to purchase the salt chlorine generator, saltwater hot tub prices may be higher initially, but the maintenance of saltwater tubs is generally cheaper than the maintenance of traditional hot tubs.

Can you use salt water in a regular hot tub?

In order to use salt water in your hot tub, you need what is known as a salt-water chlorinator. … For a regular hot tub with normal water, you typically have to use

chloride to sanitize the water

and keep it clean. Salt however has natural chlorine and is used in many cultures as a natural disinfectant.

Can you convert a regular hot tub to saltwater?

With the installation of either an in-line or drop-in salt water chlorinator,

it's possible to convert any hot tub to use salt water

. … Because most chlorinators don't need to run constantly, it's possible to remove the chlorinator cell while the hot tub is being used.

What is the difference between a salt water hot tub and a regular hot tub?

Contrary to popular belief, BOTH salt water and chlorine hot tub systems actually have chlorine in them. The difference is that

salt water hot tubs produce a natural chlorine that is free of additives and binders

, while chlorine hot tubs are maintained through the use of man-made chemicals.

Why are salt water hot tubs banned in Canada?

As many manufacturers and retailers of residential hot tubs and swim spas continue to tout and promote saltwater systems, Health Canada has restricted their use to “protect human health and the environment”. Specifically, they have

outlawed sodium bromide spa electrolysis devices or bromine generators

in Canada.

Are salt water hot tubs better than chlorine?

Salt water pools

have less chlorine levels than actual chlorine-based pools

. Thus, the likelihood of bacteria and viruses forming is higher in salt water pools and hot tubs. Salt water is more prone to cause corrosion, so you're likely to see more wear and tear to your hot tub and pool.

Can you add Epsom salt to a hot tub?

In most cases,

you should never add pure Epsom salts to your hot tub

. Despite this warning, if you still want to try, just be sure to drain and thoroughly clean the hot tub immediately after you're done soaking. This will help to avoid long-term damages to your spa.

Is salt water a good sanitizer?

Salt water, also known as saline, can be

used as a natural disinfectant basically for everything

. Gargling salt water has many advantages, including directly killing bacteria by osmosis as mentioned above, and temporarily increasing the pH in your mouth. … Using salt water for disinfection is both safe and efficient.

Can you have a hot tub without chemicals?

But seriously, the real answer is

YES

! You can run your spa without chlorine OR bromine, and still have a safe and sanitary spa. It requires using some modified methods to make sure that pathogens don't thrive, but it can be successfully done.

Are salt water hot tubs corrosive?

Corrosion. Even in small amounts,

salt has natural corrosive properties

. While this is unlikely to cause any significant damage to your hot tub, it's still a good idea to wipe down exposed metal parts on a regular basis.

How long do salt water hot tubs last?

Last but not least, manufacturers tout that “properly-maintained” saltwater can be kept for

up to a year

, and that salt cartridges only need replacing every 4 months (or 120 days). However, much like standard water care systems, a saltwater hot tub requires a variety of water care products to properly maintain it.

Are salt water hot tubs banned in Canada?


Sodium Bromide is now BANNED in Canada

(by Nov 2020) and it is recommended that all “Salt” systems be deactivated and removed. … Manufacturers have cancelled all bromine swimming pools, spa electrolysis devices, or sodium bromide products intended for use in swimming pools and spa electrolysis devices.

Why are salt water hot tubs banned?

Update:

Health Canada bans saltwater hot tubs

.

On November 30th, 2018

health Canada finished a re-evaluation of hot tub and pool salt generators and the additive Sodium Bromide and determined that these devices were a risk to health. … At this time they have not performed a reevaluation on Sodium Chloride systems.

How often do you have to change the water in a saltwater hot tub?

With salt cells, you choose how often the salt cell produces which you determine based on the size of your tub and how often your tub is used. On average, the salt cell needs to be replaced

every 14,000 producing hours

.

How often do you add chlorine to a saltwater hot tub?

The spa owner then has to manually add MPS to the spa with each use, and a small amount of chlorine

once a week

. The silver ion cartridge should be replaced every three months, and the ozone unit will need to be replaced every 4-5 years.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.