Hot Tub Buying Guide

Can I fill my hot tub with soft water?

There is much discussion about the use of soft water in hot tubs and pools. Soft water has its benefits and it has its troubles. Hard water does as well. Soft water will try to saturate itself with the calcium it is missing, so it attacks things around it to leech that hardness. Hard water can cause scale - a layer of deposit - on the hot tub. Obviously neither of these results is optimal. So it's important whether you fill the tub with soft or hard water to maintain the chemical levels in your tub. We suggest checking your manufacturer's recommendations on soft water - some discourage it greatly. Also check with your local spa dealer. The local guy should be familiar with the water in the area and will likely have some tips for you.

Some folks fill their tubs with soft water and then adjust the pH, alkalinity and calcium from there. Others, if possible, will fill with about half hard water and half soft water to try to create a balance. Some will fill with hard and then top off when needed to refill some with soft. You may not have the choice in your water source so you may only have the option to fill your tub with soft water. If this is the case, you will need to test the water and increase the calcium hardness of the water. There are products available that do just that - calcium hardness increaser?and they are available at your local home improvement store, local pool store or dealer.

It is essential to keep the water in your hot tub in balance. This is no easy task. You must regularly test for pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness and maintain those levels at the suggested and healthy range.