What is Oxidizer for Hot Tubs? (All You Need to Know!)

Wondering what oxidizer for hot tub is?. Well, this is a common question new hot tub owners ask a lot. Today, we will look at all you need to know about hot tub oxidizers and more. You can expect to learn the following:

• What a hot tub oxidizer is
• What does oxidizer do for hot tub
• What is hot tub shock and it’s the same as an oxidizer?
• When should I shock my hot tub?
• Can you shock a hot tub too much?
• What is the difference between oxidizer and sanitizer?
• Should I use chlorine or non-chlorine shock?
• And more…

Hot tubs are nice to soak in, but before we get that perfect soak, we also need to follow the guidelines and add the right hot tub chemicals to keep the water in the best possible condition.

Now, let’s learn more about oxidization for hot tubs.

What is Oxidizer for Hot Tub and What does It Do?

In as much as we love hot tubs, but there is more to them than meets the eyes. They need maintenance. Otherwise, there will be filled with bacteria and other diseases that can make you sick.

With all the benefits that come with using a hot tub, but doing things like cleaning filters, balancing the water, dealing with rashes, and also trying to figure out which chemicals to buy and can get frustrating if you are not careful, it will begin to feel like you are a chemist than someone who intends to just relax.

So what is an oxidizer and what does an oxidizer do ?. A hot tub oxidizer is a hot tub chemical that breaks down the oils and organic matter in the hot tub water.

This allows the chlorine or bromine sanitizer to work much more effectively and to keep the hot tub cleaner for longer. The water is oxidized using an Ozonator system or alternatively by adding an oxidizing chemical to the water regularly.

Also Read:

Hot tub booster seat: What are they and the best brands.

What is Hot Tub Shock and Is It the Same as Oxidizer?

Shocking a hot tub usually involve applying a dose of chlorine or non-chlorine shock to the hot tub water.

The main reason for doing so is to help break down unwanted bacterial, organic waste, and other contaminants. This helps to clean the hot tub water.

So oxidizer is a hot tub shock. As already stated above, the oxidizer is a chemical that strips electrons from any particle it encounters.

Basically, the oxidizer breaks down organic matter to make sure the hot tub water is clean for bathing.

There are various forms of shock that you can add to your hot tub. They can be in the form of liquid or powdered. Chlorine shock is in the form of granular or liquid and non-chlorine comes in the form of salt form.

You should always cross-check the manual to know whether you can use the sanitization method of your choosing. This will ensure you keep account of the number of chemicals in the water.

Shocking your hot tub also removes bromamines and chloramines. Those are a by-product of sanitizing your water with either chlorine or bromine.

Bromamines and chloramines are not good because they can alter the test strips into believing there is the correct amount of bromine or chlorine in the water when in actual fact it is either low or may not have any at all.

And low chlorine or none at all can put you at risk of bacteria or viruses.

When Should I Shock My Hot Tub?

A  hot tub should be shocked once a week.  This ensures the bacteria and diseases are killed by keeping your hot tub clean.

As people soak and bathe in the hot tub, the number of compounds in the hot tub also increases, so the shocking eliminate them. Shocking the hot tub also ensures the reactivation of the water sanitizer.

So, how do you shock a hot tub?. To shock a hot tub, you need to remove the hot tub cover to enable oxygen to reach the water. Check to make sure the PH level is correct. The HP level should be between 7.2 and 7.6 for chlorine sanitizer and 7.0 and 7.4 for bromine sanitizer.

You can use either bromine or chlorine but don’t use both at the same time.

Also, make sure the jets are on to ensure the water is circulating.  You should measure out 1/2 oz of non-chlorine shock per 400 gallons of water, or 1.25 oz. of chlorine shock per 400 gallons of water.

Add the shock to the water, and then leave the cover off of the hot tub for twenty minutes.

Can You Shock A Hot Tub Too Much?

It is possible to add too much shock into the water if you are not careful.  To prevent this, it’s important to be careful while adding the shock and also to read the shock/oxidizer label to ensure you have the right measurements.

This is because different shocks have different strengths. This also prevents underdose or overdose of the hot tub water.

Also, ensure you carefully measure your shock dosage. If you are even 1/2 an ounce off, either under or over, you can underdose or overdose your hot tub.

In general, there is no set time frame of how long you must wait before you can enter your hot tub after shocking it. It can take anywhere from twenty minutes to twenty-four hours.

If you over shock the water, all you have to do is test regularly for the chlorine levels and wait until it stabilizes.

If you are not sure of how long to wait before you enter the water after shocking it,  it can from anytime from 20 minutes.

What is the Difference Between Oxidizer and Sanitizer?

There is a distinct difference between a sanitizer and an oxidizer.  A sanitizer destroys disease-causing germs. Sanitizing the water help in removing bacteria from the spa. An oxidizer, on the other hand, does not destroy bacteria and is not a sanitizer. Sanitizers are meant to kill germs.

Oxidation is the breakdown of oils and organics in the water.  They could be body oils, lotions, deodorants, dead skin cells, sweat, leftover detergents from suits, or leaves that fell in when the cover was open.

You may be wondering whether to use chlorine shock or non-chlorine shock. With regard to chemical strength, both chlorine granules and non-chlorine (MPS) have the same strength. But when it comes to cost, chlorine granules are quite cheaper.

Generally, chlorine shock dissolves quickly and has a neutral PH. It does sanitize and has a lower price point. But it does leave have a chemical odor that it leaves in the water.

Non-chlorine shock also does the same thing of dissolving fast and sanitizing.

However, unlike chlorine shock, you can use the hot tub almost immediately after shocking with a non-chlorine shock. You are good to go after 20 minutes, it has no odor, and it’s more expensive than chlorine shock.

non-chlorine shock and bromine sanitizer are great on the skin and they have less odor than their chlorine-based counterparts. Here is one of the best non-chlorine base shocks on Amazon.

Final Thoughts on Oxidizer for Hot Tubs

Overall, oxidizer for hot tub breaks down the organic matter to ensure the sanitizing clean the water properly.

There are both chlorine shock and non-chlorine shock. You just need to select the one that you like but don’t mix the two at the same time.

The shocking breaks down all the organic waste, bacteria, and other contaminants to ensure that you have a clean and safe spa to soak.

As earlier stated, a hot tub shock is the same as an oxidizer.

Sanitizers and oxidizers are different chemicals that perform different functions.  The oxidizer consumes the organic waste that bathers bring into the hot tub while sanitizer is used to destroy disease-causing bacteria and viruses.