Fill a container or bucket halfway with warm water. What to consider when buying a hot tub an essential buying guide! Were pool people and we want you to be happy with your purchase. Other Differences Bromine is also more unstable than chlorine in ultraviolet light. As a side note, if you live in a climate where alligators are a real concern and want to know how you can keep them out of your pool (and yard), dont miss our comprehensive article. A stable sanitizer is safer to use. Hot Tub Chemicals for Beginners: What You Need and How To Add Them, How to Lower Bromine or Chlorine Levels in a Hot Tub, Salt Water Hot Tubs: How to Convert Your Spa and Use Fewer Chemicals, mix them together in the water. They are antibacterial Yes GREAT. Heres How to Fix It Quickly, Door Latch Not Extending Fully: How to Fix It Like a Pro. Test the water over the next couple of days to ensure proper sanitizer levels. or as granules that you add daily. Drop me a line; always happy to help. To keep the water safe, you will still need to check the water regularly, It continuously eliminates chloramines from the water without having to shock the pool. That also depends on the size of your hot tub, and how well you keep the water clean and balanced. This is why many pool techs and owners turn to chlorine. Do They Bite? This is a concern if you have an outdoor hot tub, and makes using your hot tub cover all the more important. Bromine has many advantages over chlorine, however, it has its own limitations as well. I know by testing that topping up the It doesnt cause skin and eye irritation. How Do Mice Get Into Upstairs Apartments? Although chlorine is more popular, bromine can often serve as a reliable alternative. While ozone purifies water much faster and more effectively than chlorine, it has a very short lifespan (minutes or seconds) so there will always be areas in your pool that remain untreated for a certain period of time. The first thing to do is follow the manufacturers instructions. delivery method. Pool bromine is a sanitizer, oxidizer, and algicide that is used in swimming pools and spas. Bromine: Is gentler on your skin than chlorine, but can be a bit more difficult to wash off after a long soak. However, some people prefer to add a small amount after each use. Unlike chlorine, it maintains its full effectiveness when combined with an ozonator, as the ozone cannot lower its levels. of the time. Dual zone swim spa: Benefits of the pool-spa combo, Start Year with this Home Water Aerobics Routine, Prioritizing mental health: Tips for a healthier you, Hot tub water temperature and safe soaking: Your questions answered, Crystal clear water: Managing hot tub phosphates, Backyard bliss: Space-saving swim spa ideas, Works in conjunction with Master Spas EcoPur Charge Filtration System, Takes less time to balance water as it dissolves more quickly, Quickly kills contaminants in your hot tub water. These chloramines smell (Think public swimming pool But exactly how do these two sanitizers do that? This just means it requires less frequent involvement to keep your water properly sanitized. Overall, while both are very capable sanitizers, chlorine is the better choice if you need a quick solution to dirty water. people do not submerge their head under the water and open their eyes! Generally speaking, the brominated organics are more troublesome than the chlorinated ones. Check free chlorine or bromine levels. Make adjustments as necessary. Produces softer water which is easier on the skin and eyes. The majority of hot tub/spa dealerships will say bromine is the best chemical to sanitise your hot tub or spa and list at least four good reasons. Its recommended that you use algaecide as well to keep the water clear. While chlorine may work more quickly, bromine is more stable than chlorine, especially in warm water. While chlorine is the most common sanitizer for swimming pools, bromine is used to sanitize hot tubs more often, with good reason. The cost is around 20 /$20, and the cartridge can be used with either chlorine or bromine. The Differences Between Bromine And Chlorine, This is because chlorine oxidizes contaminants, chlorine produces a byproduct called chloramines, alternative solution for chlorine-sensitive people. As it works, the chlorine dissipates and turns into a waste product called chloramines. However, I hear that many people decommission their hot tub during the winter season and I think they might be missing out. Its stable and wont degrade with sunlight and changes in temperature. The 6 Best Pool Chlorine Alternatives [Pros and Cons] If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I would also add a teaspoon of chlorine granules after I had used the hot tub in the UV-C is a specific part of the whole ultraviolet spectrum that is responsible for the disinfecting effect. In the UK click here to find the price on Amazon? This chemical element can also be used in making gasoline anti-knock compounds. of an issue for me. Aromatherapy fits perfectly with this narrative, and in this article, I will discuss the dos and dont of hot tub aromatherapy [], WARNING This article may put you off hot tubbing. Chlorine: The ideal level for chlorine is 1 parts per million (ppm) to 3 ppm, with 3 ppm being ideal. the jets were on full blast. In brief, it uses dissolved salt to generate chlorine molecules that form hypochlorous acid after reacting with the water molecules. another reason why some hot tub owners prefer bromine. And youll find chlorine and bromine tablets and granules are available, so which delivery method is best? at the lower limit of the recommended level. Keep in mind that chlorine and other disinfectants don't always kill all pool germs instantly, and some super strong bugs tolerate most levels of . Remove the chlorine and any other chemicals used in the past. Chlorine eliminates the bacteria, algae, and other pollutants that grow in our water systems. Bromine is a corrosive, volatile, pungent chemical derived from natural brine deposits and salt bodies of water, like the Dead Sea. As you can see, there are many pool chlorine alternatives you can choose from if you want to invest in a new pool system. On the flip side, chlorine produces a byproduct called chloramines which are not only significantly weaker than chlorine but also consume some of your free chlorine as theyre essentially contaminants themselves. Chlorine developed for pools and spas protects us from germs. The best way to enjoy your hot tub is to make sure the water is clean and clear. Shocking simply regenerates used bromine into active bromine. Bromine can also be found as an alternative to chlorine in swimming pools. In this article, I will detail what you need to consider when you are thinking about buying a hot tub remember I am [], There is nothing I like better than using the hot tub first thing in the morning when there is a frost, and the steam from the hot tub beautifully frames the garden. Spa Choice Bromine Tablets for Hot Tubs - 5 lbs. Therefore, you have to test the water quality regularly (weekly or so) because you want TDS (total dissolved solids) to stay under 1000 ppm. To get optimal benefit from any sanitizer, you need to use enough to work with how much water your hot tub holds, which correlates to how big the tub is. Too much chlorine increases the harmful effects of the chemical. Bromide sanitised hot tubs give off less odour. In contrast, if you add chlorine directly to your pool, youll have to shock your pool regularly (weekly or semi-weekly) to get rid of chloramines. But should you choose chlorine or bromine as your hot tub sanitizer? A Cheat Sheet For Balanced Hot Tub Water and Crystal Clear Soaking. While electric mineral ionizers have a higher initial cost (and low maintenance costs), erosion mineral sanitizers are pretty affordable: Nature2 and Frog products are highly popular and offer a reliable solution to lower chlorine use. Chlorine vs Bromine: Which Is Best for Your Hot Tub? This is why it can be a great choice for indoor pools and spas where unpleasant odors can accumulate easier than in the case of open-air pools. Free Next Day Delivery on 1,000's of items! So, unlike chlorine, ozone has no toxic byproducts. If it gets really bad, though, and the chlorine isnt doing the job on its own, you can shock your hot tub to get rid of chloramines. The argument for using dissolvable tablets Theyre unlikely to cause any skin or eye irritation and they dont damage pool equipment. On the other hand, its much cheaper to maintain a saltwater pool ($50-$80/year) than a traditional chlorine pool ($250-$300/year). To keep chloramines at bay, youll need to add chlorine on a regular basis, usually at least once a week. Electric mineral ionizers usually have a higher upfront cost. Finding the best water care routine will depend on how often and how many people use it. use the same feeder for both, whether you use chlorine or bromine tablets or granules. While both are chemical sanitizers used to kill bacteria in swimming pools and hot tubs, there are many differences between chlorine and bromine, and each pool chemical has its strengths and weaknesses. Then, to know whether youve used enough, youll need to test the water to gauge the levels. Turn on the pump and remove the skimmer cover. It provides powerful sanitation and soft, clear water. So with this, bromine is a better option for a hot tub than chlorine. Copyright 2023 Brought to you by www.allabouthottubs.com, Click here to read an article on hot tub infections caused by unclean hot tub water. Its not recommended using UV light in itself to purify pool water: you also have to add chlorine. A pH of 7.2 to 7.8 maximizes germ-killing power. Its extracted from brine pools in the ocean basin and its available in the form of tablets at stores. Chlorine can create difficulty breathing, sore throat, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, eye and skin irritation, and other conditions. Basically, the most common sanitizers are chlorine and bromine. Sanitizing your pool or hot tub is crucial to prevent the nasty growth of algae or bacteria. inflatable hot tub only if you are going to use bromine with the spa frog. The spa chemicals you use are all safe in the proper amounts. Many hard hot tubs have a cartridge holder In this article, Ill show you the pros and cons of the most popular chlorine-free and low chlorine pool systems to help you find the one that suits your needs best. Products containing bromine are used in agriculture and sanitation and as fire retardants (chemicals that help prevent things from catching fire). Its a critical nutrient for animals and plants. You can purchase bromine in granular form or in the form of bromine tablets. These ions can also be added to your water through sodium bromide or algaecide products that contain it. it creates chloramines. Salt water chlorine vs. salt water bromine. If you have an inflatable hot tub, you can Bromine will cost you more An ozone generator uses either ultraviolet light or a corona discharge system (it uses a high voltage electrical current) to produce ozone from oxygen molecules. Chlorine needs to be replaced more often than bromine. This is the question I am asked the most Is bromine better than chlorine to sanitise my hot tub and keep the water crystal clear and safe? Chlorine is easier to find compared to bromine, which makes it a more convenient option when it comes to sanitizing your pool or hot tub. and the fact that granules are cheaper Bromine vs. Chlorine: Which Hot Tub Sanitizer is Best For Your Spa? Take a look at my guide on swimming pool chemical storage for storage and handling. Chlorine vs. Bromine: What's the Difference? Bromine is . Because bromamines do not gas off the surface of the water, bromine is considered a better choice for indoor pools that do not receive a lot of direct sunlight. Dohenys is pleased to offer free next day delivery at no additional charge for orders over $100 to most of the US for all Doheny's brand chemicals and many of our most popular swimming pool supplies. You dont have to completely start over with fresh water. You have to replace the salt cell unit regularly (every 4-7 years). Whats your budget? Pools attract all kinds of pathogens and while most of them are harmless to humans, some are potentially hazardous and can cause really serious health issues. Because of this, unlike chlorine tablets or granules, it spreads very quickly in the water and begins working right away. This is relevant because bromide ions are oxidized by chlorine, effectively waking them up and turning them back into bromine. and anti-algae and add an extra layer of The water coming from the pools filter passes through the UV system where its sanitized and then circulates out into the pool. What's better for a spa - Chlorine or Bromine? - Spa World Compared to bromine, chlorine requires much more maintenance. :-) Find out more To get it out there from the start the number of jets is NOT the most important thing to consider when you are going looking for a new hot tub. One of the biggest disadvantages of PHMB is that its not an oxidizer, that is to say, it cant break down contaminants (such as dead skin cells, body oils, and other organic substances), thus you have to add hydrogen peroxide to the water to do the job. To prove it, if you find a lower total delivered price by a licensed and authorized pool supply catalog or website (excludes auctions), we will refund you the difference. to find an article where I give some great top tips! More maintenance is required. When you consider that chlorine already lacks the staying power of bromine under normal conditions, the temperature issue just makes bromine all the more attractive. One major disadvantage of bromine is that its not stabilized as effectively against UV light as chlorine. Or at all? While we try our best, unexpected demand can cause products to occasionally be out of stock or create a warehouse backlog that also can prevent shipment the day of the order. On the other hand, it won't oxidize the pool water as well as chlorine will. With that being said,bromineworksbetterat higher temperatures and is softer on the skin, whereaschlorineis cheaper, works for longer, and doesnt break down as quickly in UV (when paired with cyanuric acid). The most popular sanitizers on the market today are chlorine and bromine, which are both classified as halogens. If you are considering which pool sanitizer is best for your pool or spa, this handy guide will tell you everything you need to know about chlorine and bromine. However, as mentioned earlier, chlorine produces chloramines when it reacts with contaminants, and enough chloramines will give off a very strong, unpleasant odor. There are two main types of mineral pool systems: mineral ionizers use electricity to create and feed metal ions (usually copper and silver) into the pool water that eliminate algae and kill bacteria, while erosion (or supplemental) type mineral sanitizers dont need electricity, instead, they contain a replaceable pre-filled cartridge full of natural minerals (usually sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and borates) that are being dispensed into the water gradually. We have thousands of items eligible for next day shipping! My name is Brendan and I am passionate about hot tubs! The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Its capable of killing many different kinds of pathogens, including algae, bacteria, and viruses. Chlorine at high hot tub temperatures breaks down much Otherwise, I would probably give it a miss. Natural mineral sanitizers are getting popular: theyre effective, eco-friendly, and easy to maintain. Another disadvantage is that while you can easily and cheaply add chlorine tablets to your pools water (all you need is a simple floating chlorine dispenser), you should get an automatic erosion feeder to dissolve bromine adequately in the water which is an extra expense. Hold the feeder under the hot tub water for a few seconds to push the air out and keep it more stable while it floats. One major disadvantage of saltwater chlorination is the initial cost. As the bromine is used up in your hot tub, it's easy to revitalize with a shock, like our FROG Maintain non-chlorine shock. more about bad smelling water and solutions in another article. because I found that in reality adjusting the size of these holes made little to The idea that you can kill all the germs with light thats harmless to humans without using any chemicals can be very appealing, however, UV light systems have their own drawbacks. and if you find that the chemical level Chlorine also contains bleach, has a distinct smell, and can irritate the skin. Theres an increasing demand for products that can serve as a reliable and safe alternative to chlorine. This is because bromine produces bromamines as a byproduct of sanitation whereas chlorine produces a much harsher byproduct in the form of chloramines (or combined chlorine). If you end up with too much chlorine in your hot tub, you can try a few things to lower the levels. A salt water sanitizing system continuously provides enough free chlorine that eliminates chloramines so they cant accumulate. Health & Safety With both bromine and chlorine, if you're using them according to the manufacturers' instructions, they are totally safe for humans. 1. If you need help deciding which sanitizer is right for your pool or spa or if you have questions about any of our pool supplies and equipment, contact Dohenys today at 800-574-7665 or visit our website at doheny.com. Because bromamines do not gas off the surface of the water, bromine is considered a better choice for indoor pools that do not receive a lot of direct sunlight. If you want to go as low maintenance as possible in an outdoor pool, chlorine is definitely the best choice, as it lasts longer in the sun. Granular chlorine dissolves rapidly but has less available chlorine per pound and is more expensive. We have been chlorine perfectionists for 54 years! The UV-C rays kill the pathogens by destroying their DNA or RNA (in the case of some viruses) so no chemical is needed for the process. Bromine remains stable above 75F (24C), whereas chlorine is more effective at lower temperatures such as 65F (18C). This was my thinking The chemical process produces a product called bromamines. The byproduct of bromine, bromamines, is still an effective sanitizer, while chloramines from chlorine are not. Tiny Red Bugs In House: Are They Harmful? An alternative chlorine, bromine can be used to keep hot tub water clean. As with the famous After that, you can add the bromine to the water and adjust . Bromine vs. Chlorine for Hot Tubs: Discover The Best Choice Please check your entries and try again. It works independently of the temperature and pH level. Salt Water Pool System vs Chlorine vs Bromine This causes the bacteria to be destroyed. Pool Chlorine Alternatives | Safe Chlorine For Pools - HouseLogic Sanitizer is one of the hot tub chemicals that are key to keeping your water clean, clear, and safe to use. Liquid chlorine, or sodium hypochlorite, can be easily measured and poured directly into your water without having to pre-dissolve in a bucket. Here's how. delivery method you use, so why not just use granules Remember when we said bromide forms bromamine when it reacts with contaminants in the water? Chloramines are byproducts of the reaction of chlorine molecules and certain types of organic substances (like skin cells, urine, saliva, or sweat) that are present in your pool. Thus, if you use ozone purification, you still have to add some chlorine (or bromine) to your pool to ensure high water quality. Side effects are dependent on how sensitive you are to certain chemicals. If you imagine a contaminant as a metal chain, oxidizing is like cutting and removing some of the links in the chain with pliers, while ionizing is like weakening all the links with a blowtorch until it breaks apart. While chlorine is can be stabilized by . Bromine Vs. Chlorine: What's The Difference? - Poolonomics In fact, the cost of bromine is almost double the cost of chlorine. We try to do our best to deliver valuable and helpful information and give straightforward answers to your questions. Its very easy to maintain, however you have to test the water at least once a week. If you reside in the next day delivery area served by our Pleasant Prairie facility, order in-stock products and place your order by 3 PM Local Time you should receive your order the next day (except Saturday or Sunday). While the chlorine is working, the chemical reaction will produce chloramines. Allow the water to circulate for 20 minutes to allow the sanitizer to disperse. Saltwater Chlorine or Saltwater Bromine? - Leslie's Pool Supplies All Rights Reserved. Both chlorine and bromine can cause skin irritation if the concentrated chemical comes into contact with your skin. They are both chemical compounds that will destroy bacteria and germs efficiently. This is because when chlorine kills bacteria, Chlorine: It oxidizes contaminants, invading them and destroying them from the inside out. Chlorine or bromine? The solution will last longer than chlorine. Copyright 2023 Dohenys . All rights reserved. If youre looking for pool chlorine alternatives to avoid red eyes, itchy skin, and chlorine smell then you may want to consider this solution. While bromine is gentler on the human body, however, washing it off can be a bit more difficult than youre used to with chlorine. Chlorine is a natural chemical element scattered over the globe, primarily concentrated in salty oceans. Bromine pools and spas can be shocked to reactivate bromine in the water. Another advantage of bromine is that its more stable in hot water than chlorine: while bromine can effectively eliminate germs until the water temperature reaches 130-140F, chlorine is most powerful below 65-75F. In this article, I will detail the advantages of bromine, but will also explain why Chlorine might work better for some of you. The Bromine vs. Chlorine Debate - FROG Products Both of these chemicals have their own advantages and disadvantages. Pool Supply Pool Floating Tablet Chemical Dispenser. However, outdoor pools use stabilized chlorine (paired with cyanuric acid) which is even more resistant than bromine. The pH usually rises rapidly in a saltwater pool that you have to adjust regularly. This is because liquid bromine is incredibly reactive and corrosive, which adds complexity issues to transportation and safety concerns around commercial use. Dont use the pool for a few hours, so the chlorine disperses sufficiently. And each year, he continues to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. Questions on this topic? Bromine, on the other hand, ionizes contaminants by destroying their chemical bonds and forming ions (charged particles). Disturbing as it may sound, the water we drink is constantly exposed to everything from bacteria and parasites to mold and viruses. Chlorine levels should be between 1.5 and 3.0 ppm. This affordable dispenser from U.S. Saying that I used Important: Never place chlorine tablets and bromine tablets together in the same floater or feeder, as this can cause a dangerous chemical reaction. Look for a free chlorine level of 1 to 10 mg/L or parts per million (ppm) or a bromine level of 3 to 8 ppm. And remember youll be changing your water and deep cleaning your hot tub every few months. You can add 60 grams of bromine granules for every 2.5 gallons of water. Many people use bromine in their hot tub because they have sensitive skin; bromine can be less irritating. Do you want to use the least amount of chemicals possible? I found my Many spa, pool, and hot tub owners use bromine instead of chlorine. shower before entering the spa! is below what is required, you will need This is because bromine has a higher molecular weight than chlorine which gives it a higher boiling point. incorrect. I changed over to bromine about two years ago when I decided to upgrade from an inflatable hot tub to a larger solid tub. I have already spoken about the Spa Frog system, and this uses a mineral cartridge that lasts about four months.

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