{"id":5016,"date":"2024-12-06T14:49:27","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T14:49:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.platinum-spas.com\/?p=5016"},"modified":"2024-12-06T14:49:27","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T14:49:27","slug":"cyanuric-acid-in-hot-tubs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.platinum-spas.com\/ca\/latest-news\/cyanuric-acid-in-hot-tubs\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you use cyanuric acid in hot tubs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you own a swimming pool, swim spa<\/a>, or hot tub<\/a>, you might have seen discussions about adding cyanuric acid (also known as CYA) to your pool. This chemical has many useful effects when it comes to protecting your water, but it also comes with controversial side effects \u2013 so should we be adding it to our hot tubs, or avoiding it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our guide will explain all you need to know about CYA and how to maintain a healthy amount of it in your hot tub. We\u2019ll go into some of the pros and cons of cyanuric acid and explain the general importance of adding chemicals like this to your water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Cyanuric Acid?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cyanuric acid is a chemical compound made up of carbon and nitrogen and is often sold in the spa\/pool industry as \u201cpool conditioner\u201d or \u201cpool stabiliser\u201d. Pool owners typically use CYA to protect the chlorine levels in their water, as the sun\u2019s UV rays degrade chlorine sanitiser over time. But cyanuric acid protects it from sunlight, allowing outdoor pools to stay clean for longer with less maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you add chlorine to your hot tub using granules, powder, or tablets, then you\u2019ll likely be adding a small amount of CYA to your water with each top-up. Cyanuric acid also isn\u2019t necessary in hot tubs that use bromine, so only chlorine users need to be conscious of their CYA levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is cyanuric acid controversial in hot tubs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cyanuric acid is important in outdoor pools because of how exposed they are to sunlight, but more often than not, your hot tub won\u2019t be as open as a swimming pool. With indoor spas, tub covers, and more, sunlight will affect a hot tub much less than larger bodies of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Too much CYA in a hot tub, however, can cause your chlorine to be less effective at sanitising your water \u2013 this is known as \u201cchlorine lock\u201d. It\u2019s important to monitor your levels to make sure you don\u2019t reach this point, but it can be tough when you\u2019re adding small amounts to the tub daily. Your hot tub could also be damaged by the wrong amount of pool stabiliser, which creates limescale that can erode your components over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also health issues raised by cyanuric acid, due to certain waterborne diseases being able to live longer in water containing this chemical. For example, the bacteria associated with hot tub rash can live for up to four times as long in water with high CYA levels, so bathing when levels are out of balance isn\u2019t recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s a safe level of cyanuric acid in my hot tub?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite its downsides, it\u2019s hard to avoid having some CYA in your hot tub, and it\u2019s safe when kept to a reasonable amount. Getting the right chemicals for your hot tub as a beginner<\/a> can be intimidating, but it\u2019s important to make sure the levels in your tub aren\u2019t too high or low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ideally, your cyanuric acid levels should lie between 30 and 50 ppm (parts per million) to reap the benefits without risking permanent damage. Your CYA levels can fluctuate due to how often you\u2019ll be adding more to your water, so make sure to take regular note of them and adjust for any errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I lower cyanuric acid levels in a hot tub?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve found out that your hot tub water contains too much cyanuric acid, it\u2019s important to return your levels to the recommended range as soon as possible. You shouldn\u2019t use a hot tub without adding chemicals<\/a>, but here are a few ways you can reduce the amounts of CYA while sticking to your usual maintenance routine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n