pH

pH describes how acidic or alkaline your hot tub water is. A lower reading means the water is more acidic; a higher reading means it is more alkaline. It is a separate measurement from total alkalinity, which describes the water’s resistance to changes in pH. The pH result is a number on a scale, rather than a concentration in parts per million.

Your spa manual and water-care product labels set out the appropriate range and adjustment procedure for your equipment. Keeping pH in that range helps the sanitizer work as intended and limits problems caused by unbalanced water. Record the reading alongside your other test results before making changes. Legacy Spas’ water-testing service can help you understand the results if the numbers are difficult to interpret.