chemical brands

[kokanee001]

I've had my hot tub for over a year now. I have always purchased all my chemicals from my hot tub dealer. Have never had a problem. However, I see all sorts of brands of hot tub chemicals being sold on-line and locally at places like Wal-mart, Home Depot, Home Hardware. etc. Is there a good reason why I should continue to buy from my dealer or should I be shopping by price? I'm not trying to be cheap; just want to be a smart consumer. Comments appreciated. Thanx.

[spa-ing]

I buy all of mine from walmart. There is no difference when it comes to bromine or shock or ph down.  Buy where it is cheaper and don't worry about it.

I also order my filters online for about $14 each instead of $40 each from the local Leisure Spa.

[In Canada eh]

kokanee001,

  I have always been of the opinion that if my dealer is 5 or 10 % higher then the big boxes I will continue to buy from them, it's worth it for the great service, try asking that kid a Home Depot about a part for your spa or how to arrange for a service call.   I also always try to support a Mom & Pop outfit as much as I can.  I did however order my Taylor kit from Doc but that's because Canadian prices on it were insane .


edit.  I just noticed the Home Hardware comment, has to be another Canuck here, we are starting to take over!  Term's worst fear abunch of socialist liberals with national health care and gun control laws

[Vinny]

What In Canada said is a smart move. I don't use my dealer because her prices on chems are very high - $26 for 2 lbs of combo shock (MPS and dichlor) while at Docs I can get 5 lbs of dichlor for $30. I order all my stuff on-line.

Not all chemicals are the same ... Walmart "spa chlorine" is cal hypo, not a good choice for chlorine for a spa.

Generic chlorine may be a good buy but may not. The active chlorine in dichlor is anywhere from 52% to 62% - less active means more filler. Not much diference between 56% and 62% but a big difference in 62% and 52% - price should be at least 10% cheaper for the lesser active chlorine to be an equal value.

Alkalinity up is baking soda which is a lot cheaper at the supermarket. For me it also works as PH up.

[kokanee001]

I've stayed with my dealer for the reasons given by In Canada Eh, as well as the fact that he gives me 15% off the chems I buy.

I figure that some chems at the cheaper places may have fillers, but I can gauge that by how much of the product I might have to add to my water compared to how much I add when I'm using the dealer's chems. I was just looking at simple chems like pH up or pH down, alkalinity stuff and so on.

I'm not finding that my dealer's prices are too high. I just wanted to know user's opinions on chems.

[Chas]

Do study the types of chlorine - be sure the stuff you use has the word "Dichlor" in the chemical make-up.

 8-)

[BG-Pete]

Do study the types of chlorine - be sure the stuff you use has the word "Dichlor" in the chemical make-up.

 8-)

Another thing I have noticed is that there are different concentrations of the active ingredient.

[Steve]

I buy all of mine from walmart. There is no difference when it comes to bromine or shock or ph down.  Buy where it is cheaper and don't worry about it.

I also order my filters online for about $14 each instead of $40 each from the local Leisure Spa.

Do you get your water tested monthly anywhere? If your water goes sideways, who do you go to for advise? Next time you're in Walmart, tell the guy at the counter that your alk is 60, your pH is 6.8, your calcium hardness is 110 and your TDS is 1200 and ask for recommendations... Then tell him your water is cloudy and that you have a rash 'cause no one explained how to look after it and how to prevent bacteria.

You get what you pay for... but don't worry about it. That rash will heal one day.

[Hillbilly Hot Tub]

I buy all of mine from walmart. There is no difference when it comes to bromine or shock or ph down.  

Walmart bromine tablets are not the same, compare the chemical amounts. The stuff they sell for spa sanitizer should not be used in spas. The company that makes the chemicals for Walmart also makes chemicals for spa dealers. They put out a paper for us to show that it actaully costs more per pound/active ingredient than the stuff you purchase from spa stores.

Most the online stuff is pretty safe, just check how much active ingredient ther is and what it is. Online can be cheaper because of the lack of overhead. There are advantages to a dealer if you have water chemistry issues though.

[Steve]

There are advantages to a dealer if you have water chemistry issues though.

IF or WHEN? In the 10's of thousands of water tests I've done, I can't think of one where a new owner had no issues at all at some point. Mostly early on in their ownership!

Most commonly...why is my water cloudy? Without a doubt, the number one issue of new spa owners!

[BG-Pete]

What In Canada said is a smart move. I don't use my dealer because her prices on chems are very high - $26 for 2 lbs of combo shock (MPS and dichlor) while at Docs I can get 5 lbs of dichlor for $30. I order all my stuff on-line.

Not all chemicals are the same ... Walmart "spa chlorine" is cal hypo, not a good choice for chlorine for a spa.

Generic chlorine may be a good buy but may not. The active chlorine in dichlor is anywhere from 52% to 62% - less active means more filler. Not much diference between 56% and 62% but a big difference in 62% and 52% - price should be at least 10% cheaper for the lesser active chlorine to be an equal value.

Alkalinity up is baking soda which is a lot cheaper at the supermarket. For me it also works as PH up.

Not sure if this is good or bad, but we just paid $5 for a 2.25 lbs of shock (Natures Way 99% active ingredient) and $3 for 50 Aquacheck test strips from our local shop.  I didn't think that was too bad at all.

[Vinny]

This is a common misconception - I believe all dichlor is 99% of active ingredient but there is another number usually on the bottle of the actual chlorine concentration and this will be anywhere from 52% to 62%.

Personally I think $5 for 2.25 lbs is a great price as long as it's not a very low concentration ... heck if it is around 52% - stock up on it!

[Summitman]

Do you get your water tested monthly anywhere? If your water goes sideways, who do you go to for advise? Next time you're in Walmart, tell the guy at the counter that your alk is 60, your pH is 6.8, your calcium hardness is 110 and your TDS is 1200 and ask for recommendations... Then tell him your water is cloudy and that you have a rash 'cause no one explained how to look after it and how to prevent bacteria.

You get what you pay for... but don't worry about it. That rash will heal one day.

also hopefully wal mart and the online dealers will be out to service that spa so you dont have to buy a new one when yours goes bad!

[starsky]

Do you get your water tested monthly anywhere? If your water goes sideways, who do you go to for advise? Next time you're in Walmart, tell the guy at the counter that your alk is 60, your pH is 6.8, your calcium hardness is 110 and your TDS is 1200 and ask for recommendations... Then tell him your water is cloudy and that you have a rash 'cause no one explained how to look after it and how to prevent bacteria.

You get what you pay for... but don't worry about it. That rash will heal one day.

With the internet, this forum and other forums available, some with built in calculators for adding chemicals, couldn't a semi savvy person get by without paying higher prices for chemicals in order to get advice from the dealer? Just a thought..

[spa-ing]

Do you get your water tested monthly anywhere? If your water goes sideways, who do you go to for advise? Next time you're in Walmart, tell the guy at the counter that your alk is 60, your pH is 6.8, your calcium hardness is 110 and your TDS is 1200 and ask for recommendations... Then tell him your water is cloudy and that you have a rash 'cause no one explained how to look after it and how to prevent bacteria.

You get what you pay for... but don't worry about it. That rash will heal one day.

That is just so dumb.  My DEALER is the one who sold me a load of crap, every chemical in the book and tried to tell me that my water, without HIS chemicals, would practically keep my kids from getting into a good college.  My DEALER stocks the same filter cartridge brand I buy online for 3x the price.

Sorry to disappoint you but my Walmart bromine is working just fine and no, we don't have any rashes or problems at all. My water is dumped every 6 months and it is crystal clear and in range all the time.