Pool and Hot Tub Supplies – Your Ultimate Checklist

When you become the proud owner of a pool and/or hot tub, you’ll find that there are many supplies on the market designed to help you get the most out of your investment.

At St. Cyr Pool and Spa, we do our best to recommend products that deliver the best and most effective results.

This checklist provides an overview of chemicals, equipment, and accessories that our experts consider advantageous for owners to have on hand.

Pool and Hot Tub Supplies: Chemicals, Accessories, and Equipment

Since pools and hot tubs have so much in common, we’ll begin with a list of hot tub supplies that can be used for both.

Chemicals

Pool and hot tub water must be balanced, and to achieve that balance, you must treat the water with a combination of chemicals. Balanced water is clean and clear, does not damage your equipment or liner, and does not cause eye or skin irritation among users.

• Chlorine is the most widely used chemical used for water purification and sanitation. Some pool and hot tub owners elect to use liquid chlorine; others use tablets, granules, or powders.
• Cyanuric acid stabilizes the amount of chlorine in the water, making it so you don’t have to worry about having added too little or too much chlorine. It also prevents the chlorine from evaporating or being burned off the water by the sun’s UV rays.
• If your water doesn’t meet the proper pH, all the chemicals you’re putting into the water aren’t able to work together. A pH increaser or reducer helps owners achieve the delicate pH balance necessary to make all the chemicals work in concert.
• Alkalinity increasers and reducers are needed to help manage the water’s delicate pH levels just as well. If levels are too high, sodium bicarbonate is recommended. Too low? Muriatic acid is the way to go.
• Algae, bacteria, and other contaminants can be eliminated with the use of oxidizers, which shock the water and thereby deliver an extra layer of sanitation. Shock-based treatments purify water quickly and are beneficial to use should algae become a problem, if someone has gotten sick in the water, or if rainwater has entered your pool or hot tub following a storm.
• Calcium chloride is another essential chemical that balances the water because you don’t want your water to be too hard or too soft.

Pool & Hot Tub Accessories

The majority of the pool and hot tub accessories make owners’ lives easier. Here are six accessories that we recommend placing at the top of your shopping list.

• What’s a pool or hot tub without a cover? Covers are a must-have in order to protect the water inside the structure—trapping the heat, preventing debris from entering into the water; and thwarting chemical evaporation.
• An accessory that compliments the cover is a cover lifter—a fantastic way to easily remove your cover as well as put it back on.
• Solar covers soak up the heat from the sun and essentially transfer it to your pool or hot tub water, which helps maintain temperature as well as the water’s overall chemical balance.
• A winter safety cover protects the water inside your pool during the off-season and minimizes algae growth. Those who wish to winterize their hot tubs might also consider a one of these for the purpose of adding an extra layer of protection against the accumulation of snow and ice.
• Thermometers are useful whenever you or your guests would like an accurate temperature of the water.
• Some pool and hot tub owners elect to purchase signage—for example, a “No Diving” sign for a shallow pool, and a “Warning” sign for a hot tub.
• A floating sponge can help prevent scum lines, murky water, and clogged filters by absorbing oils, hair products, and other contaminants that cause build-up.

Equipment

Everybody deserves to swim in a clean pool and soak in a clean hot tub. Here are a few worthwhile pieces of equipment that serve the pool and hot tub owners well.

• Water testers are one of the most essential hot tub supplies you need when it comes to proper maintenance. Whether you prefer to use a liquid test kit or a test strip, you must get into the habit of testing your water regularly to determine if you need to add or reduce certain chemicals.
• Robotic vacuums are dirt-suckers, algae-scrubbers, and time-savers; they suck up dirt, sand, and other debris in your water that you might not otherwise be able to remove.
• Filter cartridge cleaning tools—such as wands and flossers—are useful when it’s time to give your filter a good scrubbing.

Pool-Specific Supplies: Accessories and Equipment

A majority of the chemicals needed for regular maintenance and upkeep are listed above, so this section offers a list of supplies that cater specifically to pool owners.

Accessories and Equipment

• Long poles with accessories such as vacuum heads and hoses, brushes, and nets are helpful for cleaning. These poles help you collect leaves, bugs, and other undesirable debris that is floating at or near the top or clinging to the bottom or walls of your pool.
• Rescue poles (or shepherd’s hooks) should be kept poolside in the event that rescue must be performed.
• If your pool has a shallow end and a deep end, you can shop for a floating rope that separates the two.
• Want to add heat to your pool water? A water heater can help you with that.
• Purchasing spare floaties is an excellent idea, especially if you anticipate welcoming children into your pool.
• Inflatables such as circular tubes, chairs, and hammocks afford children and adults alike with an opportunity to lounge on the water.
• Shade is a big plus, especially if your deck is large enough to accommodate beach umbrellas or pop-up beach tents.
• For the sun-seekers, comfortable chairs and loungers make sitting poolside a pleasurable experience.

Specific Hot Tub Supplies: Chemicals, Accessories, and Equipment

Hot tub owners, this list is for you: hot tub supplies that will make ownership easier and more enjoyable.

Hot Tub Chemicals

As mentioned, many of the same chemicals used in pools are also used in hot tubs. There are two chemicals worth mentioning, however, that are specific to hot tubs.

• If the color of the water in your hot tub looks off (read: orange, brown, green, or red), you may have a calcium or heavy metal buildup. A sequestering agent can resolve these issues.
• Hot tub foam is caused by the oils, hair products, and makeup products that get released into the water. If your hot tub water becomes visibly foamy, buy a defoamer.

Accessories and Equipment

The following items go a long way when it comes to offering hot tub owners privacy and peace of mind.

• Privacy screens offer extra privacy while you and yours relax and soak.
• Even though your hot tub comes with built-in seats, some owners appreciate the extra comfort that cushions
• A cover lock can give you peace of mind by ensuring your cover cannot be lifted without the key or combination.
• Leak sealant can make a huge difference between a small leak and a big leak if you happen to notice that your hot tub is, in fact, leaking.

Contact St. Cyr Pool and Spa Today

At St. Cyr Pool and Spa, we recognize that pool and spa owners take pride in maintaining their pools and hot tubs so they and others can thoroughly enjoy spending time in the water. We hope you found this hot tub supplies checklist helpful and informative.

As always, we encourage you to contact us at 844-503-7005 with any questions about pool and hot tub supplies that you’re considering; our experts would be glad to share our recommendations and insights with you.

We also encourage you to check out our website, which features a helpful FAQ section, a blog, and an Owner Resources page.

As your go-to home and backyard leisure dealership that offers a variety of pools, hot tubs, swim spas, and saunas from which to choose, St. Cyr Pool and Spa prioritizes our customer’s health and happiness, and we look forward to continuing to serve you and yours when it comes to all your pool and spa-related needs.