Hello! I'm new to the board and looking for tips on storing spa chemicals. I realize this is a long message about a boring subject so if you want to skim through you can just read the bolded parts.
I have owned a CalSpas outdoor hot tub since autumn 2010. I've used chlorine tablets and AquaFinesse weekly to maintain water quality. The seller told me I don't need to measure water quality with this system, but after reading some forums I've learned I should probably change my system. Regardless, water has been ok since I don't use my hot tub often and I always change the water after parties.
My real issue is with chemical storage. Right now I have chlorine tablets, shock chlorine powder, liquid aquafinesse, and aquafinesse filter cleaner tablets. I used to store all chems outside in a box, but I figured it's not safe due to sunlight, rain and temperature. I live in Finland and the temperature varies commonly between -25C to +25C. I think I moved the chems inside during the first winter. Since then I've kept them in a wooden box/closet thingy in my living room. When I open the door of the closet there is a strong chlorine/chemical smell. The vapors also leak outside. I can smell the odors from my couch which is several feet away, but no one else is able to smell them beyond close proximity to the closet door.
At some point small amounts of chlorine and/or aquafinesse did leak onto the closet (i kept old bed sheets under the chemicals). I also kept the powder chlorine sideways for a long time because it didn't fit properly into the box closet. I thought this was the source of the smell so I tweaked the box closet and the items can now stand properly in it. However, the smell still exists. I have an A/C system in my house but as far as I know it only circulates and cleans air. It doesn't actually bring in fresh air from the outside. I am worried of incurring damage to my health by keeping the chemicals inside, and worried of ruining the chems or starting a fire by keeping them outside. I've also thought about storing them inside the engine room of the spa, but I don't know if it's safe. It sure would be inconvenient. I did not get proper instructions from the seller and there is nothing useful written on the chemicals (some say "store in a cool and dry place", some say nothing about storage).
I've had eye irritation for about 2 years. Today I read online that one of the symptoms of long-term exposure to low amounts of chlorine in the air is eye irritation. I moved the chems back into the box outside but don't know if that's a permanent solution. The timing of the irritation coincides better with the installation of my A/C unit (which dries air), than with placing the chems inside the house, but I can't be sure what causes it. The irritation is really bad during winters, almost unnoticeable during summers, and goes away entirely when I vacation in humid countries. I've purchased an air humidifier which has helped considerably.
I'm also somewhat paranoid of already doing some irreparable damage to my respiratory systems, skin, eyes or brain. If someone can help alleviate my paranoia I would be grateful. Google has not been my friend today
I have owned a CalSpas outdoor hot tub since autumn 2010. I've used chlorine tablets and AquaFinesse weekly to maintain water quality. The seller told me I don't need to measure water quality with this system, but after reading some forums I've learned I should probably change my system. Regardless, water has been ok since I don't use my hot tub often and I always change the water after parties.
My real issue is with chemical storage. Right now I have chlorine tablets, shock chlorine powder, liquid aquafinesse, and aquafinesse filter cleaner tablets. I used to store all chems outside in a box, but I figured it's not safe due to sunlight, rain and temperature. I live in Finland and the temperature varies commonly between -25C to +25C. I think I moved the chems inside during the first winter. Since then I've kept them in a wooden box/closet thingy in my living room. When I open the door of the closet there is a strong chlorine/chemical smell. The vapors also leak outside. I can smell the odors from my couch which is several feet away, but no one else is able to smell them beyond close proximity to the closet door.
At some point small amounts of chlorine and/or aquafinesse did leak onto the closet (i kept old bed sheets under the chemicals). I also kept the powder chlorine sideways for a long time because it didn't fit properly into the box closet. I thought this was the source of the smell so I tweaked the box closet and the items can now stand properly in it. However, the smell still exists. I have an A/C system in my house but as far as I know it only circulates and cleans air. It doesn't actually bring in fresh air from the outside. I am worried of incurring damage to my health by keeping the chemicals inside, and worried of ruining the chems or starting a fire by keeping them outside. I've also thought about storing them inside the engine room of the spa, but I don't know if it's safe. It sure would be inconvenient. I did not get proper instructions from the seller and there is nothing useful written on the chemicals (some say "store in a cool and dry place", some say nothing about storage).
I've had eye irritation for about 2 years. Today I read online that one of the symptoms of long-term exposure to low amounts of chlorine in the air is eye irritation. I moved the chems back into the box outside but don't know if that's a permanent solution. The timing of the irritation coincides better with the installation of my A/C unit (which dries air), than with placing the chems inside the house, but I can't be sure what causes it. The irritation is really bad during winters, almost unnoticeable during summers, and goes away entirely when I vacation in humid countries. I've purchased an air humidifier which has helped considerably.
I'm also somewhat paranoid of already doing some irreparable damage to my respiratory systems, skin, eyes or brain. If someone can help alleviate my paranoia I would be grateful. Google has not been my friend today