Is sticking your arm into over chlorinated spa water? How dangerous is it if you stick your arm in it to test the water and it’s got no chlorine in it? And hasn’t for a few days?
How dangerous
- Thread starter calvarycougar
- Start date
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,783
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
It is totally safe to use the spa with fc anywhere between minimum & slam level for your cya FC/CYA Levels
It will likely not harm you to stick your arm in to get a test sample with no fc but using the spa in that condition is not recommended
(if you’re concerned, wash your arm afterwards or use a baster, syringe, or a cup with a handle to get the sample).
& get the fc up pronto!
It will likely not harm you to stick your arm in to get a test sample with no fc but using the spa in that condition is not recommended
(if you’re concerned, wash your arm afterwards or use a baster, syringe, or a cup with a handle to get the sample).
& get the fc up pronto!
I recall an incident many years ago where a spa store set up a display "kiosk" at a local mall. Staffed by a know-nothing attendant with a stack of flyers, it was poorly maintained. A sudden breakout of bacterial infections at the ER was traced back to people who touched this spa water over the course of a week. So there are risks.
In the course of my 26 years fixing spas, I have had countless mysterious rashes and such. All cleared up in a short time, thankfully. But there have been many instances where I would not touch the water without first superchlorinating. I have also walked away from jobs because they were just too gross. I'm a spa repair man, not a septic tank cleaner.
So my advice is to use caution. Limit contact and wash with an antibacterial cleaner (bleach works) ASAP. You're unlikely to have a problem, but one-in-a-million is still one you don't want to be.
In the course of my 26 years fixing spas, I have had countless mysterious rashes and such. All cleared up in a short time, thankfully. But there have been many instances where I would not touch the water without first superchlorinating. I have also walked away from jobs because they were just too gross. I'm a spa repair man, not a septic tank cleaner.
So my advice is to use caution. Limit contact and wash with an antibacterial cleaner (bleach works) ASAP. You're unlikely to have a problem, but one-in-a-million is still one you don't want to be.
What are the risks if it is beyond slam? Do I just need to rinse it off?
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,783
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
You mean your arm?
What is the fc level? What is the cya?
Using the spa at fc levels higher than slam level for your cya is not recommended & may cause some irritation depending upon how high it is.
Going higher than slam level for your cya is generally unnecessary & not recommended as it is not good for your surfaces & equipment.
What is the fc level? What is the cya?
Using the spa at fc levels higher than slam level for your cya is not recommended & may cause some irritation depending upon how high it is.
Going higher than slam level for your cya is generally unnecessary & not recommended as it is not good for your surfaces & equipment.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 7,510
- Pool Size
- 30000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60
Just rinse it off. A 10:1, water to bleach (~910Kppm), is a common cleaning solution, and has a higher concentration of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) that any pool/spa that is "beyond slam" (12-32ppm). This solution has a bit of slippery feel. I suspect millions of people have used this solution without gloves, without severe reaction, if they simply, immediately rinsed it off, until all the "slippery" is gone. If you rinse it off, until this "slippery" feel is gone, you are at very low risk for negative outcomes.
Rest assured, you are overthinking this situation. The advice around swimming under SLAM level is because of extended exposure. Dip it and rinse it.
Why do you have a pool/spa with high levels of FC?
Last edited:
"Rest assured, you are overthinking this situation. The advice around swimming under SLAM level is because of extended exposure. Dip it and rinse it."
LOL me in every situation.
High levels because I put too much chlorine in trying to eyeball what I put in
LOL me in every situation.
High levels because I put too much chlorine in trying to eyeball what I put in
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,783
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
If you just went a little over once it’s probably fine for your cover, head rests etc.
If you’re trying make up for/recover from having no fc for days what you added probably got consumed pretty quickly by the contaminants in the water anyway.
We’re just trying to gauge what’s going on in your situation- all the info we have to go on is what you tell us. We need your help to see the whole picture. Test results really help here. Fc, cc, cya.
Some notes as you carry on -
*Don’t adjust ph until fc falls to 10ppm or below as high fc levels render the ph test invalid. You don’t wanna add insult to injury by tanking your ph based on a falsely high reading.
* You can do the SLAM Process on a hot tub to try to recover the situation but if it has been several rounds or a couple days & you still have cloudy water and elevated cc’s it’s often best & easier to just purge with Ahhsome, drain, & refill to start fresh rather than fight with it. Not sure the condition of your water since you didn’t mention it (cloudy or clear, elevated cc’s?)
If you’re trying make up for/recover from having no fc for days what you added probably got consumed pretty quickly by the contaminants in the water anyway.
We’re just trying to gauge what’s going on in your situation- all the info we have to go on is what you tell us. We need your help to see the whole picture. Test results really help here. Fc, cc, cya.
Some notes as you carry on -
*Don’t adjust ph until fc falls to 10ppm or below as high fc levels render the ph test invalid. You don’t wanna add insult to injury by tanking your ph based on a falsely high reading.
* You can do the SLAM Process on a hot tub to try to recover the situation but if it has been several rounds or a couple days & you still have cloudy water and elevated cc’s it’s often best & easier to just purge with Ahhsome, drain, & refill to start fresh rather than fight with it. Not sure the condition of your water since you didn’t mention it (cloudy or clear, elevated cc’s?)
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