UV light at a special wavelength has been used since the mid-1900s to help keep healthcare settings like hospitals clean, water supplies free from disease, and food manufacture safe from pathogens. It’s called UVC disinfection, a reliable way to stop pathogens from spreading by messing with their RNA and DNA so they can’t reproduce. Now, hot tub manufacturers are starting to fit UVC light disinfection units into hot tubs, and you can even get separate units to retro-fit to your current tub surprisingly easily. Here’s what you need to know.
All the best hot tub makers are getting into UVC light
HotSpring Spas is renowned for their energy-efficient designs and high-quality materials, energy-saving features, advanced insulation, highly efficient pumps and innovative tech like their Moto-Massage DX jet system. Jacuzzi UK is famous for inventing the first hydrotherapy pump, offering advanced hydrotherapy systems, smart controls, full foam insulation and high-efficiency pumps. The Canadian Spa Company UK balances luxury with affordability, also using energy-saving features like high-density foam insulation and energy-efficient pumps. And Caldera Spas make premium hot tubs with an emphasis on luxury, comfort, and relaxation plus advanced hydrotherapy systems like their V-Balance tech. Because the hot tub world is so competitive, all the best makers are exploring the natural magic of UVC disinfection.
How hot tubs concentrate the risk of pathogens
Hot tubs are at a lot more risk of germs than swimming pools for some simple reasons. You’ve got much higher water temperatures, a much smaller water volume, and more people per cubic metre of water using a tub. So it’s good to know that UV light disinfection destroys more than 99.5% of pathogens that might get into your tub.
In a world where hot tub chemicals have been proven to increase the risk of allergies and asthma, UVC light hot tub disinfection systems harness the power of ultraviolet light to eliminate waterborne pathogens. The powerful light slashes the levels of hot tub chemical levels needed and gets rid of horrid chlorine by-products to give you a safe, healthy, easy to manage and simple to maintain hot tub life.
Typical hot tub diseases
Hot tub diseases are more common than you’d like to think. Your hot tub can easily become a soup of invisible bacteria, viruses and fungi, everything from E. coli, and pseudomonas aeruginosa to herpes virus infections.
What does UVC disinfection kill?
As water is sent through the special hot tub disinfection chamber, high intensity UVC germicidal light attacks the DNA and RNA inside pathogens. UVC light disables viruses, algae, spores, bacteria, fungi, mould, protozoans and yeasts, proven by science to kill nasties like Ebola, covid, the common cold, flu, norovirus, infectious hepatitis and much more. Take a look at this UVC kill list to see all the diseases and pathogens it gets rid of incredibly fast.
About advanced hot tub UVC filtration systems
Today’s advanced hot tub filtration systems use UVC light to sanitise water, breaking down the impurities and making bacteria, viruses and more completely harmless so they can’t spread and can’t cause illness. This means your hot tub water is cleaner water and there’s a lot less less maintenance to worry about.
The latest systems use clean, cool, safe UVC light bulbs to sanitise the water and every surface the light touches.
UVC doesn’t actually kill pathogens but it does render them completely harmless because it changes their RNA and DNA so they can no longer reproduce. Some companies make UVC disinfection units that clean the air in spaces when people are not present, others have been invented to work safely in spaces where people spend small amounts of time, for example elevators and toilets. Whatever the purpose, the impact is the same.
These days, rather than ordinary bulbs, the best units use LED bulbs to generate the light at the right wavelength. These are cool, don’t contain any chemicals, and last for a very long time. In many cases the units take just a couple of minutes to clean the air and every surface the light falls on. It’s basically the same light bulb tech that’s used in ponds and aquariums as well as in the country’s municipal water purification systems, food manufacture, schools, hotels, theatres, basically anywhere people gather where there’s a risk of catching disease.
Cut back on nasty chemicals, save money, save maintenance
Ultraviolet disinfection is a physical process rather than chemical. Basically, UVC treatment minimises the need for the nasty chemicals usually used in water disinfection, keeping the water transparent, fresh and safe. A clever sanitising system based on UV technology, it harnesses ultraviolet light at a specified wavelength that actually decomposes chlorine and makes it work harder, which has led some manufacturers to claim you’ll need as much as 80% less chlorine and other products to do the same job of completely protecting the water from germs.
It also just happens to cut down the stinky swimming pool-like chlorine odour, protecting your skin and eyes from the drying effects of chlorine. Being a lot more environmentally friendly than hot tub chemicals, UV light it saves you money, reduces your maintenance, extends the life of your hot tub and doesn’t produce harmful residues or chemical by-products either.
All this means ultraviolet treatment costs a lot less than hot tub chemicals in the longer run. You use a lot less chemicals for much more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to the usual powerful chemical substances. Safety-wise, because the UV light can’t escape from the sterilisation chamber, it never enters the hot tub.
Look out for a UVC tub or fit an independent unit
Some hot tubs come with built-in UVC disinfection units, but you can also retro-fit a hot tub and spa UV system. Some makers claim they’re easy enough to fit in three steps taking s little as half an hour. All you do is connect the unit inline with your tub’s existing plumbing system. Most independent units will fit every make and model of hot tub.
What to look out for in a separate unit
If you’re looking for a separate unit for your existing hot tub look for one with ultra high-output lamps that give you a great big blast of power. Because they contain a mix of Xenon, Neon and Argon gases they can go as high as 60,000 microwatts of power, more than enough. The best units have a high-impact, non-corrosive housing with added Titanium Dioxide for even better UV resistance, and rugged hydrodynamics mean you always get a really good flow rate along with a high UV dosage. Go for a modular constructed unit that can be assembled fast – the best can be put together in just a few minutes. And go for one with a quick-release system that pops off the protective sleeve in less than a minute without any tools.
What the experts say
The WHO – World Health Organization – says UV allows for 0.5 or lower free chlorine levels, and the USA’s official hot tub body, the Professional Pool Operators of America, says UVC disinfection is extremely effective, the strongest oxidiser available. UVC is the modern way to keep hot tubs beautifully clean, something you might want to think about for your new tub or retro-fit to your old one.
