Keep reading to learn how each tip can help ensure you soak in your spa’s sparkling clean water. While your hot tub will become your very own oasis, it’s imperative that you take time to keep it maintained if you want to keep it in the same condition it was in when you made the initial investment. Maintaining a hot tub isn’t difficult and it doesn’t require too much of your valuable time. Just use the following tips:
1. Use hot tub covers.
One easy way to keep your spa and its water clean is to use a hot tub cover. Make sure to wipe off debris as part of your maintenance routine, and you can use a garden hose to spray down the underside of the cover. If you use any chemicals on top of the cover, make sure to avoid using it anywhere else as it can affect the hot tub water. Keeping on top of this task only takes a few minutes out of your week.
2. Clean & replace filters.
If your filter is clogged, dirty, or has any blockages, water can’t flow through and contaminants can’t be removed from your spa. Blockages can even cause your filter to put a strain on your pump. Additionally, look for higher quality filters are they perform better and last longer. Rinse your filter cartridges every two weeks or as often as necessary to remove particles. The life expectancy of your filter depends on the type and quality, ranging anywhere from 6 months to even a couple of years.
3. Drain, clean, and refill water.
Typically, you’ll want to drain and refill your hot tub every 3-4 months. If you use your hot tub more frequently than most or if the water chemistry isn’t balanced properly, you may need to do it more often. Once you drain the water completely, you’ll want to scrub it clean and disinfect it properly. The hot tub can be filled with dead skin, dirt, and other contaminants that need to be removed. Then when you’re ready, refill your hot spa with water.
4. Circulating the water
Circulating the water helps keep it free of contaminants by passing it through your hot tub’s cartridge filters.
Depending on the model, your spa may have an automatic circulation schedule that ensures it runs once or twice daily. These cycles circulate the water for around 15 to 20 minutes (or longer) to ensure all the water in your tub passes through the filters.
If your hot tub doesn’t have an automatic cycle, make sure you turn it on for 15 to 20 minutes, twice a day, to ensure your water’s been refreshed.
Don’t be afraid to put those filters to work. The more you run your hot tub, the cleaner it’ll be.
5. Hot tub cleaning
Indoor and outdoor hot tubs are both prone to developing scum, but if your spa’s outdoors, keep an eye out for debris like leaves, wind-blown trash, and the occasional stray critter, too. Keep the waterline and seats clear for a clean hot tub, and to help prevent potential water issues.
A weekly clean with a sponge and some white vinegar on your spa’s shell and jets will keep things tidy. Use it to scrub away the scum line at the water’s edge as well.
Make sure you clean the inside of your hot tub as often as possible and don’t forget to wipe down the shell, too. While you’re at it, give the hot tub cover a quick once-over with a 10% bleach-to-water solution to keep mildew at bay.
A weekly clean is essential hot tub care. But plan to drain your spa completely for a thorough cleaning every three to four months, and more often if you’re using it often, or having a lot of guests in it, or both. After all, you wouldn’t fill the family bathtub once a year and expect everyone to reuse the same water over and over, right? Blech.
Protip: Set a timer when you’re refilling your hot tub after cleaning. It’ll remind you to check in on your spa and avoid messy, expensive overflows.
6. Balance water chemistry
Balancing your hot tub’s water is similar to balancing pool water, but a bit trickier due to the drastic size difference. But before you add anything to your spa, you need a baseline reading on your water chemistry. Once your hot tub’s full, test your water to determine the pH and alkalinity levels.
What Hot Tub Chemicals Do You Need?
Keep a good supply of essential chemicals on hand so you’ll be ready to tweak your water as needed:
- pH increaser and pH decreaser for adjusting your pH.
- Alkalinity increaser to protect your pH from drastically changing.
- Sanitizer (chlorine or bromine) to kill bacteria and other contaminants.
- Shock (non-chlorine or di-chlor) to give your sanitizer a boost by adding oxygen and removing chloramines and bacteria.
- Test strips or a liquid test kit to make sure all your chemical levels are in the right range.
- Defoamer (optional) for quick relief from foamy hot tub water
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