Hot Tub Maintenance Tips

A few simple tasks go a long way in keeping your Hot Tub looking and working its best. Creating a schedule and sticking to it helps make the process go quickly.

Hot Tub Maintenance

Test the water 2-4 times per week using digital testing strips or a meter to check pH, alkalinity, and water hardness. Treat with chlorine, bromine, or non-chlorine shock to sanitize the water and keep it looking clear. Visit https://spakingsaz.com/ to learn more.

A hot tub is the perfect spot to relax, but it also needs regular maintenance to stay clean and sanitary. Bacteria, algae, and debris can grow quickly in a hot tub if you don’t maintain the right water balance. Fortunately, you can easily get rid of contaminants and keep your water balanced with regular cleaning and care.

Start by skimming the surface of your hot tub each day to remove any debris that has fallen into your water. This prevents the build-up of organic compounds that can cause unpleasant smells or staining. You should also run the pump daily to ensure that water circulates properly. This allows the natural sanitizers in your water to reach all areas of the tub and keeps the temperature stable without using too much energy.

Change the water in your hot tub at least once every three to four weeks, depending on how often you use it. Draining the hot tub will also help to eliminate any chemical or mineral build-up that is below the water line. When you drain your tub, you should also take the opportunity to scrub the inside of the shell and wipe down the jets with a chemical cleaner. This will keep your hot tub looking and smelling its best.

You should always test and adjust your water levels as needed, especially the alkalinity. You can buy a digital pH meter that makes this process easy and accurate. This will let you know if your water is in balance and prevent bacteria and algae growth.

Once your hot tub is refilled, you should treat it with a quality sanitizer to kill any remaining bacteria and keep the water safe for bathers. You can choose from liquid chlorine, chlorine tablets, bromine, salt, or a non-chlorine system like Baquacil. You should also soak your filter quarterly in a chemical filter treatment to clean it and prepare it for its next job.

It’s a good idea to hang a schedule near your hot tub to remind you of each step in the water changing, testing, and treating process. You can find paper schedules with sections for each day of the week or a dry erase board that will work well for you. A dry erase board is less susceptible to water damage, and you can use it to mark off each task as you complete it.

Clean the Cover

The cover is your hot tub’s first line of defense against flying debris, fluctuating temperatures, and the build up of grime. It also keeps the good chemicals in and the bad ones out. Keeping the cover on securely and cleaning it on a regular basis will ensure that your hot tub stays clean, safe, and comfortable to use.

Start with a hose and a rag or sponge. Hook it up and spray the cleaner on, following the directions of the product that you choose. Be sure to get all areas of the cover, especially in any cracks or crevices where dirt tends to collect. Once you’ve done that rinse off the cleaner and blot dry with a soft, absorbent rag or microfiber cloth.

Now that your cover is clean and free of any mildew or algae, it’s time to give it a protectant coat. Be sure to choose a product that is made for vinyl and avoid petroleum, silicone or citrus based products. Using a quality protectant will extend the life of your cover and keep it looking great.

During this process, it’s also a good idea to check the cover for tears and cracks. Small rips will allow water and steam to seep into the foam and cause it to soak up moisture and lose its insulating power. Waterlogged covers grow mold, bacteria and are not energy efficient. If you see any problems, make repairs as soon as possible.

Once the cover is dry and protected, it’s a good idea to check your hot tub water chemistry once again, shock the water (following the instructions in your Hot Tub Cheat Sheets), test the pH and chlorine or bromine levels, and add the appropriate chemicals.

It is recommended that you close your hot tub for 20-30 minutes after shocking the water and adding chemicals, to allow the vapors to dissipate. This will prevent your hot tub from smelling like a bathroom, and it will allow the sanitizers to fully circulate and be distributed throughout the water. You may have to repeat this process if the water is still cloudy or full of floating debris.

Check the Pump

A hot tub pump needs to be in good working condition in order to properly sanitize your water. When it starts to fail or malfunction, it will not be able to properly circulate your water and the results can be quite devastating. In most cases, the pump will need to be replaced in order to restore proper circulation.

To make sure your pump is in good working condition, you will want to perform a simple test. First, make sure the power to your hot tub is on and that the breaker or GFCI test button has not been tripped. You will also want to ensure that all of the valves are in the open position. Once you have confirmed that the power is on and everything is in the open position, you will want to test your pump.

If you are noticing that your pump is making a lot of noise or vibrating, it may be time to replace the impeller. A faulty impeller can cause the pump to run noisily, vibrate excessively, and even stop working altogether. It is important to replace the impeller before it becomes damaged as this can be a costly repair.

You will also want to perform a quick test to see if the pump is able to spin freely. You will want to disconnect the power from the pump, and then you will want to rotate the shaft by hand to make sure that it is able to spin freely. If the shaft is not able to spin, it means that the seals have deteriorated and will need to be replaced in order for the pump to function properly.

If your pump is only humming at speed 1 and then shutting off when you try to turn it on to speed 2 or higher, this could be a sign that the starting capacitor has failed. The capacitor is located on the top of the wet end and can be easily replaced by a qualified hot tub professional.

It is important to incorporate daily maintenance into your routine so that you can catch problems before they become a major issue. It is recommended that you check the water every day with a test strip and clean the shell of your hot tub regularly. Developing a schedule will help you to stay on track with your maintenance and can keep your spa running smooth for years to come.

Check the Heater

The heater of a hot tub needs to be checked on a regular basis. A low pH can corrode the element and cause it to break down, so it is important to test the water regularly with a chemistry kit. Water hardness should also be tested to keep scale from forming. Frequent temperature checks guarantee that your hot tub is always a comfortable temperature to use, while also preventing undue wear on equipment. If the temperature drops suddenly, it could be a sign that there is a problem with the heating system, circulation or plumbing.

In addition to checking the heater, you should be cleaning the filter regularly. To do this, turn off the power to the hot tub and then remove the filters and soak them in a filter cleaner according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After rinsing them and allowing them to dry, you should be ready to put the clean filters back into the hot tub.

Keeping up with routine maintenance can help you avoid more serious issues down the road, which may require professional assistance. Some things will need to be done more frequently, such as wiping the edge of your spa or testing the water, while others might only need to be done once a week or even once a month.

To get the most out of your hot tub, it is crucial to develop a schedule and stick to it. This will ensure that you are getting the most relaxing and beneficial soak possible while extending the life of your hot tub. Developing a good schedule doesn’t have to be difficult and can actually become quite easy once you get the hang of it. It can be especially helpful if you take the time to document your efforts, as this will help you keep track of any trends or potential problems that might arise over time. This will help you identify any issues and fix them before they become worse. With the right hot tub maintenance schedule in place, you can enjoy your spa all year round!