How to Maintain your Hot Tub
One of the things that potential buyers worry about is how to maintain their hot tub, but hot tubs can be relatively low maintenance if you have basic knowledge of water chemistry and follow a schedule for the year. We understand that this may be worrying or confusing to new hot tub owners, so we’ve created a small guide to help you understand the basics of hot tub maintenance, from balancing your water, to what chemicals and equipment you will need.
There are four main points, that as a beginner to maintaining your own spa, you should be aware of:
Each point is fairly simple once you have a basic understanding, and we’re here to ensure that you keep your spa clean and healthy.
Water Chemistry
Water chemistry may sound difficult, but it’s actually a simple process with a bit of know-how. Primarily you’re going to be focusing on balancing the pH through testing the water and either applying an increaser or decreaser to achieve the optimal level. But what are these chemicals?
Alkalinity and pH
pH is the measure of how alkaline or acidic your water is. We want to aim for between 7.2 and 7.6; values below will be too acidic which will likely make the water irritate your skin and eyes, and even possibly eat away at the hardware. Values above will be too alkaline which reduces the effectiveness of the sanitiser and leaves the water prone to cloudiness. So, it is important that you aim for optimal levels to ensure your spa has healthy water, keeping the users of the hot tub and the hot tub itself safe.
Sanitiser and Shock
You will need a good sanitiser to kill any bacteria and other contaminants, either Bromine; which has less of a chlorine smell, or Chlorine; which breaks down faster in hot water. You will need to check this a few times a week to ensure the levels are correct. This is important to ensure the safety of people who use your spa, as the bacteria can be sickening.
Shock, also called oxidiser, has a choice of either chlorine or non-chlorine, which is used to revitalise the sanitiser by adding oxygen and removing any bacteria or chloramines. However, you must not mistake shock as a way of using less sanitiser, although it does revitalise it, you must always continue to use new sanitiser throughout the schedule. If in doubt, contact our maintenance team who will be happy to help.
It’s important that you take good care of your filters. Each spa will include at least one, and some will have two. Filters are vital for your spa as they ensure that your water is free of contaminants through a circulation cycle – some spas do this automatically and some are manual (switching it on twice a day for 15-20 minutes).
Cleaning Your Filters
There are three things you must do with your filters to ensure your spa remains healthy and free of any dirt and bacteria.
- Every couple of weeks you must ensure that you rinse your filters with water from your taps or a hose. Take your time with this process so you can thoroughly clean your filters.
- If you require a deeper clean, then spray your filters with filter cleaner and rinse them afterwards.
- You must soak your filters in a deep chemical wash every couple of months, usually when you would drain your hot tub, to remove stubborn bacteria and extend the life of your filters. Be sure to rinse afterwards.
Eventually, however, these soaks will be unable to completely remove the bacteria and you should invest in new filters.
Changing Your Water
Although your spa has many features that will keep the water bacteria-free, you must drain and refill your water every few months. Draining your spa can take some time depending on which one you have purchased. Some can take roughly 2-3 hours, however, you can purchase a tool online which drains your spa in a much shorter time.
Once your spa is empty, you can deeply clean the hot tub’s cabinet, shell, and give your filter a chemical soak. You should scrub the spa well and make any repairs needed, whether cosmetic or technical.
Maintenance Schedule
You may be a little unsure of how to create your maintenance schedule and what works for you. So, here is a small guide on when you should do certain tasks. Over time, your maintenance schedule may alter due to the amount of usage your spa gets and you get used to what your spa needs. The trick to creating your schedule is keeping it consistent and simple – break down your process into manageable steps.
Daily
- Check for any damage to the spa cover and spa itself.
- Check the water temperature and make adjustments if necessary.
Three Times a Week
- Check the pH balance and make adjustments if necessary (very important).
- Use a sanitiser and check its levels (depending on how often you use the spa).
- Clean the waterline of the spa.
Weekly
- Rinse your filters.
- Wipe down your spa cover and the shell of your spa.
- Use Shock to revitalise the sanitiser.
Monthly
- Clean your jets.
- Have your spa checked over by a professional.
- Give your filters a chemical soak.
Quarterly
- Replace your water.
- Give your filters a chemical soak.
- Deep clean your entire spa and make repairs if necessary.
Yearly
- Have a professional tune-up.
- Check your cover for any damage.
- Check your plumbing for any biofilm and to remove bacteria.
- Update your maintenance schedule.
Ready to buy a hot tub? Grimsby Hot Tubs has been an aspiring company for the past 6 years and have over 70 hot tubs to choose from our range. Why not browse our full range of hot tubs now and see if the perfect hot tub might be just a click or two away.
Prefer to speak to someone? Give us a call on 01472 425032 or visit our showroom and we can help you choose the best spa for you.
Showroom Address: Unit 5, Scunthorpe Eastgate Park, Queensway Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe DN16 1AE
Opening Times
Mon-Tue: 10am – 5pm
Wed: Closed (Appointments Only)
Thu-Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sun: 10am – 4pm
PLEASE BOOK PRIOR TO SHOWROOM VISIT AS TO ARRANGE FOR PRIVATE SHOWING!
