Hot Tub Maintenance

/ Hot Tub Cleaning, Hot Tub Filters, Hot Tub Maintenance

Hot Tub Maintenance

Regular maintenance is essential to extend the lifespan of your hot tub and ensure you don’t encounter unnecessary, expensive repair problems. It doesn’t take a lot, but you should be aware of the basics of water chemistry and be able to come up with a simple schedule. For just $20 a month for supplies, chemicals and test strips, you can easily maintain your spa.

You need to maintain your hot tub in order to:

  • Maintain good water circulation.
  • Adhere to an easy cleaning schedule.
  • Balance the chemicals in your water.

1.   Maintaining Positive Hot Tub Circulation

Circulating the water keeps contaminants and bacteria at bay because the water passes through the cartridge filters. Your spa may even have an automatic circulation schedule that automatically runs once every day for about 20 minutes. If you don’t, you’ll want to turn it on for that length of time each day to circulate the water.

2.   Adhere to an Easy Cleaning Schedule

If you don’t clean your tub regularly, scum will develop. But if your tub is located outdoors, it can also accumulate debris, leaves, twigs, trash, bugs and critters, too. All you have to do is clean your hot tub shell and jets once a week with white vinegar, warm water and a sponge.

You’ll also want to clean it with a 10 percent bleach-to-water solution so mildew doesn’t grow. Once every few months, you should also drain the tub and do a deep clean.

3.   Balance the Chemicals in Your Water

Before adding chemicals, you’ll have to come up with a baseline reading. Test your water to find out what the pH and alkalinity levels are.

Here are some of the chemicals you will need:

  • pH increaser and decreaser
  • Alkalinity increaser
  • Sanitizer
  • Shock
  • Test strips or liquid test kits
  • Defoamer (optional)

How to Adjust pH and Alkalinity

You want to get a pH level of between 7.4 and 7.6, as anything too low is considered too acidic. The water can deteriorate your hardware and irritate skin and eyes. Values above 7.6 are too basic, and will reduce your sanitizer’s effectiveness and will lead to cloudy water.

For alkalinity, you want to get between 100 parts per million (ppm) and 150 ppm. If the alkalinity is too high, this can lead to scaling and cloudy water.

How to Add Sanitizer

Add the sanitizer and then test again to ensure a good range for the pH and alkalinity. Switch off the air valves to hasten the mix rate.

Testing the Spa Water

Test your water weekly with test strips or a liquid test kit. Adjust chemicals as necessary.

Creating a Hot Tub Maintenance Schedule

Consistency and simplicity: these are key to any hot tub maintenance schedule. Break them down into manageable chunks so as not to get overwhelmed. You can:

  • Use an app
  • Use a calendar
  • Use a dry erase board

Whatever you choose, make sure you come up with a schedule that works around your work, school and family schedule. Post paper copies near the hot tub itself.

Come up with a list of tasks and the days they need to be completed. Schedule daily, weekly and monthly cleaning tasks, as well as quarterly and yearly checks. Leave enough time to complete each task, blocking out chunks of time to get them done in a timely manner.

Daily

    • Make sure the cover is secure and clean.
    • Check the water temperature; make necessary adjustments.
    • Check for damage.

Three Times a Week

    • Check the water’s alkalinity and pH.
    • Check sanitizer levels.
    • Wipe away debris above the waterline.

Weekly

    • Test the water.
    • Sanitize and shock it.
    • Rinse the tub filter.
    • Wipe down the cover.

Monthly

    • Do a chemical rinse for the filter.
    • Check for clogs in the jets.

Quarterly

    • Clean the cabinet.
    • Provide a chemical soak for the filter.
    • Drain and clean the tub, and make necessary repairs.

Yearly

    • Flush the lines to get rid of biofilm and bacteria.
    • Inspect the hardware and wiring.
    • Schedule a professional tune-up.
    • Inspect the cover for mold or mildew.
    • Update the maintenance calendar.

On Vacation? 3 Tips for Maintenance

If you’re going away for a week or two, you can’t just ignore your hot tub. Make sure you prepare ahead of time.

1.     Check the Weather

In summer, you could experience algae growth. Before you leave, add extra shock and run the jets for a half hour. Turn off the power source to be safe. In the winter, keep your hot tub heated on low to avoid frozen pipes.

2.     Test the Water

Before leaving, make sure you have the correct water balance; if not, add the necessary chemicals to boost or lower the acidity or alkalinity.

3.     Lock the Cover

Close and lock the hot tub cover, as you could be held liable if someone were to get in there and drown.

For help with hot tub maintenance, the technicians at Central Jersey Pools are always here for you! Give us a call today.

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