How to maintain a hot tub is not difficult as long as you stock the right tools. You need the best hot tub chemicals to remove bacteria and keep the water at a safe and comfortable pH level.
Temperature is a very important factor in keeping your hot tub clean so make sure you have the best spa and pool thermometers if it is not already worked into the spa monitoring system.
Finally, emptying the spa every once in a while is a smart idea, too. Grab the best hot tub vacuum and thoroughly clear out the bottom and sides from any dust and debris.
Here is a simple to follow step-by-step guide on how to maintain a hot tub. Keep your spa clean, safe and durable with these simple measures so you can enjoy it for many years to come.
Daily Maintenance
Don’t worry, the daily maintenance requirements take up less than a minute. Simply check that the cover and shell are still intact – you are looking for tears, holes and other forms of damage.
Then, measure the water temperature by either using a pool thermometer or checking the display on the hot tub control panel. The water temperature should remain steady (or cool down gradually when it is turned off) so if you notice a sudden temperature drop or spike, there’s a risk of damage or a computer error.
Few Days a Week
The following maintenance measures should be performed regularly throughout the week but a daily check is not necessary. Either take these steps every other day or mark 3 days of the week for hot tub maintenance.
Add spa sanitizer to the water every few days. These chemicals remove unwanted bacteria from the water and also help keep it a clear color.
You also need a little know-how of the chemistry at play with home spas. The main elements to pay attention to are the water alkalinity and pH levels.
How to Maintain a Hot Tub Alkalinity
Alkalinity is what keeps the pH level steady and makes the pH adjustment chemicals more effective so it is important to know the ideal alkanility level and how to adjust it. Alkalinity is also the first thing to address when controlling the spa chemistry.
The perfect alkaline range is between 80 and 120 PPM. Less than 80 PPM causes itchy skin and red eyes but it is also damaging to the spa itself – it corrodes metal and stops the effects of chemicals.
Above 120 PPM the damage is mostly seen in the filters and pipes which become clogged or stop working completely. You’ll see water scaling on all materials and the pH becomes very difficult to adjust.
Read the hot tub manual to find out which chemicals they recommend for increasing and decreasing the alkalinity. Usually, an acid like muriatic acid are used for lowering while a base like sodium bicarbonate is used for increasing.
How to Maintain a Hot Tub pH
The most comfortable water pH level for your skin is between 7.2 and 7.8 pH. Anything below that is too acidic and anything above that is too basic, neither of which are good for your skin.
Have enough test strips on hand to check what the current pH level is. You should also stock a pH increaser and pH decreaser to adjust the level accordingly.
Once a Week
Schedule in a more thorough hot tub cleaning once a week. On this day, combine the mentioned tasks that you have to do every few days – sanitize, control pH and alkalinity – with the following extra steps.
Wipe down all the surfaces above the water, including the hot tub cover, and remove any debris that may have gotten in. Take your time to clean the cover and dry it properly because the material is prone to grow mold.
Also, clean the filters. Rinse them with warm water, apply a spa filter cleaner and then rinse them off again before placing them back into the hot tub.
Shocking a Spa
Then, it is time to shock the water. A spa shock explained briefly is adding specific chemicals, usually an oxidizer, which removes bacteria and any other organic compounds like soap, body oils, creams, and even dead skin cells.
They also remove the waste and odors from the chlorine and bromine that are usually found in sanitizers. These are called chloramines and bromamines and are not good to breathe in regularly.
A weekly shock makes sure that the sanitizer that you add on other days of the week remains fit and safe for the job.
Monthly Maintenance
Now we get to the most extensive part of how to maintain a hot tub. Plan for a monthly deep clean and drain all the water out so you can scrub all sides properly.
Don’t forget to clean the jets carefully, making sure you are removing any buildup. Also, soak the filter in the chemical cleaner for an even deeper clean than the weekly rinse.
While the tub is drained, check all sides for damage since it will be easier to repair without water. You might notice cracks or other damage more easily when it is drained.
Quarterly and Annual Maintenance
Though it is better to call the maintenance services every 3 months, once a year is the absolute minimum. They will check all the mechanics such as the wiring and also search for potential future issues.
Also, ask them to do a careful evaluation of the water chemistry. Their testing equipment is more precise and they can inform you of what would be the best way to keep healthy ratings.
Other things to do are a complete system flush that cleans out all the pipes and internal systems. Even with consistent care, there can still be buildup inside the pipes.
This is also the time to replace any smaller parts if necessary, a new spa cover for example.
