Spa Maintenance

Proper care and maintenance of your hot tub will
give you the most relaxation and enjoyment and
will extend the life of your spa.


BEFORE YOU USE YOUR SPA FOR THE FIRST TIME:

  • Use test strips to test your water or have your water tested by your spa dealer before filling the tub.

  • Determine and purchase the necessary additives to maintain a proper mineral content and pH balance

  • Thoroughly clean and polish all spa surfaces

  • Fill the tub

  • Balance the water with the 'spa up' or 'spa down' products

  • Add a sanitizing agent

  • ENJOY!


There are six keys to proper spa care:
   
   
   
   
   
   
 

Water Circulation:

  
  Run your spa's circulation system every day.  As the water circulates, it passes through the filter, trapping bacteria and other contaminants.  Circulation also thoroughly distributes the chemicals you use that help eliminate undesirable compounds in your water.

Refer to your owner's manual to determine how long to run the circulation system.

If your circulation pump runs continuously, be sure that your system is always working properly.

  
     
 

Cleanliness:

  
  Regular cleaning of of spa surfaces will add to the life of your hot tub and keep the whole spa environment more healthy.
  1. Remove floating materials with a skimmer net.
  2. Empty the skimmer basket at least once a week.
  3. Use a product specially made to clean the oily ring that forms along the waterline.
  4. Use a product specially made to remove the oils that can build up in your spa water.

Controlling the oils will make your spa easier to clean, less likely to foam, and lessen the maintenance your filter will require.

  
     
 

Proper Filtration:

  
  It is vital to keep your spa's filter clean and working properly.  Thoroughly clean the filter every four to six weeks.
  1. Remove the cartridge and rinse it with a garden hose to remove loose particles.
  2. Soak filter in a  'filter cleaner' product specially made to dissolve accumulated grease and oils.
  3. Thoroughly rinse the cartridge again, and allow it to dry.
  4. Return the cartridge to the housing.
  5. Refer to your owner's manual for the recommended schedule for replacing your filter element.
  6. Use a product specially made to eliminate the particles of contaminants that are too small for the filter to catch.
  
     
 

Chemical Balance:

  
  Maintaining a proper chemical balance in the water will increase your enjoyment of your spa and will extend the life of your spa equipment.  Refer to your owner's manual for chemical level recommendations.

Sanitizing - Sanitizers are disinfectants.  Sanitizing chemicals kill bacteria that can multiply rapidly in a hot tub.  They must be present in the water at all times.

Shocking - Oxidizing agents are used to chemically remove organic debris (body waste, perspiration, skin oils, etc.) that sanitizers and filters cannot eliminate.

Controlling Hardness/Softness - Controlling the levels of calcium and magnesium in your spa water is very important.  Water that is too soft will damage the plastic and metal in your equipment.  Water that is too hard will cause scaling on the spa walls and in the plumbing.

Balancing Alkalinity and pH - Maintaining proper levels of alkalinity and pH in your water impacts the ability of your sanitizers to work effectively, the life of your spa and your overall comfort in the water.
 

  
     
 

Periodic Testing:

  
  Test your water as often as is recommended in your spa's owner's manual.  
     
 

Regular Draining and Refilling:

  
  Normal spa maintenance requires regularly changing the water in your hot tub.  The frequency of changing water is directly related to the frequency you use the tub.

Here's a simple formula: 
# of gallons / # of daily users / 3   =   days between draining and refilling
(example - 300 gallons / 2 daily users / 3   =   50 days between water changes)

Use products specially made to clean spa surfaces between draining and refilling.

Be sure to test the new water after the tub is refilled.

  

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