It’s important to get your hot tub on a regular maintenance schedule. This helps your hot tub stay clean of organic compounds and contaminant build-up.
You’ll also want to check the water chemistry, including pH and alkalinity, weekly. In addition, plan on draining your hot tub and cleaning the shell thrice a year. Click the Hot Tub Maintenance Mesa to learn more.
Your filters are the first line of defense for your spa water, protecting pipes from becoming clogged with debris and stripping contaminants out of the water so that you can enjoy a therapeutic soak session in crystal-clear water. Because of this, it’s important to clean them regularly to ensure they remain effective. This task is much easier than it may seem, and with the right supplies and technique, it can be done quickly and efficiently.
As a general rule, you should rinse your filter each week with the garden hose or in a sink to remove surface residue and buildup. It’s also a good idea to have a set of clean filters on hand at all times, so that you can swap out dirty ones as needed without delay.
Once or twice a month, you should also perform a deeper cleaning of your filter using a specialized hot tub filter cleaner. These cleaning solutions are designed to break down and dissolve natural oils, mineral deposits, and other substances that clog up your filters. The more often you perform these deep cleanings, the less frequently you’ll need to rinse your filters.
When using a hot tub filter cleaner, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. This will help you avoid any potential damage to your filters or other components of your hot tub system. It’s also a good idea not to use household cleaners or high-pressure washers to clean your filters, as these can cause them to break down and become useless.
In addition to regular rinsing, you should also include an occasional soak in the filter cleaner each month or as recommended by your dealer. The soaking process will help break down and dissolve any hard-water deposits or other contaminants that are stuck inside your filters, reducing the number of time you’ll need to spend rinsing them.
Once your filter is fully cleaned and dry, it’s ready to be installed in your hot tub. It’s important to make sure the filter is completely dry before you reinstall it, as any moisture can interfere with your hot tub’s water chemistry.
Change the Water
Having a hot tub is a luxury and a great way to relax and relieve stress. However, as with any appliance in your home, it must be properly maintained to ensure the best soaking experience. One of the most important parts of that maintenance is changing your hot tub water. The process is simple and can be done on a regular basis to keep the water clean, safe, and ready for soaking.
It is recommended that you change your spa water on a weekly basis or as needed to help with maintaining the proper water chemistry and creating a clean, safe soaking experience. A hot tub is constantly exposed to organic matter, like skin, body oils, sweat, cosmetics, soap residue and more, that can degrade water quality. While the chemicals in a hot tub can help to mitigate these issues, it is much easier and more effective to drain and refill your hot tub regularly.
When it is time to change your hot tub water, turn off power to the spa at the circuit breaker and find the drain. This is typically found underneath the equipment compartment door. Locate the cap and remove it. If it is difficult to remove, use pliers.
Once the water is completely drained, rinse down the inside of the hot tub shell to remove any debris. Clean the filter and clean the lid before returning it. Once the shell and filter are dry, it is time to start refilling your hot tub. Before you do so, make sure that the hose is in the skimmer area and that it is fully closed. Using the hose to fill your hot tub is a good way to get rid of any trapped air that could cause problems when you go to turn on your pump and re-start your system.
When you are ready to refill, add a hose pre-filter product into the hose to reduce impurities that may impact your water chemistry and overall spa health. Then, start the system, re-test the pH level and chlorine/bromine levels and add any additional chemicals as required.
Check the Alkalinity
Your hot tub water’s pH and total alkalinity are the most important factors in maintaining balanced water. If either level gets out of balance, your water can become basic (too acidic), which damages equipment and causes skin irritation for those soaking in the spa. Fortunately, adjusting these levels is easy with the proper products and regular testing of the water.
High pH and low alkalinity are often a result of a buildup of body lotions, makeup, sweat, bacteria, and other oils in the water. These substances can make your hot tub water feel like 80-grit sandpaper to the touch and cause irritation for anyone soaking in it. The water may also become cloudy or murky due to these contaminants.
Fluctuating pH levels are another common issue. This can happen because of insufficient buffering caused by low alkalinity. A low alkalinity can also increase iron levels if there is iron in the source water (which is often the case if the water comes from a well).
To check the alkalinity, test your water using a digital tester or testing strip kit. Follow the directions to calculate how much baking soda is needed to raise the alkalinity to a safe level, which should be between 80 and 120 parts per million. Pour in the baking soda and circulate the water for 20 minutes. Use the test strip to retest the water and adjust if necessary.
It’s best to address the alkalinity first and then the pH, as they are closely linked. Raising the alkalinity will help to stabilize the pH, and allow it to withstand any changes in the water. Changing the pH without stabilizing the alkalinity first can lead to “pH bounce,” where the pH will rapidly shift up and down.
Having the right amount of free chlorine in your hot tub is also essential to the health of your water. It’s the only sanitizer that kills bacteria and controls algae, and it needs to be in a usable concentration to do its job. The level of free chlorine in your water should be between 1–4 ppm.
Check the Heater
Hot tubs require a heater to heat the water to the desired temperature for a relaxing and therapeutic soak. If the water is not getting hot, it could be that there is a problem with the heater. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help resolve the issue.
First, check to make sure that the fuse for the heater is not blown. If it is, replace it. If the fuses are fine, then it may be that your thermostat has reached its set point and is not clicking into play when the pump comes on. Raise the temperature on your topside control to a higher setting and try again.
Alternatively, it might be that your spa has entered economy mode. Many modern electronic or digital controls have an economy mode that can help reduce operating costs by using less power to heat the water. If this is the case, you can switch back to regular mode by following the manufacturer’s instructions or calling a professional hot tub technician.
Another possible reason for the water not heating is if there is a flow switch on the heater that has been closed. This switch is designed to prevent the heater from circulating too much water which can cause overheating and damage to the unit. The good news is that this can be easily fixed by loosening the union (screw nut) on the highest point of the heater to let air out.
It is also a good idea to clean the pipes when draining and refilling your hot tub as debris can get stuck inside them, inhibiting water flow. This can lead to an air lock in the system which will interrupt the flow and shut down the heater.
If you suspect that there is a problem with the heater, a multi-meter can be used to test voltage at the copper tabs on the element. This will help to determine whether the element itself is faulty or if there is a problem with the circuit board. To perform this test, disconnect all electrical power to the heater and then use the meter’s test leads to measure the resistance between the two terminals on the element. The acceptable range for most heaters is 9-12 ohms.
Esha Krueger