Maintaining a healthy and clean balance of the water in your hot tub is about as fun as shopping for tires. Preventative actions will minimize the effort required and will maximize the use of your hot tub, which is the whole point of everything! My grandma used to say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
The simple steps come down to the following basics:
- Keep contaminants and oils out
- Switch out the water
- Use chemicals to maintain
- Keep filters clean and replace as needed
Keep contaminants and oils out : The easiest and most simple way to keep your hot tub water clean is to prevent problems before they can occur. If everyone showers before entering the spa, and they wipe their feet before stepping into the spa, the majority of problems that can happen with the water have already been prevented. This simple step keeps the water largely clear and germ free and also reduces the need and frequency for steps 2, 3 and 4.
Switch out the water : The Pros recommend switching the water out completely as needed or every 3 months, whichever comes first. The point does arrive where it is more economical and more healthy to just simply switch out the water. This can decrease the use of chemicals which can harm the cover and increase your operational costs.
Use chemicals to maintain : Make it a part of your Saturday morning routine. Check the water chemistry in your hot tub with a test kit, and add chemicals as necessary. Keeping the pH in balance is much easier than trying to get it back in balance. The Pros recommend testing daily if possible, but we know that is a much bigger time commitment. Keep in mind bromine is less harsh on your hot tub covers than chlorine.
Keep the filters clean and replace as needed: The Pros recommend the following:
- Weekly – Rinse the filters weekly using a hose or running under a sink faucet
- Monthly – Clean the filters using specifically designed filter cleaning products which are usually sprayed on and left to be absorbed by the filter. After at least 15 minutes, rinse the filters with a strong water stream from a garden hose till no foam is visible.
- Bi-annually – Soaking your filters overnight in a mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part muriatic acid. Be sure to pour the acid into the water and not vice versa. Wear protective gear – gloves & goggles at a minimum- when working with acid.
Happy Tubbing!
Ethel Elliott
