It’s absolutely nice to have your own hot tub because you can use it 24/7 for the whole year in any weather. However, as you may have known, a hot tub also needs regular maintenance to keep the water clean and the hot tub itself lasts longer. You don’t want to use dirty and/or acidic water that may cause irritation to the skin of your family members and yourself.
Taking care of your hot tub is a must-do job that every hot tub owner needs to do, especially if you have sensitive skin and other family members who use it regularly. Maintaining a hot tub doesn’t only ensure the clarity of the water but also keeps the machine itself stay in shape and lasts longer.
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If you’re a new hot tub owner or planning to purchase one, we’ve prepared five tips on how to take care of a hot tub by yourself.
How to Take Care of a Hot Tub
Water Chemistry Level
You can run this test at least twice a week to prevent a high acidic level that may damage the hot tub itself. There are a few points that you can use as a measure:
- pH: should be between 7.4 – 7.6. If the number is less than this, it means that it’s too acidic, and if the number is above means that the water is too basic and will make the sanitizer works less.
- Alkalinity: should be between 100 ppm (parts per million) to 150 ppm. If the number is too high, it might cause cloudy water and scaling.
- Calcium hardness: needs to be about 100 ppm to 250 ppm. If it’s too low, it might cause corrosion and on the contrary, it may create cloudiness if it’s too high.
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Hot Tub Filters
Filters are one of the important parts that need to be checked at least every two weeks. If you spot any damage, it’s probably the sign for you to replace them with a new one. There are three methods to clean a hot tub filter:
- Quick Rinse: This is the quickest way you can for weekly maintenance and is only for light issues.
- Chemical Spray: This one is recommended for a monthly or fortnightly process depending on the hot tub usage.
- Thorough Soak: This method is the most time-consuming but the most thorough since it allows the solution to soak into pleats. You can do this method when you change your hot tub water that ideally happens for 3 – 4 months.
For more detailed steps on how to do each filter cleaning process, you can check them out on how to maintain hot tub filters.
Water Circulation
If you have or are planning to install an outdoor hot tub, please make sure that the water circulation is in good condition. It’s because it’s more likely to get exposed to all contaminants that can cause bacteria to grow faster.
- Some hot tubs come with automatic settings that can schedule the circulation time by themselves.
- For a standard hot tub with manual settings, you can do it by turning on the hot tub for about 15-20 minutes.
Sanitizing and Shocking
If you’re not using the hot tub for a while or when you have been using it often, do this step by using two optional products:
- Chlorine kills contaminants faster than bromine but can leave smells, harsh on the skin, hair, and eyes if you put too much.
- Bromine kills more slowly, barely leaves any odor, and is more gentle to the skin. From the price point, it’s quite more expensive than chlorine.
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Hot Tub Cover and Surface
To prevent hot tub covers from dampness and mildew, you can do these steps:
- Wipe the cover twice a week up to once a month by using a clean and soft cloth.
- Take off the cover and air it out for one or two days to remove the bad odor.
- If there are any rips, grab a tape or patch and cover the ripped area right away.
To clean the surface from any dirt, grease, and build-up, do these:
- Wipe the shell and around the jets with a soft sponge.
- Do this step every week before or after use.
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We hope that this quick tutorial can help you and it’s always recommended to contact professional help if you’re not sure of something.