Routine Maintenance on a Hot Tub

Owning a hot tub is wonderful for so many different reasons. Regardless of size, shape and features however, it is important for all hot tub owners to take the time to keep their hot tub well maintained.

Keeping your hot tub maintained is the best way to increase its lifespan. It’s like any other appliance that you use. If you don’t take care of it, clean it, and make sure to replace the appropriate equipment, it will start to show signs of wear and tear.

So, if you are someone who wants to enjoy your hot tub, year round, take note! We’ve got everything you need to know about how to maintain your hot tub, right here.

Invest in a Hot Tub Cover

When looking for the right hot tub to purchase, it’s a good idea to make sure that the one you’re interested in comes with a cover. If the hot tub you want doesn’t come with a cover, it’s a good idea to purchase one anyway.

A cover is one of the best ways to extend the life of your hot tub. It prevents things like leaves, rain and other debris from dirtying the water in your hot tub. As a result, the cover helps to the filters to run more efficiently. If you drain your hot tub when it’s not in use, protecting the interior with a cover will also help to keep it clean and prevent damage.

If your hot tub is in use, you do need to remember to remove the cover at least two times per week. The reason for this is because you don’t want too much heat and moisture to build up. This will ruin your cover, as well as damage your hot tub. If you’re using your hot tub regularly, you’re in luck! This will take care of the cover maintenance automatically.

Don’t forget, your hot tub cover will need care too! Many covers are made from vinyl, which can crack. There are plenty of products on the market that will help you to remove dirt, dust, and more from your hot tub cover. There are also products that help to keep the material looking brand new. For more information on the right kind of maintenance care and products to use on your hot tub cover, contact your dealership or manufacturer.

Filter Care

The good news is most hot tub filters only need replacing every 6 months to 1 year. To keep your hot tub running efficiently, you’ll want to make sure that you follow your hot tub filter’s specific instructions. Buying new filters for your hot tub might seem like a silly additional cost, but it’s important when it comes to proper maintenance and care.

Filters help to keep the water in your hot tub clean and clear. Over time, a filter will get old, break down, and stop working. At that point, the filter can block the water from running through. Also, debris can pass through the old filter and damage the hot tub pump and other equipment. This type of damage is easily avoidable if you keep up the right kind of maintenance.

Despite your hot tub filter’s replacement schedule, you should still clean the filter every 4 to 8 weeks. The reason for this is because as you use your hot tub, the filter traps dirt and helps to keep the water clean. When the filter traps enough dirt, it can get blocked or work less effectively. Therefore, while you can use the same filter for months, you still need to clean it every so often.

Water Care

While filters play a large role in keeping your spa water clean, there are other things you can do to make sure the water you relax in stays sparkling.

The water in your hot tub will require chemicals that help to balance the pH. It’s important to keep the pH balanced so that algae and other potentially harmful bacteria don’t grow. Common water cleaners include,

• Chlorine
• Bromine
• Mineral Based Purifiers
• Baquanine

After each hot tub use, you need to check your water balance and add chemicals as needed. If you have questions about water sanitation for your hot tub, your dealer can help. They will know the right balance of chemicals for your specific hot tub.

If you do not add chemicals to help with your hot tub water’s pH balance, you will eventually damage your hot tub’s filters and water purification systems. Keeping the water clean is the first step in hot tub maintenance. In fact, every 2 months you should drain the hot tub and change the water.

Changing the water in your hot tub is easy, and should only take about 90 minutes, or 1.5 hours. In between water changes, you might also find that you need to add a little water to the hot tub after each use. If your hot tub water gets too low, air can get into the pump and cause damage. Therefore, adding some water is a normal part of hot tub maintenance, and will also help you to keep the right pH balance. You can refill your hot tub using a garden hose or other nearby water source.

Don’t Let the Water Freeze!

Outdoor hot tubs can run year round. In some places in the world, this means straight though winter and other cold conditions. If you want to use your hot tub in the winter, this is fine, but you need to make sure that you keep the temperature hot enough to keep the water from freezing.

Frozen water isn’t great for a hot tub because it will ruin the pipes and other equipment. When water freezes it expands, which means that the pipes, pump, and heater can all burst or break. Frozen water costs thousands to repair.

If you aren’t going to use your hot tub during the colder months, be sure to drain it completely, clean it, blow air through the pipes, and put the cover on. Otherwise, you need to make sure that water constantly runs through the pipes and jets. This means you will need to run your pump in order to prevent damage to your hot tub.

Hot Tub Interior Care

In general, you want to completely drain your hot tub every few months to make sure that the interior isn’t damaged. You will also want to check the hot tub jets to make sure that they aren’t blocked in any way. You will also want to give the hot tub seats, floors, and walls a good scrub.

Extend Your Hot Tub’s Life

If you keep up the proper maintenance schedule, you will help to keep your hot tub in tiptop shape. The pump and heater will last longer because it doesn’t have to work as hard, and you won’t have to call in for repairs nearly as often.

If you are going to invest money by purchasing your hot tub, you really want to make sure that you also invest the time in maintenance. That way you’ll be able to enjoy your hot tub for years to come.