Who doesn’t love the luxurious escape of a hot tub? The warm, bubbling waters can be your personal haven of relaxation, a retreat from the everyday hustle and bustle.
But did you know that the secret to endlessly enjoyable hot tub sessions lies in regular maintenance? Neglect can turn your delightful spa into a source of stress rather than relief.
Hot tub maintenance is crucial for your comfort, your health, and the longevity of your spa.
In this guide, we’ll unveil simple, step-by-step instructions to keep your hot tub in pristine condition.
With these expert tips, each dip in your hot tub will be as refreshing and invigorating as the first, transforming your spa into a consistent source of relaxation and joy for many years to come.
Let’s dive into the essentials of hot tub maintenance, ensuring your spa remains your personal sanctuary of serenity and wellness.
Daily Hot Tub Maintenance Tasks
Maintaining optimal water quality is crucial and should be checked daily to ensure a safe and enjoyable spa environment:
Test pH & Alkalinity Levels:
It’s vital to maintain the pH and alkalinity levels of your water. These levels determine how acidic or basic your water is and can wreak havoc on your water quality and equipment if not kept in precise balance.
Your pH level should be between 7.2 and 7.6, while your alkalinity level should be kept between 80 and 120 ppm (parts per million).
This balance helps prevent corrosion or scale build-up from damaging your equipment and reduces the risk of skin and eye irritation. To adjust these levels, you’ll need:
- pH test strips or a water test kit
- pH increaser
- pH decreaser
- Alkalinity increaser.
Maintain Sanitizer Levels:
Your sanitiser keeps bacteria at bay, ensuring your water is always clean, clear, and ready to enjoy.
Chlorine and bromine are the two most common options but offer a different experience. While chlorine works quickly and is particularly affordable, it also gets used up more quickly.
Bromine, on the other hand, is slightly more expensive, but is less harsh than chlorine and works longer. However, this also means that it treats your water more slowly.
Whatever you choose, these two sanitizers are equally effective at keeping your spa water clean when kept within their respective ranges: chlorine between 1 and 3 ppm and bromine between 3 and 5 ppm.
By incorporating these hot tub maintenance tasks into your daily routine, you can ensure that your spa remains a hygienic and inviting space.
Regular upkeep preserves the physical components of your spa and enhances the overall soaking experience, making every moment in your hot tub a rejuvenating one.
Weekly Maintenance Rituals
Maintaining your hot tub on a weekly basis is essential for preventing the accumulation of grime and ensuring the longevity of your spa.
Establishing a routine for these tasks can significantly enhance your hot tub’s performance and reliability. Here’s a breakdown of the essential weekly maintenance tasks:
Filter Rinse:
The filter in your hot tub is a workhorse, trapping dirt, oils, and various contaminants, ensuring that your water stays clean and clear.
Each week, remove the filter and rinse it thoroughly with a garden hose to wash away loose debris. Optionally, you can use a filter cleaner attachment, like the Water-Wizard, to clean more thoroughly between the pleats. This simple action helps maintain efficient water flow and cleanliness.
Oxidizing Shock Treatment:
Regular use of your hot tub introduces substances like lotions, makeup, and natural body oils into the water, which can accumulate and create a breeding ground for bacteria if not properly managed.
Weekly shock treatments with a non-chlorine shock product can help oxidize these organics, clearing up your water and refreshing its overall condition.
This type of shock is ideal as it effectively sanitizes the water without raising chlorine levels or producing strong odours, making your hot tub environment more pleasant.
Wiping the Exposed Shell Edges:
It’s also important to regularly wipe down the exposed edge of the hot tub shell. These areas can collect dust, dirt, and residues from water treatment chemicals.
Use a soft, damp cloth to gently clean these surfaces, ensuring they remain as immaculate as the water within.
By incorporating these rituals into your weekly routine, you can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems, thereby extending the life of your hot tub and enhancing your enjoyment.
Treat With O-Care:
Over time, sediment can build up throughout your system, and unfortunately, this grime can’t be cleared away by your regular chlorine or bromine treatments.
This is where O-Care comes in! Simply add a dose to your spa each week. Not only will it remove any existing build-up, but it helps prevent it in the future as well, reducing the need for additional sanitiser products, and leaving your water silky smooth.
Monthly Care Checklist
Regular monthly care is pivotal in preventing a myriad of common hot tub issues that might otherwise compromise the efficiency and safety of your spa. Here are some key monthly hot tub maintenance steps you’ll want to include:
Filter Clean:
Over time, filters capture and accumulate a significant amount of debris, which can clog and reduce their efficiency.
Monthly deep cleaning is crucial for maintaining the health of your spa. Use a hot tub filter cleaner, which penetrates the filter material more deeply than ordinary rinsing, breaking up oils, greases, and other stubborn residues lodged between the filter plates.
After applying the cleaner, be sure to rinse the filters thoroughly with clean water to remove any residual cleaning agent, ensuring that these chemicals do not mix into your spa water.
Exterior Cleaning:
The exterior of your hot tub, or the cabinet, also requires regular attention to maintain its appearance and integrity.
Dust, dirt, and weather-related residues can accumulate on the cabinet surface, leading to wear and aesthetic degradation over time.
Use a mild, non-abrasive cleaner and a soft cloth to gently wipe down the cabinet. Be sure to tackle all accessible areas, paying special attention to corners and crevices where debris tends to collect.
Cover Inspection:
The hot tub cover is an essential component that helps maintain water temperature and cleanliness. Each month, inspect your cover for signs of wear or damage, such as tears or sagging, which can reduce its effectiveness.
Clean the top and especially the underside of the cover thoroughly. The underside can become a breeding ground for mold and mildew due to constant exposure to warm, moist conditions.
Use a cleaner specifically designed for hot tub covers to remove mold, mildew, and accumulated dirt.
If you notice any damage or severe wear, consider replacing the cover to ensure optimal performance and protection.
By keeping up with these tasks, you’ll extend the lifespan of your spa and avoid many common issues that can lead to costly repairs or inefficient operation.
Remember, a little preventative hot tub maintenance goes a long way in keeping your spa ready at a moment’s notice for relaxation and enjoyment.
Seasonal Maintenance – A Quarterly Refresh
Every three to four months, your hot tub requires a comprehensive refresh to maintain optimal functionality and hygiene. Here’s how to conduct a thorough quarterly refresh:
Deep Clean Filters:
To start, give your filters a thorough cleaning. Remove them from the spa and soak them overnight in a solution of diluted filter cleaner, carefully following the manufacturer’s instructions.
This deep cleaning process helps remove deeply embedded debris and contaminants that regular rinsing can’t reach, restoring the efficiency of your filters.
Remember, over time, filters will degrade and lose their effectiveness, so it’s crucial to replace them when necessary, typically once a year, depending on usage and care. Inspect your filters regularly for any signs of damage, such as rips or tears.
Drain The Water:
Over time, the water in your hot tub accumulates high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) from continuous chemical treatment.
High TDS levels can hinder the effectiveness of your spa’s sanitizers and affect water clarity. Each season, reset your spa by draining all the old water from the tub. If your spa sees heavy usage, you might need to perform this step more frequently.
Follow along with this video on draining and refilling your Jacuzzi®️ Hot Tub:
Clean The Shell:
With the water drained, take the opportunity to thoroughly clean the shell of your hot tub. Use a non-abrasive cleaner designed specifically for hot tub surfaces and a soft-bristled brush to gently scrub away any residues or build-up.
Pay special attention to areas around jets and seating, where grime can accumulate. Rinse the shell thoroughly with clean water to ensure no cleaning residue remains that could affect the water chemistry when you refill.
Refill & Rebalance:
After cleaning and rinsing your shell, refill your spa with fresh water. Once filled, it’s crucial to test the water and rebalance the chemistry.
Start by adjusting the alkalinity levels, followed up by bringing the pH levels into balance. Then add the appropriate amount of sanitiser to ensure the water is safe for use.
It’s also a good time to add a metal sequestrant if your water supply contains high levels of minerals, which helps prevent staining and scale build-up. You can determine this by having your water tested.
Regular quarterly refreshes will keep your spa in top condition, allowing you to enjoy another season of therapeutic relaxation without interruption.
Professional Maintenance and When to Call the Experts
While a diligent DIY care routine is crucial for your hot tub’s upkeep, some issues require the specialized skills of a professional. Here’s when and why you might need to call in the experts:
Routine Service:
Even the most conscientious hot tub owners can benefit from professional servicing. Schedule an annual service to ensure your hot tub is in peak condition.
During these visits, professionals can conduct a comprehensive deep cleaning that goes beyond everyday hot tub maintenance, check all mechanical and electrical systems, and replace any worn-out parts.
This not only ensures optimal performance but also extends the lifespan of your hot tub.
Inspection Needs:
Regular professional inspections are invaluable. Experts are trained to identify and address issues that may not be immediately apparent to even the most experienced hot tub owners.
They can catch minor problems before they escalate into expensive repairs, saving you time, money, and hassle in the long run.
Whether it’s a subtle change in water quality or a component that’s starting to show signs of wear, a professional can provide the necessary adjustments and recommendations.
Professional Hot Tub Maintenance and Service in Sussex
Regular hot tub maintenance isn’t just about keeping the water clean; it’s about ensuring the longevity and performance of your investment.
With the straightforward steps outlined in this guide, you can enjoy a flawless spa experience for years to come. Routine care, combined with professional oversight, will help you maintain a safe, efficient, and inviting hot tub environment.
Still have questions or need professional help? Don’t hesitate to contact the experts at Euphoria Lifestyle.
Whether you need to schedule a service, seek advice on a particular issue, or want more tips on maintaining your hot tub perfectly, help is just a phone call away.
Reach out today to ensure your spa experience remains flawless. Your perfect soak is our priority, and we’re here to help every step of the way.
