subject: Hot Tips on Caring for Your Hot Tub or Spa [print this page] Hot Tips on Caring for Your Hot Tub or Spa
The most important thing to monitor when caring for your hot tub or spa is water balance. But remember, spas are much different than swimming pools. Four people in a spa is equivalent to having 250 in an average-sized pool. High temperatures and the ratio of people to water in a hot tub means more residual soaps, deoderants, perfumes, natural body oils and perspiration are released into the water. This can create organic contaminants, which can only be eliminated using products that are specially formulated for spas and hot tubs.
Balance and Sanitize
As with a swimming pool, the two most important aspects of maintaining a hot tub are water balancing and sanitizing. Test your spa water balance twice weekly all year round. Your pool and spa supply company can give you water balance guidelines and help you treat your hot tub water if it gets out of balance.
The biggest consideration in terms of sanitizing your spa or hot tub is whether to use chlorine or bromine as the sanitizing agent. Both are effective in daily sanitizing. However, chlorine breaks down faster in higher temperatures and can release strong odors. Bromine has become increasingly popular as a spa sanitizer because it is not as harsh to the skin and has less odor than chlorine when used in spa water.
Spa Water Shocking
Shocking your hot tub on a weekly basis is essential to maintaining the perfect balance. Unlike your pool, spas are shocked with a non-chlorine shock or oxidizer that eliminates odors and reduces irritating contaminants. You should also shock your hot tub water after each use.
General Hot Tub Maintenance Tips
Use a hand skimmer or spa vacuum to keep your spa clean of leaves, gravel, and debris
The spa pump and filter should run for two hours each day, even if you don't plan to use it
Make sure the water level in your hot tub is approximately in the center of the skimmer opening
If available, check and clean the skimmer basket and the pump strainer basket weekly
Use a spa cover to help retain heat, prevent evaporation, and keep debris out of the water
Your spa should be completely drained and cleaned about every two months
Use only chemicals and products that are specifically designed for hot tub use
