At the end of a hard week, there’s nothing like soaking in your very own hot tub. But as with any other appliance, keeping your hot tub properly maintained is important. And neglecting regular upkeep can turn your water murky in no time. 

Knowing the make and model of your specific hot tub is important. Having this information on hand makes it easier to get parts and service for your hot tub when you need them. If you have a Sundance® Spa from Great Bay Spa & Sauna, you will never have to worry about parts or service. We always have parts on hand and take care of your servicing needs in-house, saving you time, money, and headaches.

Fortunately, you can take care of most maintenance tasks yourself. With the right products and proper routine, you can keep your hot tub running smoothly for a very long time.

3 Easy Steps for Perfect Hot Tub Maintenance

Hot tubs aren’t particularly high maintenance, especially considering all the benefits they provide. It doesn’t take too much effort to keep them sparkling. And the necessary supplies are affordable. However, failing to keep your hot tub maintained can lead to costly repairs.

With that in mind, follow these three simple steps to keep your tub in top shape all year.

1. Maintain Proper Circulation

As the water in your hot tub circulates, it passes through filters that remove contaminants.

Depending on the model, your hot tub may include an automatic circulation feature that runs the water daily for around 15 minutes. If not, you’ll need to turn the water on once or twice a day for 15-20 minutes. The good news is that you already complete this task if you use your hot tub daily.

2. Formulate a Regular Maintenance Schedule

It may be helpful to create a schedule of daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly hot tub maintenance tasks.

Your list may vary based on the type of cleaning system you have and how frequently the unit is used (and by how many people), but consider this general guideline:

Daily Maintenance

Make sure the spa cover is clean and properly secured. Adjust the water temperature as needed, and take a moment to check the spa and cover for any damage. There isn’t much to do day to day. This is the opportunity for your tub to be a source of relaxation before the grind of life catches back up.

Weekly Maintenance

Test the alkalinity level and pH, aiming for an alkalinity level of 80-120 ppm and a pH level of 7.2-7.4 ppm. Then, check the sanitizer levels and clean any accumulating debris from the waterline. Shock and sanitize the water if needed and rinse the filters. Finish off by cleaning the cover and checking for rips or tears.

If you are adjusting ph or alkalinity more than once a week, please contact us for personalized advice. 

Monthly Maintenace

Monthly cleaning should focus on your hot tub filters. Deep-clean them with a chemical rinse. If they still look grungy after cleaning, it’s time to replace them. Dirty filters compromise the tub’s overall cleanliness and can quickly become a maintenance nightmare. Consider purchasing a filter to have on hand. You can replace the filter as soon as you need to and will be able to purchase the next one at your leisure.

Need more information? Check out this blog and video for a step-by-step guide to cleaning your filter

Quarterly Maintenance

Get in the habit of draining and cleaning the entire hot tub every three to six months. Wipe down the empty tub and cover it with a 10% bleach-to-water solution. This is also the perfect time to make sure all mechanical components are in good repair.

If you are using a MicroClean® filter, this would be a good time to replace it. If not, depending on the type of tub and filter, how often you need to change it can vary widely. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to consult your manual, or contact the neighborhood hot tub expert for help and advice.

Yearly Maintenance

You may miss a task here and there throughout the year, as vacations and fluctuating work schedules make it difficult to stick to a stringent schedule. Performing extra-thorough yearly hot tub maintenance will help make up for anything you missed.

Make sure you perform the following tasks at least once per year:

It’s also a good idea to reevaluate your maintenance schedule each year. As time passes, you’ll get a better understanding of what it takes to keep your hot tub clean and the water sanitized.

3. Balance the Chemicals

The water in a hot tub must be kept sanitary and chemically balanced, just like a swimming pool. Frequent water testing will help you address minor issues before they become major headaches.

Balancing the chemicals in a hot tub isn’t difficult, but it takes a little research and practice to get it right. Keeping the following products on hand will make it easier to address a chemical imbalance as soon as it’s detected:

  • Alkalinity increaser to protect your pH from drastically changing. Always adjust low alkalinity before making adjustments to pH.
  • pH increaser and pH decreaser for adjusting your pH.
  • Sanitizer (chlorine or bromine) to kill bacteria and other contaminants.
  • Shock (non-chlorine or di-chlor) to give your sanitizer a boost by adding oxygen and removing chloramines and bacteria.
  • Test strips or a liquid test kit to make sure all your chemical levels are in the right range.
  • Defoamer (optional) for quick relief from foamy hot tub water.

Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when using these products. 

Stop By Great Bay Spa & Sauna

Hot Tub water care may seem overwhelming, but it’s actually quite simple if you have a consistent maintenance routine in place. To ensure that your hot tub stays in good condition, it’s important to test the water regularly, but if you’re feeling uncertain about the results, bring a sample to Great Bay Spa & Sauna. Our team offers free water testing and will provide expert advice to help keep your hot tub in top shape. Don’t let water care stress you out, trust the professionals at Great Bay Spa & Sauna to assist you every step of the way.