New to Spa Ownership?
Properly maintaining your spa will not only keep the water sparkling but will also protect your spa equipment and keep the water safe. A spa is an investment, and with proper care, can give you enjoyment and relaxation for a long time.
Weekly
On a weekly basis you should remove your spa filter and give it a good rinse using your garden hose or your faucet. Do not use a pressure washer on your spa filter as this may cause the fibers to tear and allow small debris to pass through them – ending up back in your spa water.
Test your spa water using test strips designed for the type of sanitizer you use (bromine or chlorine). Ensure that the sanitizer and pH levels are within their ideal range, adjusting the pH levels as needed.
The top of your water analysis sheet indicates the weekly addition of other chemicals needed based on your litre amounts. Do not add anything other than the weekly chemicals listed.
Check your chlorine / bromine feeder to ensure you have tablets in it. If they have dissolved, refill the feeder, and replace the floater back into the spa.
Monthly
Clean your spa filter in a cleaning solution. As it is recommended to soak in the solution for a few hours, and then to allow it to completely dry before re-inserting, we suggest having two sets of filters so you can swap them out between cleanings. Never use your spa without the filter being installed.
Visit us with a water sample monthly so we can help to ensure that the balancing chemicals are where they need to be to maintain a safe and healthy spa.
Every 3-4 Months
Your spa, or hot tub, should be drained and refilled every 3-4 months.
Before performing a drain and refill of your spa it is important to clean the plumbing inside the unit first. We recommend using a product such as swirl away to help remove the organic waste from the system. First, remove the filter from the spa. Then add 235ml per 1000 litres of water into the tub. Turn the jets on at high speed for one hour with the air controls closed. Once the spa jets have finished their one-hour cycle, drain the spa. Wipe down the inside of your spa (do not use any household cleaners on your spa as they can react with your spa chemicals and create unsafe conditions in the fresh water). Once clean, reinstall cleaned filter and fill the spa with fresh water.
It is recommended to bring in a water sample once the tub is at temperature for analysis. We can then assist you in properly balancing the spa to ensure your tub is protected and the water is safe for bathing. Do not add any chemicals or shock the spa before bringing your sample in for testing.
It is important that you only add the recommended dosage of chemicals to the spa as shown on the water test analysis and that you follow any wait time noted before adding the next chemical.
Other Tips
Hazy / Cloudy Water
You may find, from time to time, your spa is not as sparkling as it should be. A low sanitizer can cause the water to look hazy or cloudy. If you notice a haze or a cloud to the water, use a test strip to determine where the sanitizer level is. If it is in fact low, you may want to adjust the setting on your feeder or to shock your spa with Spa Lite.
Foaming
Sometimes a spa can begin to look like a bubble bath. Foaming can be caused by a few issues:
- Your calcium level is not within its proper range. If you suspect foaming is due to improper balancing of the water, bring a water sample into us for analysis, we will assist you in restoring the balance and removing that pesky foam.
- Oils, lotion, make-up, deodorants, laundry detergent, etc can also be a cause for foaming in your spa. These are introduced to the water off bathers and bathing suits. Using a product such as a scum ball or a water lily can assist in catching these products from your tub. If possible, shower before getting into the tub and rinse your swimsuit before use.
- Using substandard chemicals. When you use chemicals that are not from a spa professional, you could be introducing “filler” products into the spa. Fillers are used in mediocre chemicals so they can be sold at a lesser price, enticing the consumer who does not realize the difference of purchasing from a non-spa professional. These fillers can cause foaming issues in spas making them appear to be bubble baths.
Usually foaming is not hazardous; it just doesn’t look pleasant. There is an “anti-foam” product available that will take the foaming away for a short period of time, but it will come back until the issue is fixed. Anti-foam is a band-aid solution that can ensure you don’t need to cancel any get-togethers you may have planned until you can solve the reason behind the foaming issues.
Brown / Green / Purple Water
One reason you may have discolored water can be due to metals being introduced to the water. Once the metal has entered the water, and mixes with the sanitizer the water becomes a transparent brown, green or purple color. Topping or filling the spa up from a well is the most frequent issue we see for these color changes. If you are using a well, we recommend using a metal remover, whether you use a chemical metal remover or a garden hose adapter (which filters the metals out of the water prior to it even going into the spa). But keep in mind, every time you rinse or clean your filter with your well water, you are reintroducing metals to the water and therefore may want to consider using either of the above methods on a regular basis to keep the water clear.
Algae can also give the water a discolored green hue. If you suspect your color change is due to algae rather than metals, make sure you check your sanitizer level, give the spa a shock with Spa Lite and give the tub a good brushing and clean the filter once complete. Remember to rinse off any tools you cleaned the spa with so that you do not reintroduce algae to the water.
