Soaking in a hot tub is one of the best ways to soothe sore muscles, de-stress, and relax after a long day.
But, in order to get the most out of your hot tub, you’ll need to perform a little bit of hot tub maintenance from time to time.
Let’s face it – Nobody wants to get into a dirty hot tub, so in this article, we’ll go over the importance of inspecting and maintaining your spa.
We’ll explain how to clean out your hot tub and give you an example hot tub maintenance schedule that you can follow to ensure your hot tub is always ready for you to enjoy.
Why You Should Regularly Inspect your Hot Tub
Hot tubs are a luxury.
Relaxing in one can help calm your mind and soothe your body, but hot tubs are also prone to getting dirty. When you soak in a hot tub, your body releases dead skin skills, sweat, dirt, and other contaminants that can stain your hot tub or otherwise pollute the water.
Plus, dirt and debris can get into the tub from the outside environment.
All of these things can plug the filter and potentially make your hot tub an attractive breeding ground for bacteria.
Therefore, it’s important that you regularly inspect your hot tub, the water in your tub, and your filter for dirt and debris.
How To Maintain Your Hot Tub
The good news is that cleaning and maintaining your hot tub is generally quite easy.
As a general rule of thumb, you should always ensure that you’re using bromine or chlorine in your hot tub, as this will greatly reduce the odds of the water accumulating any sort of harmful bacteria.
But assuming that you’ve added the correct amount of chlorine or bromine, there are still some other tasks you should regularly perform to keep your hot tub in good condition.
We also suggest testing the water in your hot tub about once a week. This will allow you to see the various levels and add water care products as needed to balance the water.
You will be looking for the following when testing the water:
- pH
- Alkalinity
- Chlorine
- Bromine
- Iron
- Copper
- Salt
One of the most important tasks is checking your filter. If your filter gets blocked, then the water can quickly become contaminated with dirt, dead skins, and other stuff that you definitely don’t want to be soaking in.
A visual inspection will tell you if there is any major debris in the filter, but you should also regularly reach in and feel the filter to ensure that it isn’t clogged.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you need to change the water in your hot tub about three to four times a year. It’s important to keep in mind that the frequency of how often you change the hot tub water can increase based on the frequency of use and how well it is maintained throughout the year.
To change your water, simply drain the tub using the drainage valve or a submersible pump, then refill the spa with cold water from a hose. Make sure that you remember to add your chlorine and other water care products to the new water.
An Example Hot Tub Maintenance Schedule
Here’s an example hot tub maintenance schedule that you can follow to ensure that your hot tub is always clean and in proper working condition.
- Every few days, add a little bit of chlorine or bromine to the hot tub
- Use a test strip or kit to test the water and add hot tub chemicals as needed to balance
- Before each use, inspect the filter for signs of dirt and debris
- Every 3-4 months, drain the tub and add fresh water
By following these simple steps, you can keep your hot tub clean and operational so that it’s always ready for you to enjoy when you feel like going for a soak.
5 Signs You Need Hot Tub Maintenance or Repair
Through regular hot tub maintenance, you can spot minor issues early and have them sorted out before they turn into something serious. This will prolong the lifetime of your spa because when all the parts are running optimally, the system will not have to strain too much.
Apart from your hot tub parts working efficiently, maintaining your spa regularly ensures your health and safety. You wouldn’t want your tub to be the source of skin irritations and other health-related issues. A faulty hot tub is also a safety concern as it poses a higher risk of slipping.
Below are some tell-tale signs that should alert you to issues with your hot tub. As soon as you spot any of these, contact professionals immediately for hot tub maintenance or repair.
1. Foul-smelling Water
If you religiously follow your weekly water maintenance routine and you still notice a putrid smell from your hot tub, then this could be an indication of a major problem. Because of the cleaning products used, it is okay to notice a whiff of a chemical smell once in a while. However, your spa should never emit an unpleasant odor.
The putrid smell indicates that water isn’t circulating properly or the water is compromised. Poor circulation often stems from a clogged drain, filter, or pump in your spa. Whatever the case, call in professionals for an assessment instead of trying to guess what the cause might be and ending up being wrong.
By contacting spa experts from Paradise Valley Spas, you will get the problem diagnosed and fixed in no time so you can get back to enjoying your hot tub. Also, avoid using your hot tub until the issue is sorted out.
2. Temperature Fluctuations
Nothing can be quite as exasperating as turning on your hot tub in anticipation of a relaxing hot soak only to find that the water is lukewarm. If the water in your spa isn’t heating up or if the temperature drops even after you set it, then you should have it checked out.
If your hot tub cover fits perfectly and is used properly when your tub is not in use, then it’s likely that your heater or your control panel are the culprits. There is no quick fix for temperature issues so you will likely need to have a professional check it out.
3. Algae Build-Up
Murky or greenish water signifies algae growth in your hot tub, especially if it is located outdoors. Sunlight often encourages algae growth particularly if your outdoor spa does not have a cover. The green murky water can signify other types of contamination that you can correct by sanitizing or balancing your hot tub’s water.
If the water still doesn’t clear up, then it could be that there is corrosion inside the pipes or maybe mold invasion in your jets or even in the plumbing. A hot tub expert will know how exactly to deal with all these issues to prevent them from causing adverse health problems.
4. Control Panel Faults
If you want to slip into your hot tub and notice that the control panel is flashing error codes at you, it’s definitely a sign that something’s wrong. Your circulation pump might not be working optimally or your pressure switch could be malfunctioning hence the error codes. It might even be something as simple as your filter needing replacement.
If you are not an electrical expert, don’t try handling these issues yourself. You might actually end up doing more damage than good. Call in the experts from Paradise Valley Spas and let them handle the repair to ensure that it is done right.
5. Jet Pressure
Most issues when it comes to faulty jets are usually minor and you can sort them out yourself. If you notice that your jets are weaker than they used to be or aren’t working at all, first check the water levels. If the water level isn’t high enough, it could affect your jets’ functioning.
Also, be sure to check that your spa’s bottom drain is completely covered and isn’t allowing any water to escape. If both of these are not the cause of the malfunctioning jets, then they could be clogged because of calcium build-up or debris. A thorough cleaning should do the trick and have them as good as new.
If after all these your jets are still acting up, then your hot tub filter might be the reason. If your filter is due for a change, then replacing it with a new one should do the magic. You can also give it a thorough rinse and put it back in if the replacement is not yet due.
If the jets are still acting up, then it’s probably time to throw in the towel and let the pros check out the hot tub’s plumbing lines, pump, valves, and control panel. We understand how disappointing it can be to expect a wonderful jet massage, only to get a lackluster spray from the jets.Luckily, an expert’s touch will rectify the situation and have your spa working in optimal condition.
Professional Hot Tub Maintenance at Paradise Valley Spas
As the providers of the best hot tubs, swim spas, and saunas in San Francisco Bay Area, our experts will ensure that your spa is running as it should. Our experts are always at hand to offer quick and efficient service for all your hot tub repair and hot tub maintenance needs.
If you feel ready to take the next step and have a hot tub or a swim spa installed in your home, contact our experts at Paradise Valley Spas.
Alternatively, you can drop in at our showrooms and let our professionals assist you. Once you experience the luxury of our hot tubs, you will wonder how you ever went without one.
Keep in mind that if you want to buy a new hot tub or if you ever need professional hot tub maintenance services, then Paradise Valley Spas offers the best selection of hot tubs around, and their professional hot tub maintenance staff can help you with cleaning your hot tub, or any other hot tub or swim spa services you require.
