Everyone loves a nice, warm soak in a hot tub, but some people put off getting one of their own because they aren’t sure how much maintenance they require and whether that maintenance would be difficult. There are definitely steps to take to keep your hot tub running smoothly, but they are easy enough for most owners to perform. It’s all about getting into the habit of maintaining your hot tub.
Water Circulation
Hot tub maintenance is all about keeping the tub and its water clean. The water circulates around the tub, through filters and then flows back out into the tub through the vents. This is proper circulation, and its what keeps the water from having any contaminants and debris in it. As it flows through the cartridge filters, larger items are trapped and don’t go back into the water. It’s important for the water to circulate periodically so that any debris is filtered out.
Some hot tubs come with automated circulation that circulates the water once or twice a day. During the automated circulation, the water runs for about 20 minutes to make sure that all of the water has been filtered. If yours doesn’t have this feature, just run the tub twice a day for about 20 minutes.
PH and Alkalinity
Just like a pool, your hot tub needs to maintain a certain pH and alkalinity level. You will learn how to do an initial reading of the water to find out the baseline of your water. Then, you need to test it regularly to check its pH level. A good pH level for your tub is 7.4 to 7.6. If it goes below these numbers, the water will be so acidic that it can do damage to your tub and its components, and it can cause eye and skin irritation. If the numbers get higher than the ideal range, the water is too basic. This can result in the sanitizer being less effective as well as some cloudiness in the water.
The alkalinity of the water is equally important to the maintenance of your hot tub. The goal for alkalinity is 125 parts per million up to 150 parts per million. If it gets higher than this, it can make the water cloudy and cause scales to build up. Test your water once a week to make sure that it stays within the right levels and treat it when necessary.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
One key aspect of hot tub maintenance is using sanitizer. You simply choose one and then follow the package’s directions on adding it to your tub. Occasionally, the tub may need a shock treatment to get it ready for use again. This may be necessary if you haven’t been in it for a long time or it has seen heavy use lately. It’s also important to clean out the tub periodically, giving the sides a gentle scrub at the water line can make a lot of difference. You may also want to clean the shell once in a while. Use a little white vinegar and rub it gently to keep it shining.
Hot tub maintenance doesn’t have to take a long time, and it costs relatively little. Paying attention to its regular maintenance will keep your water sparkling and your chemistry just right. If you have questions, contact us today.