If you own a hot tub, it can say a lot about who you are. It could mean you enjoy relaxation and the finer things in life, that you’re in a position to make such an investment, and that you take your home and your health seriously. Unfortunately without the proper care, your hot tub could also say something else about you: that you don’t take much of this seriously at all.

Like anything else, hot tubs and their water need regular, routine maintenance. It’s nothing too hard, but it’s important to educate yourself. If you own a hot tub or spa, read these tips for hot tub water care and give your investment the attention it deserves. It’ll last longer, feel better, and most importantly be safer.

Measure Chemical and Mineral Levels

If you’re like most people, you’ve filled your hot tub with regular municipal water from a garden hose or other source. Unfortunately, this water is made for water pipes and faucets, not hot tubs. Salinity, pH balance, alkalinity, and other chemical balances might not be appropriate for your hot tub.

Spa test strips, which are available at any hot tub store, can be used to test your hot tubs water easily and quickly. Just dip a test strip in the spa’s water and wait for the colors to show you the results. Water should be checked once or twice a week, depending on how often your spa is used.

Balance the Water with Chemicals

Depending on what your spa test trips tell you, you may need to balance the water with chemical treatment. There are specific chemical treatments to adjust each measurement.

Note: if multiple chemicals need to be added, do it in this order: alkalinity, calcium, pH. These chemicals can be purchased at spa supply stores, for more instruction ask the employees at your local store or follow the instructions that come with the chemicals. Your hot tub’s manufacturer may also have more information about balancing the water according to its specific needs.

Add Sanitizer

Warm, bubbly water is an excellent environment for bacteria to grow, so sanitizer will need to be added to your hot tub’s water regularly. Mineral sanitizers are a popular choice – ceramic beads coated with silver that are placed into the spas water filtration system. Over time silver ions are released into the water, inhibiting bacterial growth.

Biguanide (peroxide), bromine, and simple chlorine are other popular options for sanitizing a hot tub’s water. Chlorine and bromine are probably the most popular options, as they’re easy to use and work in most spas. They can irritate some people’s skin and eyes however. If this is the case with you, another mineral-based solution might be preferable.

Don’t Forget to Change the Filter!

Every two weeks you should change your spa filter. Take out the cartridge and clean out any dirt or debris from the pleats using warm soap and water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly! Some people change the filter cartridge in their dishwasher – if you’d like to take this route, make sure that the dishwasher doesn’t get any hotter than 140 °F (60 °C), as this could cause permanent damage.

If you find yourself needing to wash your filter more and more frequently, it’s probably to replace the cartridge.

For more information about hot tubs and spas from Marquis, Dream Maker, and more, contact Brothers Pool in Wallingford, CT. In addition to sales and service, Brothers Pool has a full retail selection of test strips, treatment chemicals, and more.