August 2010
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The Importance of Proper Ventilation for Indoor Spas
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Steps to Ensure A Safe, Fun-filled Pool Season
in Maintenance
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Pool Cleaning Tips for the Summer
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Save Money & Energy with a Solar Pool Heater
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Choose the Right Pool Cover
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Immaculate Spas
July 2008
by John Mulligan
Related Articles
Relaxing in your spa after a long day of work, entertaining friends or family on the weekend, soothing sore or tired muscles — those are some of the reasons you own a hot tub. But through regular use, oils, dirt, perspiration and chemicals will naturally accumulate in the water and can cause cloudiness or odors that may spoil your spa experience. Most problems with spa water result from a lack of routine hot tub maintenance. To get full enjoyment out of your spa, keep it clean with the following steps from Touraj Rowhani, research chemist at Arch Chemicals, Inc.
Proper Spa Startup
If you’re filling up your spa for the first time, fill it according to the manufacturer’s directions, and then take a sample of your pool water to your authorized dealer for a full water analysis and recommendation. Follow your dealer’s recommendations for balancing your spa water. “The most important part is making sure your sanitizer and oxidizer are at the proper levels,” Rowhani says. Your initial dosage of sanitizer, oxidizer, stain and scale control will be determined by the size of your hot tub and the spa care system you use. See the chart at the bottom of this page to find the right start-up dosage for your spa.
Test Your Spa Water Weekly
Once your spa is up and running, create a weekly maintenance schedule to ensure an immaculate spa. Test your water every week or as necessary depending on the sanitizing system you are using, and adjust your sanitizer, oxidizer and water balance levels as necessary, adding the appropriate dosage according to the instructions on the product labels.
Regularly wiping down the shell of your spa at the water line can prevent dirt from collecting. Use a spa cleaning pad and a spa care product such as BaquaSpa® Surface Cleaner or Brilliance® Surface Cleaner to scrub away residue.
Clean Your Spa Cover
Make it habit to clean your spa cover every other week. Rowhani recommends a spa cleaning pad and a product such as BaquaSpa Cover Cleaner or Brilliance Cover Cleaner. Remove the spa cover, place it on a flat surface and clean it according to the directions on the cover cleaner product label. The underside of the spa cover requires the most attention because it is the side facing the water.
Monthly Filter Cleaning
Without a clean filter, it’s difficult to maintain a sparkling spa. Filters remove all of the hair, oils and cosmetics that get in the water through regular use. A clean filter allows for better water circulation and chemical distribution, and helps prevent water clarity issues. Clean your filter every 4 to 6 weeks with BaquaSpa Filter Cleaner or Brilliance Filter Cleaner according to the directions on your filter cleaner label.
Change Your Spa Water Regularly
Depending on the frequency of usage, change your water every 60 to 90 days. If you develop a serious problem with cloudy water or unpleasant odors, change your water immediately. Changing your water entails draining your spa completely and cleaning the entire shell with surface cleaner and a spa cleaning pad. Whenever you change your spa water, be sure to clean your cover and filter, as well. When you are done, rinse the spa out thoroughly, and then refill your spa according to the start-up directions.
For a quick reference on maintaining your spa using the BaquaSpa or Brilliance spa maintenance systems, consult our chart below.
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| All spas | X |
| CHLORINE-FREE — BaquaSpa® Brand | X* |
| BROMINE-BASED — Brilliance® for Spas Brand | X* |
| Daily | |
|---|---|
| Follow your hot tub manufacturer’s filtration instructions. | X |
| Check water temperature, which should not exceed 104º F. | X |
| Weekly | |
| Clean your spa shell at the waterline. | X |
| Test pH and sanitizer levels. | X* |
Follow BaquaSpa 1-2-3 step system below:
|
X* |
| Test pH and sanitizer levels (every other day is preferred). | X* |
Follow Brilliance 1-2-3 step system below:
|
X* |
| Monthly | |
| Take a water sample to your authorized spa retailer for a detailed water analysis and recommendation. | X |
| Chemically clean the filter (every 4-6 weeks is best). | X |
| Clean hot tub cover, concentrating on the water side. | |
Maintaining a routine program for your spa is extremely important. In terms of impact on water quality, having two people in an average-sized hot tub (350 gallons) is equivalent to having 70 people in an average-sized residential swimming pool (12,000 gallons).
Note: Drain your hot tub, clean the shell and add new water every 60-90 days.
