November 2011
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Changing Your Hot Tub Water in 4 Simple Steps
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How to Choose the Right In-ground Pool for You
in Maintenance
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Just because summer is in the rearview mirror doesn’t mean aquatic fun is over—especially if you have an indoor spa. Now that cold weather is on its way, you need to make sure your indoor spa is ready to keep you and your family warm and relaxed all winter long. To enjoy your spa to the fullest, regular maintenance should be a top priority.
Here are five simple steps that will help you keep your spa water crystal clear:
1. Do chemical maintenance on a weekly basis.
“Although it depends on the type of spa system you use, it’s important to have a regular, weekly maintenance routine,” says Tony Borden, who works in sales with Paducah Pools and Spas in Paducah, Ky.
For chlorine or bromine systems, Borden recommends using metal and scale control and oxidizer (also known as shock). The appropriate amount depends on the type and size of your spa and how your spa is being used. Frequently used tubs will need additional oxidizer to deal with the contamination.
Product to use: Brilliance® for Spas Metal and Scale Control and Brilliance® Oxidizer
For non-chlorine systems, Borden says to add waterline control and oxidizer. Again, the amount depends on the type, size and usage of your spa.
Product to use: Bromine-free Chlorine-free BAQUASpa® Waterline Control and BAQUASpa® Oxidizer
2. Check sanitizer and chemical levels on a daily basis with test strips.
“It’s important to keep spa water balanced just like a pool,” says Pat Bright, owner of Prism Pools in Knoxville, Tenn. “Test the water, and it will let you know exactly what it needs.”
Most test strips show you the current levels of sanitizer, pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness in your water, and indicate whether you need to make any adjustments to properly balance them. Borden says test strips can also inform you of how much sanitizer to add—you just compare the strip to an easy-to-read chart. “For example, for a 300-gallon tub, if your sanitizer level is zero, it might tell you to add three-quarters of an ounce,” he says.
Once your water is regularly balanced, Bright says you can start testing it every other day.
3. Take a water sample to your dealer on a regular basis.
If you’re a new spa owner, Borden recommends taking a water sample to your dealer a minimum of two to three times per month. Once you become a seasoned spa owner and are feeling more confident in your maintenance skills, you can probably scale back to once a month.
4. Change your water every 60 to 90 days.
How often you change your water depends on how often you use your spa. If you have a three-person family that uses the spa five times a week, that’s considered a heavy bather load, according to Borden. For this scenario, he recommends changing the water approximately every 60 days. But if you have a two-person family that uses the spa only once a week, you can probably wait a little longer. Regardless of the bather load, Borden says you should replace your water at least every 90 days.
5. Be committed to maintenance. When in doubt, ask your dealer.
An indoor spa creates a hot and humid environment, which is why Bright says keeping up with maintenance is critical. Otherwise, you could face bacteria problems that cause skin rashes or even folliculitus, a nasty condition in which hair follicles become infected. But if you’re an enthusiastic and committed spa owner, don’t let the responsibilities intimidate you. Borden says help is always just a phone call away. “You can always call your dealer for assistance,” he says.
Just because a spa is smaller than a pool doesn’t mean you can skimp on maintenance. But if you take careful care of your spa, you’ll be able to enjoy it throughout the winter—and beyond.
Brilliance® for spas is a registered trademark of Arch Chemicals, Inc. Chlorine Free Bromine Free BAQUASpa® is a registered trademark of Arch UK Biocides, Limited.
