Regular hot tub maintenance

Hot Tub Checks and Maintenance saves money – regular maintenance saves you money. Here is a typical sample regime of hot tub maintenance. This will keep your hot tub water safe and crystal clear, minimise the amount of time and money you spend on it, and maximise the time you spend enjoying it.

Check with your retailer for the exact regime for your hot tub, some filter systems vary by manufacturer.
pH should be maintained at 7.0 to 7.6. Ideally the close to 7.0 is best.

If using Bromine: Bromine residual should be maintained at 2 to 4mg/l (ppm).

If using Inorganic Chlorine (usually Sodium Hypochlorite or Calcium Hypochlorite):
Chlorine residual to be maintained at: 2 to 4mg/l (ppm).

If using Organic Chlorine (usually Stabilised Chlorine such as DiChlor or Tri-chlor):
Chlorine residual to be maintained at: 3 to 5 mg/l (ppm).

Total Alkalinity to be maintained at:
80 to 160 ppm. (industry parameters).

Hot Tub Checks Daily

Daily checks

• The water should always be tested before use to ascertain pH and sanitiser readings. 
• Add required chemicals, as necessary, to correct any out of parameter readings, according to the manufacturer’s directions on the packaging. 
• Check the status of bromine tablets in the dispenser (if using bromine tablets) and add more if necessary. (Use pH Minus to reduce a high pH OR pH Plus to raise a low pH).

NB: Do not check pH for at least 20 minutes after the hot tub was last used to allow time for all bubbles to dissipate.

Hot Tub Checks Monthly

Monthly checks

Please note the following may need to be carried out more frequently.

•  Add a clarifying agent according to the manufacturer’s instructions to help maintain water clarity. This should not be needed always but may be required e.g. after a party.

• Check T.A. (Total Alkalinity) level and, if required, add a T.A. increase.

• Add a Scale & Stain Inhibiting agent according to the manufacturer’s instructions This helps to maintain water clarity, and to prevent scale formation and cloudy water. NB: Do not carry this out on the same day that you add the clarifying agent.

Filters

Remove the pleated filter cartridge and clean thoroughly. For more information, follow the link to our Filter Care topic How to clean a dirty hot tub filter

• Top Tip: Given that it is necessary to allow a cleaned and rinsed filter to dry out before returning it to the hot tub, it is a good idea to buy a second set of spare filters so that whilst one set are being cleaned, rinsed and dried, the second set can be in the hot tub filtering the water. This ensures that you have no downtime and you can still enjoy your hot tub whilst one set of filters are being cleaned.

Water

• Oxidise (or “shock dose” with non-chlorine shock) the hot tub with an oxidising agent according to the manufacturer’s instructions to help eliminate bather waste after heavy use.
• SuperChlorinate with a quick dissolving Calcium Hypochlorite at 20ppm for 2.5 hours to try to eliminate bacteria that may have developed a resistance to the sanitiser at normal residuals and to oxidise biological impurities in the water. NB: If the hot tub is particularly heavily used after a party, for instance, it may be necessary to oxidise more often.

• Super-chlorination using a quick-dissolving calcium hypochlorite will both oxidise to help break down Combined Chlorine and will quickly kill bacteria. Shock dosing a hot tub at 20 ppm for 2.5
  hours is recommended upon initial fill of a hot tub and monthly thereafter.
• For more information on Darlly Inline dosing pod system check out our FilterCare topic How to look after your hot tub water quality

Hot Tub Checks Ideally Monthly, But Not More Than Three Months (Maximum!)

• Completely drain the hot tub down and clean the inside of the shell with a specialist hot tub surface cleaning product. DO NOT under any circumstances use proprietary household cleaning products such as Jif, Flash, Fairy etc. The drain-down time is dependent on how heavily used it is, especially if the water chemistry becomes harder to maintain despite all your efforts or if the water looks lank, tired, and slightly musty, despite the chemistry being within the parameters.

• A hot tub will most likely see its heaviest usage in the first six months of ownership, so you will need to ensure you’re particularly diligent until it settles down to a more regular pattern of use.

ALWAYS SWITCH OFF THE POWER TO A HOT TUB WHEN REMOVING THE FILTER.

ALWAYS STORE, HANDLE, AND ADD HOT TUB CHEMICALS ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTIONS ON THE MANUFACTURER’S PACKAGING. ENSURE YOU USE AND OPERATE YOUR HOT TUB ACCORDING TO THE OWNER’S MANUAL.

Learning the basics of looking after your hot tub is essential. You can also talk with a reputable retailer from BISHTA, as most offer a range of service and maintenance packages according to your needs and budgets.