The Complete Guide to Hot Tub Maintenance

Beginner’s Guide to Spa Maintenance

There are three spa maintenance rules that every spa owner should adhere to. Once you’ve learned to manage these basics, you can keep your spa clean and clear without worrying about potential issues!

Essentials of Spa Maintenance

Before immersing yourself in the warm water of your new spa, take the time to familiarize yourself with some essential terms. Some people like to call all spas “jacuzzis,” but this is an unfortunate case of a brand name becoming universally used.
It’s important to know the brand and model of your spa. Having this information on hand makes it easier to obtain spare parts and after-sales service when needed.

It’s also helpful to have the “vital statistics” of your spa on hand. This includes water capacity, age, and specific water-related issues (such as water hardness, depending on your region) that you may need to consider during spa maintenance.

Is Spa Maintenance Expensive?

Not really. It just requires a basic understanding of water chemistry and a simple program (which we will examine), but it’s not costly. All you need is chemicals and testing equipment, which cost about 10 euros per month.

3 Basic Rules of Spa Maintenance

You can think of your spa as a small pool, as it requires the same care.

• Maintain proper water circulation.
• Follow a simple cleaning program.
• Balance the chemical composition of the water.

Maintaining Proper Spa Water Circulation

Water circulation helps remove impurities by passing it through the cartridge filters of your spa.
Depending on the model, your spa may have an automatic circulation program that operates once or twice a day. These cycles circulate the water for 15 to 20 minutes (or more) to ensure that all the spa water passes through the filters.

If your spa doesn’t have an automatic cycle, make sure to run it for 15 to 20 minutes, twice a day, to ensure the water has been refreshed.

Feel free to use filters to trap debris.

COCO SPA Tip: Add tennis balls to your spa after use. The hot water extracts oils, lotions, and soap from your body and clothes, and sometimes your filters may not completely eliminate them. The fluffy fibers of a tennis ball will absorb them and contribute to water cleanliness.

Implement a Simple Spa Cleaning Program

Cleaning Your Spa – An Essential Element of Spa Maintenance

Both indoor and outdoor spas are susceptible to foam formation, but if your spa is outdoors, keep a close eye on debris such as leaves, wind-blown debris, and insects. Keep the waterline and seats clear for a clean spa and to prevent potential water cleanliness issues.

A weekly cleaning with sponge and white vinegar on the shell and jets of your spa helps keep things in order. Use it also to eliminate foam buildup at the water’s edge.

Can I put vinegar in my spa?
Yes, you can use white vinegar to clean your spa. White vinegar (not white wine vinegar) is a perfectly safe and effective universal cleaner for your spa. However, we recommend using a pH reducer instead of vinegar to lower the pH.

Clean the inside of your spa as often as possible and don’t forget to wipe the shell. While at it, also give your cover a wipe with a 10% bleach solution to prevent mold formation.

Weekly cleaning is essential for spa maintenance. However, plan to completely drain your spa for a thorough cleaning every three or four months, and more often if you use it frequently or host many guests, or both. After all, you wouldn’t fill the family bathtub once a year and expect everyone to reuse the same water, would you?

Coco Spa Tip: Set a timer when filling your spa after cleaning. This will remind you to check your spa and avoid costly and messy overflows.

How to Clean Your Spa Filters

Your spa filters need good cleaning to function correctly. You can clean them using three methods: rinsing, spraying, and soaking.

Rinse your spa filters as often as possible with hot water or your garden hose, especially if you’ve used your spa more than usual.
Spray your filters about once a week with a spa filter cleaner to clean them thoroughly. Don’t forget to rinse them afterward.
Soak your filters in a chemical cleaner every time you drain and refill your spa to extend their lifespan and remove the most stubborn particles. Rinse them thoroughly afterward.
When your filters reach a point where even a chemical soak doesn’t clean them completely, it’s time to replace them.

Drain and Clean Your Spa Every 3-4 Months

As your spa is nothing more than a small pool, contaminants accumulate, making chemical actions more challenging. This is known as TDS (Total Dissolved Solids).

To combat this issue, it’s recommended to replace your spa water every 3 or 4 months. You should do it more frequently if you use your spa a lot.

And since you have to do it anyway to keep your spa water in perfect condition, it’s also a good idea to clean the inside and outside of your spa while draining and refilling it.

Balancing the Chemistry of Your Spa Water

Balancing your spa water is similar to balancing pool water but a bit more delicate due to the significant size difference. But before adding anything to your spa, you need to get a basic measurement of the water’s chemical composition. Once your spa is filled, test your water to determine pH and alkalinity levels.

What chemicals do you need for your spa?

Keep a good supply of essential chemicals on hand to be ready to adjust your water as needed:

• pH increaser and pH decreaser to adjust your pH.
• Alkalinity increaser to prevent drastic pH changes.
• Sanitizer (chlorine or bromine) to kill bacteria and other contaminants.
• Shock (non-chlorine or di-chlorine) to boost the sanitizer by adding oxygen and eliminating chloramines and bacteria.

• Test strips or a liquid test kit to ensure all chemical levels are within the correct range.

• • Anti-foam (optional) to quickly alleviate spa foaming.

For more information on how each of these chemicals works, refer to our Spa Chemicals Guide.

Adjusting pH and Alkalinity in Your Spa

Aim for a pH level between 7.4 and 7.6. Values below this range are too acidic, risking equipment corrosion and irritating your skin and eyes. Values above this range are too basic, reducing the effectiveness of your disinfectant and making the water prone to cloudiness.

As for alkalinity, aim for a value between 100 parts per million (ppm) and 150 ppm. Excessively high alkalinity can lead to scaling and cloud formation. Here’s some information on how to reduce the alkalinity of your spa.

Can You Use Baking Soda in a Spa?
Yes, baking soda is used to increase the alkalinity level of your spa. Simply add one tablespoon (17 grams) of baking soda to your spa for every 100 gallons (378 liters) of water it contains.

Sanitizing Your Spa Water

Add the sanitizer of your choice following the instructions on the packaging and test again to ensure that pH and alkalinity are within optimal ranges.
You can accelerate the mixing rate of your chemicals (and help your hot tub heat up faster) by closing the air valves.

Can I Use Salt in a Spa Instead of Chlorine?
Yes, but only if you install a saltwater system in your spa to sanitize the water. Keep in mind that saltwater is transformed into chlorine by the system. Technically, you’re still adding chlorine to the water, but in a different form.

Chlorine Shock

If you’re using your spa after an extended period of inactivity or if you’ve used it heavily, it’s advisable to shock it to ensure it’s thoroughly disinfected.

Incorporate shock into your regular spa maintenance to keep the water clean and safe.

Spa Water Analysis

Test your water weekly using test strips or a liquid test kit, and adjust the chemical composition of the water as needed.
Adhering to the three Cs forms a solid foundation for spa maintenance, setting you on the path to legendary bath satisfaction. To further consolidate your spa maintenance regimen, add an effective and consistent maintenance schedule. You’ll broaden your spa skills by performing more advanced tasks while minimizing the risk of unpleasant surprises.

Your Spa Maintenance Schedule

The key to good maintenance? Consistency and simplicity. You’ll find it much less stressful—and much easier to follow tasks—when you break down the process into manageable steps that won’t overwhelm you.
This technique, known as “chunking,” is used by educators, project planners, and business people worldwide to enhance their productivity. But it’s just as effective for planning a personal project—such as spa maintenance for a year—without feeling like your head is about to explode.

Every spa is different, but all spas benefit from simple and regular maintenance. It’s easier than you think to establish a schedule that will keep your spa running smoothly.

Just like your car, computer, or yourself, your spa needs regular maintenance to be in top shape. Your spa will have its own needs for water chemistry, accessories, and repairs. But these tasks, divided into daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual intervals, are universal.

Daily Spa Maintenance

A few moments are likely enough for the daily maintenance of your home spa. Ensure your checklist includes the following:
Make sure the spa cover is clean and securely fastened.

A properly fastened cover keeps heat, water, and chemicals inside while preventing debris, pets, and children from entering.
Check the water temperature and adjust if necessary.

Take note of any drastic temperature changes as it could indicate a serious system issue.
Check that the cover and spa are not damaged.

This is particularly important for outdoor spas exposed to animals and the elements.

Weekly Spa Maintenance

By adding these tasks to your list three times a week, you’ll contribute to keeping your spa in perfect condition. Remember to schedule them roughly around the same time as daily tasks to save time and energy.
Check the water’s alkalinity.
Check and balance the pH. Along with alkalinity, spa pH is one of the most crucial elements in spa chemistry.
Check disinfectant levels. The sanitizer keeps your spa water clean and free from bacteria that could otherwise make your friends and family sick.
Clean above the waterline. Wipe away debris that could contaminate the water and disrupt chemical balance.

Every Month

Once a month, it’s time to get down to serious business. Specifically, the “grit” that accumulates in the jets and filters. You can also move on to the next step of water analysis.
Rinse your filter with a chemical.

This deep cleaning removes more dirt than water alone. Simply replace the weekly water rinse with a chemical rinse.
Inspect your spa jets thoroughly. Are they clogged or frozen? If so, it’s time to troubleshoot your spa jets.
Have your spa water professionally tested. Professionals have access to more sophisticated testing equipment and can help identify and resolve water quality issues before they become disastrous.

Every Quarter (Every 4 Months)

Every three or four months, you should drain the spa and replace the water with fresh water. Drain it, clean it thoroughly, and ensure everything is functioning properly. Plan a draining and filling day that coincides with your other tasks to have time to clean the cover and take care of your equipment while the spa is out of service.

Clean the cabinet of your spa.

Your spa will look great after a quarterly cleaning, and you can touch up any aesthetic or structural damages while you’re at it.

Soak your filter in a chemical product.

This is the super version of chemical rinsing, giving your filter the deep cleaning it needs to keep your spa free of contaminants.

Drain, clean, and repair your spa.

The best time for repairs is when you drain and clean your spa. Quarterly draining and cleaning help rid the entire spa of chemical buildup and other debris that can lead to performance issues. Soaking the filter while the spa is empty is a two-in-one solution for unclogging!

Annually

Most of the tasks we recommend can theoretically be done annually without a significant impact on your spa experience. However, for optimal performance and to fully enjoy your spa, we recommend doing them monthly or quarterly.

Remember that when your spa is empty and drained, you can perform weekly or quarterly tasks such as cleaning, repairs, and system flushing.

That being said, we recommend tackling these tasks at least once a year, and preferably more often:

Rinse the pipes to eliminate bacteria and biofilm.

In fact, it’s a good idea to use pipe flushing every time you drain and refill your spa.
Inspect the equipment and wiring of your spa. Be on the lookout for damages caused by wear and tear, pests, and chemical imbalances.
Have a professional tune-up performed. They will assess all the equipment and wiring, inside and out, to detect any potential issues.

Inspect your cover.

Monitor physical damages, moisture absorption, and mold infestations.
Replace or update your spa maintenance schedule. Over the years, you’ll learn what works best for you and your spa. The new year is the perfect time to adjust the maintenance schedule for the next year.

3 Tips for Maintaining Your Spa During Your Vacation

With a little extra work before leaving town, you can sit back and enjoy your trip without worrying about how your spa will fare being ignored for a week or more.

Check the Local Weather

Before leaving town, check the weather in your area for the week of your departure.

During the warmer months, closely monitor algae growth in your spa. This means adding chlorine to the spa whenever necessary to increase chlorine levels and kill any potential algae growth.

Before you leave, add a bit more chlorine to your spa and let the jets run for thirty minutes to ensure the chlorine has reached all the water. Once this is done, turn off the jets as well as the heating and pump.

If you wish, go to the breaker and cut off the power at the source and lock it, if necessary, to ensure no one can tamper with it during your absence.

During the colder months, your concerns are a bit different. When I say “colder,” I mean temperatures can drop below freezing during the day and even at night.

Depending on the time of year, daytime temperatures can be quite pleasant while nights can still be cold. It largely depends on where you live. Regardless of the time, if outdoor temperatures drop below freezing, your spa water and plumbing are at risk of freezing.

Before leaving town, add water to your spa if needed and ensure it is properly heated. Remember that the colder it is, the faster heat escapes. Once it’s well heated, lower the thermostat by about ten degrees. This way, you’ll save on heating bills while keeping the water warm enough to prevent freezing.

During your absence, you’ll need to leave the pump and heating on long enough to maintain these temperatures and ensure the water doesn’t freeze.

Test the Water

Before leaving, always test the water to ensure it is well-balanced. If not, add the appropriate chemicals to increase the acidity or alkalinity of the water.

This will help maintain the spa and keep your plumbing in the best possible condition during your absence.

Lock the Cover

Never Leave Without Closing and Locking Your Spa Cover

Never leave without having closed and locked your spa cover. Remember that no one will be at home during your absence, which means children could wander onto your property and take a dip without you knowing. If something were to happen, you could be held responsible.

So, close the cover and lock it securely before stepping out the front door.

Owning a hot tub should never be a constraint that keeps you at home when you could be enjoying life. Never be afraid to take vacations outside the city, away from your spa.

Remember to perform a bit of maintenance before leaving and set the spa to the temperature of your region, and you won’t have to worry. So, go out, enjoy life, and stop worrying about your spa.

Believe me, as long as you perform the appropriate maintenance tasks before leaving and check on it upon your return, spa maintenance during vacations will be a breeze.

We wish you good baths !