Hot tub care tips to extend the life of your spa

A collection of tips for how to keep your hot tub in perfect shape for years of enjoyment.

Ah, there’s nothing more relaxing than soaking in a hot tub while sipping a glass of wine after a long day of work. But beyond the picture-perfect scene, any hot tub owner will tell you from personal experience that it takes regular care and maintenance to keep a spa in tiptop condition.

Routine hot tub maintenance and care schedule

Sticking to a regular maintenance schedule will make it easy to keep your hot tub running smoothly. It will also reduce the risk of any backups or breakdowns that could rack up a hefty repair bill. Starting with the basics, here are standards in hot tub care to consider:

• Filter rotation.

  Dirty spa filters should be rinsed bimonthly; in the meanwhile, a dirty filter can be rotated with a clean and dry spare filter that will eliminate downtime in hot tub use.

  Once a dirty filter has been cleaned, it must dry completely to kill microorganisms and bacteria growth. In addition, hot tub filters should be replaced completely each year, and manufacturer’s instructions should be followed for both removing and replacing filter cartridges.

• Water change.

  Water change is advised every 2 to 4 months. The main reason is because salt from sweat and other bodily contaminants can cause cloudiness in the water.

  To determine the best time to change your hot tub water based on frequency of use, you can check water TDS levels with handy test strips. Once TDS levels exceed 1500 ppm, a water change is in order. Bacteria test strips can also be used to regularly check water sanitation before throwing your next hot tub party.

• Plumbing flush.

  Though it makes a world of difference to change the water in your hot tub for sanitation purposes, don’t neglect to flush the spa plumbing system to remove a buildup of contaminants and oily residue.

  A full system flush will clean jets, heating components, and plumbing before regular drainage at 2 to 4 months to keep your spa spotless inside and out.

• Winterize your spa.

  The last and most important task on your yearly maintenance checklist is to winterize your hot tub with the change in season. Just like it sounds, winterizing involves a major hot tub prep to protect it against cold and extreme temperatures. Keep in mind that the time and maintenance involved in this task is fairly consuming; Home-Wizard recommends hiring a professional to prep your spa for the winter months.

  Nonetheless, DIY spa owners can winterize their tubs by draining out the water completely, turning off the heater, running the blower for 30 seconds to blow water out of air channels, unplugged the spa, removing drain plugs, unscrewing fittings, securing the hard cover, and placing tarp over the
  hot tub. Winterizing a hot tub is recommended in September before the weather cools in fall and winter months.

When rotated regularly, these four maintenance tasks can protect the inner and outer components of an expensive hot tub to maximize the life of your investment. Make no mistake – routine maintenance can help you to avoid a long list of unnecessary issues and reduce costly repair bills.