Owning a hot tub can provide amazing benefits for your physical and mental well-being. Depending on the type and brand, a new hot tub can potentially last for 20 years or more. However, without proper hot tub maintenance, you might find yourself needing to replace or go without it in just a few years or even sooner. With this in mind, here is a quick checklist that covers everything you need to do to make sure your hot tub stays in good condition.
1. Test Your Water Every Week
A hot tub requires numerous chemicals to keep the water clean and sanitized, which means regularly testing your water to determine what chemicals you need to add. Specifically, you need to check the pH, sanitizer level, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. This should be done at least once a week or potentially every two or three days if you use the hot tub more often.
2. Make Sure the Water Circulates Daily
Regular circulation is important as it ensures that the water passes through the hot tub filter. Most hot tubs have an automatic circulation function that runs once or twice a day. However, if your hot tub doesn’t, you should make sure to turn the jets on for 20 or so minutes every day to help the water stay clean. Going a few days without doing so shouldn’t cause too much of an issue, but if you’ll be away for more than that then it’s best to drain the tub before leaving.
3. Clean and Replace the Filters Regularly
Most experts recommend fully cleaning your hot tub filters at least once a month. Still, for best results, you may want to consider at least rinsing the filter with water once a week. You also need to make sure to replace the filters at least once a year or potentially more often if they are overly dirty.
4. Drain and Clean the Tub Every Few Months
You should fully drain and clean your hot tub at least once every three months. This means scrubbing the jets and the entire surface to eliminate any scum and mineral deposits that could potentially damage the motor or cause performance issues.
5. Flush the Lines and Perform a Full Inspection At Least Once a Year
Another important part of hot tub maintenance is making sure to fully flush out the lines. This should be done at least once a year, but you’re really best off doing it every time you drain the tub. The entire system should undergo a full inspection at least once a year as well. In this case, you’ll get the best results by hiring a professional to perform the inspection and perform any necessary maintenance or tune-up work.
6. Winterize Outdoor Hot Tubs if not in Use
One final thing to note is that it is absolutely necessary to have your outdoor hot tub winterized if you live in a cold area and won’t be keeping it full and turned on during the winter. Otherwise, there is a huge chance of the lines freezing and breaking or other problems occurring that may ruin your hot tub altogether. While this usually isn’t a problem in Florida, all it can take is one day of freezing weather to potentially ruin your hot tub for good. Winterization is another thing that is usually best left to the professionals to ensure that everything is done properly so that the hot tub survives the winter.
If you need any help or have any questions about hot tub maintenance, the experts at SWFL Pool Solutions are always here to help. We can handle any of your hot tub cleaning and maintenance needs to ensure you can enjoy a relaxing soak for years to come.
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