A hot tub can provide you with hours and hours of enjoyment and relaxation, but the key is taking care of it. These are some tips that can help you get the most out of your hot tub by maintaining it properly.
Hot Tub Chemicals
When it comes to hot tub chemicals, the most important one is the sanitizer. For the sanitizer to work properly the rest of the chemicals need to be in balance. These include the chlorine, bromine, minerals, and biguanide. The chlorine is quite cost effective, easy to manage and apply and is designed to kill bacteria in the water. The ideal range for chlorine in the water is three-to-five ppm (parts per million). The bromine will help kill algae and can work effectively in a wide pH range. It’s ideal range falls between four and six ppm. Minerals are also easy to apply and are relatively inexpensive with the ideal range being 0.5 ppm. The biguanide is a liquid sanitizer which is applied less frequently with the ideal amount being 30 to 50 ppm.
For the sanitizer to work properly the ideal pH level of the water should be between 7.4 and 7.6. This is the amount of acid in the water. The alkalinity should be between 100 and 150 ppm. This is a stabilizer which helps keep the pH level from fluctuating too drastically. When it comes to calcium in the water the ideal range is between 100 and 200 ppm. The hardness of the calcium will help prevent the equipment from corroding and the plaster from etching.
If your hot tub water is cloudy you can clear it up by using a clarifier. This will work by combining small particles of dirt into larger ones which can then be filtered out. You can use a stain and scale liquid which adds agents to prevent scaling by adding calcium ions to the water. An anti-foam solution can get quickly get rid of surface foam which has been formed by unwanted detergents and compounds. In addition, you can also place enzyme in the water to eliminate oil and organics which can cause odour and water scum.
Cleaning a hot tub filter
You can quickly rinse the filter once a week by placing it in a sink or hosing it off with a garden hose. Make sure you spread each of the pleats and rinse out all of the debris that’s caught between them. The filter can also be cleaned with a monthly chemical rinse. This is basically a filter-cartridge cleaner which works in about 15 minutes and can then be rinsed off with water. In addition, another filter-cleaning method is known as a chemical soak. With this method, the cleaning chemical is diluted by water and the filter is submerged in the liquid. The filters should soak for 24 hours before you rinse them off with water. This cleaning method can be done once every six months.
Water replacement
You should drain the water from the hot tub every three to four months and then refill it. When you drain the tub make sure all of the power to the unit has been turned off. You can then drain the water via the plug or by using a pump. The pump may br more effective and faster and you don’t have to drain all of the water as it’s okay to leave a little in the bottom of the tub. The next step is to clean the filter.
When refilling the hot tub make sure all of the filters are clean and have been placed back into position. The tub can then be refilled with water by placing a hosen inside the filter well. This will enable the water to pass through the filters and into the pipes, which will remove any air from the system. Once the tub has been filled with fresh water you should test it and then properly balance the chemicals and sanitize it.
Maintaining the cover
The vinyl hot tub cover should be cleaned regularly. This will protect it from possible sun damage and keep it looking new and shiny. It’s also a good idea to occasionally take the cover off the tub, unzip it and let it dry out. This will help keep it nice and light. Another trick is to mix nine parts of water with one part of bleach about once every three months and then wipe the cover with the mixture. This will help keep the cover from giving off an unpleasant odour. Don’t forget to inspect the cover on a regular basis and take care of it if it needs to be repaired. This will keep the water from seeping into the foam.
Cabinet and shell care
A wood cabinet should be stained approximately every six months to keep the wood from warping and/or become discoloured. If you have a synthetic cabinet you can clean it once a month with soap and water.
Be aware that an acrylic shell can be harmed by household chemicals. Therefore it’s a good idea to use a sponge or soft cloth to clean it of debris at the waterline. The shell can also be polished and cleaned with a hot-tub shell cleaner.
Other hot tub tips
You can place tennis balls directly into the water or skimmer to attract lotions, hair products, and body oils etc., which will keep them from plugging up the filtration system.
To save on your power bills, it’s a good idea to heat the hot tub when your electricity costs are the lowest.
If you keep a couple of baseball hats near the hot tub you can give them to users who have long hair. This will help keep hair and hair-care products from getting into the water.
Have questions about caring for your hot tub? Contact us here with your questions or visit one of our many retail locations across Ontario.
