Keeping your hot tub or spa clean and well-maintained is crucial. A dirty hot tub or spa can breed and spread dangerous germs and bacteria that can make you sick. When cared for properly, your spa or hot tub will not only be more sanitary; it will last longer and function better. This article provides helpful tips on keeping your spa or hot tub sparkling clean with the least amount of time, effort, and money expended.
1. Draining and Cleaning
It is essential to drain and clean your spa or hot tub regularly, say, a quarter yearly. It helps remove all accumulated dirt and debris you may have missed during your cleaning routine. A thorough draining and cleaning can also help remove gunk from hard-to-reach places, including in the spa plumbing system. It also improves circulation, which will help prevent algae growth in your water.
The more often you clean your spa or hot tub, the less time you will spend on maintenance in between cleans. However, by using an enzyme-based Natural hot tub and spa water treatment, you can minimize the number of this routine draining and cleaning to once or twice annually. Enzymes naturally help break down organic sludge, which prevents the accumulation of organic products and scum formation. That way, you can have a clean and comfortable hot tub and spa with minimal routine draining and cleaning requirements.
2. Enzyme Treatment
Enzymes are biological chemicals that digest the organic material. Enzymes in a hot tub and spa water break down organic dirt like sweat, oil, dead skin, and inorganic minerals that can form scale on tub surfaces. Enzyme treatment is a must-do weekly process to ensure your hot tub stays sparkling clean—especially if you have hard water! If you don’t use an enzyme cleaner with each cleaning, your spa will demand more chlorine which can be harsh on your equipment, skin, eyes, and environment.
An enzyme cleaner helps keep your water clear, so you’re not constantly fighting off algae and other gunk buildups. However, it’s crucial to note that a small spa can still require as many enzymes as a large spa if the number of bathers is higher in the small spa due to the high discharge of organic wastes in water.
3. Water Balancing
The pH (potential of Hydrogen) measures a substance’s acidity or alkalinity. In hot tubs, water with an incorrect pH will irritate your skin, cause corrosion on metal components and make your hair dull. Before adding any chemical to your water or opening it up to direct sunlight (which lowers pH levels), test to find its current level. You can use spa test strips, which are available at most hardware stores and pool supply shops, to determine the pH of your spa water.
Once you know your water’s pH level, you can adjust it by using chemicals designed for spas or pools; follow package directions carefully so that you don’t over-adjust and end up with dangerously high levels of chlorine or alkalinity in your water. A balanced water pH will be friendly to your skin, eyes, and equipment- it will prevent corrosion, scale buildup, and other problems associated with low or high pH levels.
4. Water Circulation and Filtration
Maintaining water circulation through your hot tub or spa means you won’t have any unpleasant odors, cloudy water, or discomforts like dry air. To keep your water healthy, you should clean your filters at least once per month and replace them when they reduce efficiency. Keeping smooth running of filtration systems will help extend their lifespan, saving you money on replacement costs. You can add an extra line of defense by using pre-filters with the primary filter. Pre-filters will filter larger particles before they reach your primary filter, extending its life span.
Filtration creates a more comfortable bathing experience by removing contaminants from your water and keeping it clear. The measure of the quality of your filtration system is in microns. A lower number indicates a compact filtering process, which results in cleaner water that feels softer on the skin. Increased circulation helps maintain even temperatures throughout your spa or hot tub so everyone has a relaxing soak. Circulation pumps are also essential for maintaining proper chemical levels, as chemicals work better in moving water than still water.
5. Sanitizing
Nothing is more important than sanitation in the spa and hot tub maintenance. If you don’t sanitize your equipment correctly, you run a greater risk for things like athlete’s foot, Legionnaires disease, flesh-eating bacteria—the list goes on. That’s why it’s essential to practice good hygiene when cleaning spas and hot tubs. Quality sanitizers like stabilized chlorinated granules are crucial- these products will kill harmful germs and provide residual protection against future bacterial growth.
However, overuse of any chemical can be dangerous. Shifting to an enzyme-based system will help reduce chlorine demand and thus create a friendlier environment. The enzymes will naturally break down organic sludge to keep your spa and hot tub free from the accumulation of scum, thus maintaining high standards of sanitation and a more friendly environment.
Conclusion
Maintaining a hot tub and spa requires attention to the critical areas that can lead to dirty water. These pillars support the means to achieve a clean, sparkling hot tub or spa environment that will be inviting for years. However, using quality and friendly hot tub and spa care and treatment products will ensure an enjoyable experience every time you use your hot tub or spa. A poorly maintained hot tub or spa can be a breeding ground for bacteria and other contaminants that can cause skin irritations and infections. Soaking in a sparkling clean hot tub is something everyone deserves.