The Ultimate Guide: How to Maintain Crystal Clear Hot Tub Water

The hot tub is the ultimate oasis for anyone who needs to relax. It is important that you maintain your hot tub, however, to preserve this atmosphere. There are many reasons why it’s necessary to keep clean and clear water at all times – one of them being that bacteria will grow exponentially if care isn’t taken. 

This article will answer questions as to why it’s so essential to maintain a hot tub, what determines the purity of the water in a hot tub, and tips on how you can achieve this.

Why is it important to maintain a hot tub?

When you invest in a hot tub, the last thing that you would want is to spend money on repairs and maintenance. This will reduce the lifespan of your device and make it lose its value over time. The best way to prevent this from happening is by maintaining crystal clear water at all times. 

There are several reasons why it is essential to maintain a hot tub, and some of the most common ones include:

• It saves money. The longer your water remains crystal clear, the more you save on repairs and maintenance costs over time
• Prevents health problems such as red eyes or skin irritation caused by bacterias that form at the bottom of the hot tub.
• Keeps your hot tub in good condition and prevents premature wear and tear, which will add value to it over time. 

Tips to keep your hot tub water crystal clear

Test your water regularly

One of the most important things that you can do to keep your hot tub water clean and healthy is to test it regularly. 

It is crucial to take a sample at least once per week and after any big event such as parties or other gatherings where people will be using the hot tub for significantly longer than usual (for example, a birthday party). 

It is also a good idea to test the water before and after using any chemicals or treatments.

Sanitize

Sanitize the water in your hot tub with chlorine or bromine. 

Chlorine is most commonly used as it is effective, cheap, and readily available. However, bromine has fewer side effects for people who are sensitive to chlorine.

Also, the most common problem with chlorine is that it tends to evaporate, so you will need to keep adding more of it regularly for your water to remain clean and clear. Bromine does not have the same problems because its evaporation rate is very low compared to chlorine which means you can use it on your hot tub without worrying about keeping up with the replacing of it all the time.

So if you are looking for a way to keep that water clean and clear, then bromine may be the better choice because it will do its job but not require as much attention from you for this goal to be achieved.

Clean and change filters

One of the most important ways to maintain your hot tub is to clean and replace the filter regularly. Depending on how often you use your tub and the size of your tub, you should aim to clean or replace your filter every 3-4 months. 

Many people neglect the importance of filters, which is why they end up spending a ton of money on chemicals and other stuff that can keep their hot tub clean for more extended periods. 

When it comes to cleaning your filter at home, there are two different ways you can do this:

• Clean them in place (CIP).

Cleaning your filters by CIP means that you have to open the filter lid, use some garden hose or faucet to wash it thoroughly inside, and then let it dry either outside or indoors on top of an elevated surface.

• Take them out and clean them separately in a bucket of water mixed with chemicals. This is also known as backwashing.

When it comes to cleaning your filters by backwashing, the process is pretty similar, only this time, you have to open a valve at the bottom or side of your filter housing to flush out all debris.

Use a skimmer

Skimmers are tools that sit on top of a hot tub, catching anything in their path as they float along the surface of the water. Use a skimmer to remove leaves and other debris from the surface of the water. 

It is essential to clean out your skimmer regularly, so nothing clogs it or prevents it from working correctly.

Use a hot tub cover

Another great way to keep your hot tub clean is to use a cover when you’re not using it. This will help to keep debris and dirt out of the water. This is especially important if you live in an area with a lot of trees, as leaves and other debris can fall into the hot tub and make it dirty. A hot tub cover also helps to keep the water warm, so you won’t have to use as much energy to heat it up when you want to use it.

Empty the hot tub every six months

It is very important to empty the hot tub every six months or after not using it for a month. Since your body and hair release oils, lotions, perfumes, and such into the water, bacteria will start overgrowing if you don’t clean out the hot tub entirely regularly.

Silver ion cartridges

Silver ion cartridges are used to stop the growth of bacteria. They do not kill it but inhibit its ability to reproduce, resulting in clean water for your hot tub free from chemicals or any other additives. Depending on use and maintenance levels, the cartridge should be changed every six months, more frequently if you have an infrequent bather load.

Summary

Keeping the spa water crystal clear not only helps you with proper hygiene but also prolongs the life of your hot tub heater, which can get damaged by dirty or slimy deposits, sometimes called “scale.” 

The healthier and cleaner your water is, the better the quality spa experience for everyone! 

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