It can be easy to neglect your hot tub over the winter as temperatures plummet and you don’t use it as much. Early spring is the ideal time to reset and get back on track to ensure your hot tub is properly maintained and working at peak efficiency. Today, we will go over everything that you should be doing in the Spring to set yourself up for another great year of hot tub ownership!
- DRAIN & REFILL THE HOT TUB
Over time, ultra fine particles (commonly called dissolved solids) build up in your hot tub water. While these particles (typically salts and other minerals) are harmless, high levels of dissolved solids can cause the water to look cloudy. They also affect the feel of the water, making it feel “harder” than fresh water.
The only way to remove dissolved solids in hot tubs is to drain and refill the hot tub with fresh water. On average, most hot tubs will need to be drained every 3-4 months. Since they filter the water so efficiently, Self-Cleaning hot tubs from Hydropool only have to be drained every 4-6 months though.
- CLEANING THE PLUMBING
Before draining your hot tub, it is best to clean out the pipes and jets with a hot tub plumbing cleaning chemical. These chemicals remove biofilm and other contaminants that build up in the plumbing over time. Removing these contaminants will help your sanitizing chemicals work more efficiently, leading to easier to maintain water and a better overall bathing experience.
- CLEANING THE SURFACE OF THE HOT TUB
Once you’ve drained as much of the old water as you can, it’s time to start cleaning! Clean the surface of your hot tub with a soft cloth and a cleaner specifically designed for hot tubs. If you don’t have a hot tub cleaner, you can also use bleach that has been diluted in water (use gloves). Avoid using household cleaners when cleaning any part of your hot tub as they often contain sudsing agents that can make hot tub water foam.
- CLEANING THE JETS
Along with cleaning the surface of the hot tub, we also recommend removing and cleaning the hot tub jets while the hot tub is empty. Most hot tub jets are able to be removed with a simple counter clockwise turn (ask your retailer if you’re unsure).
Once removed, give the jets a quick rinse to remove any grit that has built up in the threads of the jet. If there is any other debris (usually bits of grass) still caught in the jet after rinsing, remove them with a sharp tipped object like a small knife.
Cleaning your jets this way will ensure that your jets can open and close smoothly, and will extend the lifespan of the jet by reducing wear and tear on the threads that hold the jet in place.
- CHECK YOUR HOT TUB COVER
Along with the surface of the hot tub we also recommend cleaning the underside of your hot tub cover. Hot tub covers are often overlooked in the cleaning process but can have just as many bacteria on them as the hot tub surface. As steam rises and hits the cover it condenses and fall back into the water; taking the bacteria from the cover with it!
When cleaning the cover, make sure to get in and around all of the stitching and zippers as these are usually places that get neglected.
Along with cleaning the underside of the cover, we also recommend treating the topside of the cover with a UV protectant. This is because UV radiation from the sun will damage the vinyl skin of your hot tub cover; reducing the life of the cover. UV protectants will both clean the cover and protect it from UV damage; extending the life of your hot tub cover.
- DOES THE COVER NEED TO BE REPLACED?
Over time, the various components that make up hot tubs covers will degrade; becoming less and less effective at insulating the water in the hot tub. As they become less effective, more heat is allowed to escape the hot tub and your heating costs increase. Eventually these increased heating costs outweigh the cost of replacing the cover and it only makes sense to replace the cover.
We recommend looking over your cover in the early spring to see if it is time to replace it. Although new hot tub covers aren’t cheap, they can easily pay for themselves within one year.
- CLEAN / REPLACE YOUR HOT TUB FILTERS
Spring is also the perfect time to chemically clean your hot tub filters. Along with basic rinsing every 1-2 weeks, you should chemically clean your hot tub filters every 3-4 months to remove trapped oils and lotions that rinsing doesn’t remove. Doing this will keep your filters working at peak efficiency and help keep your water clean and clear with less chemicals.
To chemically clean a hot tub filter you will need to purchase a specialty hot tub filter cleaner. Add the filter cleaner to a bucket of water large enough to fully submerge the filter. Place your filter in the bucket with the cleaning solution and let sit for at least 3-4 hours. When the time is up, remove the filter and rinse it with a garden hose to wash off any cleaner and debris left on the filter.
Even with regular cleanings your hot tub filters will eventually need to be replaced, however. This is because over time the filter fibres will stretch, allowing larger and larger debris to pass through them. If your hot tub water has a hard time staying clear, even after cleaning the filter or changing the water, it may be time to get a new filter.
- CHECK FOR LEAKS
While minor hot tub leaks are usually little more than a nuisance in the spring/summer, over time they will get worse. This can lead to big repairs bills and put your hot tub out of commission for several days or even weeks.
To help prevent this from happening we recommend checking over your hot tub for leaks every spring. Simply remove the service door from your hot tub cabinet and check the inside of the hot tub for wet spots, paying special attention to the area surrounding your pumps and heaters. If you find any wet spots, try to find the source of the leak and get it fixed before the problem worsens.
- OPEN YOUR VENTS
If you own a Hydropool hot tub, you will also want to open the vents located on either side of the hot tub’s cabinet in the Spring. These vents are typically closed in the colder months to trap as much heat in the hot tub cabinet as possible and reduce your energy costs. When the days start getting warmer, however, these vents should be opened to keep the pumps properly vented and prolong their lifespan.
WRAPPING UP
There are many benefits to properly cleaning and maintaining your hot tub; from a better bathing experience to a longer lifespan for your hot tub equipment (pumps, filters, heaters, covers, etc). While it’s only natural to neglect your hot tub in the winter, once the weather starts to warm up it’s time to get back on track to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your hot tub.
