Cape Coral Hot Tub Maintenance

Hot Tub Care: What to Do & When 

Hot tubs might seem simple from the outside but nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike a bathtub that you fill up and empty out with every use, a spa is made up of many moving parts. If just one of these is strained it will cause a ripple effect throughout your water systems. The best way to avoid this? Keeping up with a routine cleaning program, as well as seasonal deep cleans and refresh services. 

In order to keep spa water clean it needs to be chemically treated to keep bacteria at bay. It’s not enough to just throw in a handful of chemicals, water needs to be tested and balanced. On top of that, debris needs to be removed using speciality tools, hot tub filters need to be checked and cleaned and internal water systems need to be flushed to avoid any buildup. 

Balance Water Chemistry: Simple test strips are a dime a dozen at any pool supply store. These basic tools are easy to use and will point out inconsistencies in chemical levels but they don’t tell you how to fix them. In order to maintain a sanitary swim space it’s necessary to balance chlorine levels, total alkalinity and calcium. When applied correctly hot tub chemicals will last up to two weeks. During periods of high heat, heavy rain or a high rate of use, it is a good idea to test multiple times a week to make sure that your system is still on track. 

Remove Debris: Even with a spa cover on it’s impossible to keep out debris completely. When unwanted items make it into your water system you’ll have to navigate some tricky areas to get them back out again. Skimmer rods and floating skimmer baskets will collect some debris that is floating along surfaces but they won’t catch everything. Sunken items will need to be removed from seats and flooring using speciality manual vacuums. 

Check Hot Tub Filters: The goal of a filter inside a swimming pool or hot tub is to trap and hold small bits and pieces of debris while letting filtered water flow back through. If filters aren’t cleaned regularly this debris will layer over itself making it even more difficult for water to pass through. When this is the case pool pumps have to work harder to circulate water, causing strain on components. This can lead to the need for premature repairs or replacements, both of which are expensive! 

Deep Cleans/System Refresh: Even with regular cleanings it is important to perform deep cleanings of your hot tub annually (even better if it is twice annually) or whenever you start to see signs of struggle or contamination. If you start to notice white mold inside your tub or gunk coming out of jets, it is a sign that there is unwanted buildup inside lines and components. Over the years Puddle technicians have developed a multi-step treatment process that cleans hot tubs from top to bottom. A specialized combination of chemicals run through systems, softening and loosening buildup from inside lines. Once dislodged, this buildup is pushed into the tub basin which is then drained. Once empty, technicians use speciality tools and cleaners to clean shells, jets, headrests and more for a thorough cleaning, every time. From there, grab a garden hose and refill tubs. Once full again, Puddle crews come back for a final water testing and balancing and you are back in business! 

Ask your local Puddle Pro about the optional Full Shampoo service that cleans off exterior areas as well as interior ones. If you’re noticing that your hot tub cover is looking a little worse for wear, have an expert scrub it clean using the right tools that won’t strip away protective coatings or cause damage.