The Basics of Hot Tub Maintenance

One of the best things about owning a home spa is that there is really very little to regular hot tub maintenance.  Your home spa does need some time and attention on a regular basis, but there are only a few very minor steps that you need to do in order to keep your unit in tiptop shape.  Here are the most basic requirements when it comes to hot tub maintenance:

Taking care of the acrylic surface is one of the most important things you can do.  There are acrylic repair kits that you can purchase to touch up scratches on your home spa, but one of the most important parts of hot tub maintenance is prevention.  Make sure that no one wears shoes inside your spa, even beach sandals or soft-soled shoes.  Keep drinking glasses, plates, eating utensils, and everything else on the deck of your spa, not even on the rim.  Cleaning your acrylic surface is of course part of regular hot tub maintenance, and your schedule for this will vary according to how often you use your tub, how many people are in it, and so on.  Typically a wipe down with a damp cloth and some cleanser that you purchase at your spa retailer is enough to keep algae, mold, and dirt from appearing along the edge.

Rinsing out your filter is also part of regular hot tub maintenance.  Again, it depends on how often you use your particular brand, but anywhere from once a week to once a month may be sufficient.  Most filters can simply be rinsed with a garden hose or in the sink.

The heating element is usually the only other part of hot tub maintenance.  Because each make and model has a different means of being heated, you will want to check your manufacturer's instructions as to how to clean this unit and how often.  Usually they too only need a quick wipe with a sponge or damp cloth to keep them free of buildup and debris.

You can also add some chemicals and cleansers to your water if you want to, but this isn't a necessary part of hot tub maintenance; just a personal decision as to how purified you want your water or how sensitive you are to the chemicals.  If you stay up with these basic and few steps of hot tub maintenance, your home spa should last you for years to come!