1. Check your water every few days to see how it looks.
- You should have 1-5ppm of free chlorine or bromine depending on which sanitizer you choose.
- The pH should be in the range of 7.2-7.8 with 7.4 being the perfect target as it is the pH of the human eye.
- Calcium hardness should be 125 to 400ppm and total alkalinity 120-180ppm.
2. Use eco-mode and turn your thermometer up about a half hour before you want to use it. This temperature range 101°F to 104°F (38-40C) is comfortable for many people and waiting to turn up the heat until you are ready to use it saves energy. Turn it up and then go take a shower before you get in.
3. Use test strips two times per week. Adjust chemical levels after you compare the strip with the chart on the strip container. It is really art, not science, but practice does improve your ability to manage your spa. All usually goes well if you can just keep the chlorine level and pH level balanced as it is often too hard to get everything balanced at once.
4. Change the water every three, four or six months. Depending on how much your spa is used and how it looks, you will need to perform a complete water change out two to four times each year.
5. Make sure your cover fits tightly over your spa to prevent heat from escaping. A newer, better insulating cover may pay for itself by cutting your energy bill.
6. If your spa is outdoors, condition your hot tub cover once a month. This will prolong its life by protecting it from the UV rays which break the chemical bonds within the vinyl, causing it to harden and crack.
7. Follow the alphabet. When adjusting your hot tub chemicals make sure to follow the alphabet. First adjust alkalinity if need be, then the bromine or chlorine sanitizer, then the calcium hardness and finally the pH. Bring in your water anytime, we will test it for you for free.
8. Add only one chemical at a time. When adjusting hot tub chemical levels be sure to only add one chemical to the water, then wait a full two hours before adding another chemical. This will allow the chemicals to disperse naturally and will help to maximize their effectiveness. Waiting also minimizes the risk of a direct chemical reactions between the additives which sometimes yield unwelcome products.
9. Testing the Saturation Index: Saturation index is a calculation you can perform on your spa water that will tell you if the water is in a corrosive, scaling or balanced condition.
10. Purchase quality hot tub chemicals from dedicated swimming pool and spa stores. Department store or hardware store offer chemicals, but beware, you really get what you pay for with chemicals. We offer the best pricing we can for our customers.