The Complete Hot Tub Maintenance Checklist

The Complete Hot Tub Maintenance Checklist

Hot tub maintenance doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds. Balancing water chemistry and cleaning filters can easily be accomplished without any hassle.

This guide will give you the essential information necessary to maintain a healthy, clean hot tub. We strive to ensure that our instructions are informative and easy to follow to prevent any costly repairs and extend the life of your hot tub.

If you’re in need of any hot tub chemicals or equipment, here at 1st Direct Pools, we offer a broad range of supplies that will meet your hot tub’s requirements.

The Basics

Some hot tub maintenance tasks should be performed daily, while others will only be required to be carried out weekly, monthly or even yearly.

The Three C’s

Every hot tub requires the Three C’s to maintain clean and healthy water. These include:

1. - Circulation
2. - Cleaning
3. - Chemistry

Circulation

Circulating the water encourages it to pass through the filters, which keeps the water clean and free from contaminants. The more the filters are utilised, the cleaner your hot tub will be.

Some hot tubs have automatic circulation schedules; these will run your hot tub up to twice a day and allow the water to circulate for fifteen to twenty minutes.

If your hot tub does not have an automatic circulation schedule, you can turn it on once or twice a day for twenty minutes to allow the water to circulate.

Cleaning

Hot tubs are prone to collecting dirt, which is why it’s important to regularly clean the shell and cover as well as below and above the waterline. You can also use chemicals like hot tub clarifiers to make sure the water itself stays clear and inviting. 

Chemistry

Balancing your hot tub’s water will maintain a clean and safe environment for you and your hot tub. There are three main chemicals that will provide the perfect environment for a healthy hot tub:

• - pH
• - Alkalinity
• - Sanitiser (such as chlorine or hot tub bromine)

Hot Tub Maintenance Schedule

Here is an easy to follow schedule that you can adapt to your own personal routine. This maintenance schedule can serve as a complete checklist to ensure your hot tub stays clean and in working order.

Daily Maintenance Tasks

Daily tasks are fairly simple and easy to incorporate into your routine. You should look to do these daily checks at about the same time every day if possible.

• - Check the hot tub cover – ensure it is secure and tight. This will help lock-in the chemicals and heat as well as prevent debris from falling in.
• - Check the water temperature – if the temperature is stable you can move onto the next task. If is it fluctuating, there may be an issue to address.
• - Check for external damage – any small tears or scratches should be dealt with. To help elongate the lifespan of your hot tub, it’s important that the cover is clean and damage-free.

Note – If the hot tub is being used every day, it is recommended the pH, alkalinity and the sanitiser levels are checked daily to ensure a clean, safe environment for you to regularly enjoy.

Three Times a Week Tasks

These checks can be done every day, but to save you time and money it is acceptable to only do these checks three times a week.

This checks will not just save money on chemicals and tests but also help you to avoid paying the cost of any potential repairs that are easily avoidable.

• - Test the alkalinity of the water – if the pH is fluctuating or difficult to change you may need to balance your alkalinity. Regular checks will avoid the damaging effects of too high or low alkalinity.
• - Check the waters pH level - try and keep the pH of your hot tub to around 7.5.
• - Check the sanitiser levels - sanitisers such as chlorine will help prevent bacteria and algae from contaminating your hot tub.
• - Wipe and clean above the water line using a clean, damp cloth - it’s important to wipe away any pollen, debris and dust before it enters the hot tub.

Checking the chemical balance of your water can be quickly and easily done with hot tub water test strips or kits. The strips offer an inexepnsive and instant method of testing your water, which is ideal for this regualr task. 

Weekly Maintenance Tasks

These tasks may take a little longer to complete compared to your more frequent maintenance jobs. When maintaining your hot tub, it’s a good idea to keep a record of any findings; this will help you to track trends and spot any potential problems.

• - Test the water’s pH levels - you should adjust the levels and balance them at least once a week.
• - Test the alkalinity of the water – like the pH levels, it is important to adjust these levels appropriately at least three times a week.
• - Test the sanitiser levels of the water – the sanitiser levels play an important part in keeping your hot tub clean, these levels should be checked at least three times a week.
• - Shock dose your hot tub - you can opt for chlorine or non-chlorine shock. Ensure the instructions included are thoroughly followed. Leave the cover off after a shock treatment for a few hours, as this will allow any chemical gases to release.
• - Extract the hot tub filter and rinse – use clean, plain water. The cleaner your filter is kept, the more efficiently it will clean your hot tub.
• - Clean the cover – wipe the cover down with a specialised cleaner. This will prevent mould or algae from building up.

Monthly Maintenance Tasks

Monthly tasks may require a bit more time. Although there are fewer tasks, these are essential for ensuring your hot tub is clean and in working order.

• - Chemically rinse the filter - a deeper clean will dissolve and wash away any dirt or grime that may have accumulated. This can substitute a weekly rinse.
• - Check over your hot tub jets - this is just to make sure that they are all in working order.
• - Collect some water and get it tested at a pool store - A professional test will give you a much more detailed check of the water and chemical levels.

Seasonal Tasks

These tasks can be done quarterly or however best suits your personal schedule.

• - Thoroughly clean the hot tub’s cabinet or outer shell.
• - Drain and deep clean the hot tub - while cleaning, keep an eye out for any damage. Remove any build-up of minerals or grime below the waterline.
• - Soak the filter - using a chemical filter cleaning solution, you can soak the filter while attending to other tasks.
• - Refill and test the hot tub water levels - avoid overfilling the hot tub at first. Test for pH, alkalinity and sanitiser levels.

Annual Tasks

It’s important to complete these maintenance tasks at least once a year, around the same time each year if possible.

• - Flush all of the plumbing lines - this will wash out any bacteria and biofilm that has built up over the course of the year.
• - Check over the wiring and controls - hot tubs can degrade over time due to weather, pests, chemicals and everyday wear. If you’re not sure what to look for, contact a pool professional.
• - Closely inspect the hot tub cover for mould, water absorption and any cracks in the lining - if there are any damages, these should be repaired or you can replace the cover.

We hope this guide will help you with your hot tub maintenance schedule. If you’re still in need of assistance, you can contact a member of our team or browse our blog for more information.