Slipping into a hot tub for a soak after work, before bed, or as the sun rises can be such a pleasure. It’s a pleasure that can be spoiled if your hot tub’s water is murky. It’s important to keep your water fresh and clear for your pleasure and your safety. Keeping your water fresh and balanced doesn’t need to be hard. Here are six easy ways to keep your hot tub water clean and fresh.
1. Use a Hot Tub Cover
One of the easiest ways to keep hot tub water clean and fresh is by using a hot tub cover when you’re not using it. Not only will it keep it free of debris, it will also retain the heat, which saves on your energy bill and helps save the planet. For folks who find lifting the cover a chore, a hydraulic lifter can make removing and replacing the cover almost effortless.
2. Balance the Water
Maintaining proper water chemistry is crucial for keeping your hot tub water safe for you and your family with as few chemicals as possible. This is made easier with newer hot tubs that have control panels that prompt you to test your water and tell you when to add what chemical. You may still need to use test strips, however. It’s important to use the proper test strips for your system. Ozone systems reduce the need for chlorine and have their own recommended test strips that will help you maintain the proper balance without overdoing the chlorine. In addition to chlorine, balanced water will be at the proper pH level, which can be determined from the test strip. When needed, you will use special chemicals that will raise or lower the pH of the water, depending on what the test strip indicates. Lotions and other topicals can cause the water to foam. For this there are defoaming agents that may be added.
3. Shock the Water
You may occasionally need to add additional chemicals or minerals to your hot tub’s water to quickly shock it back to a balanced level, free of bacteria and contaminants. SpaGuard’s Enhanced Shock takes just 15 minutes to work. Its powerful oxidizers break down and remove organic compounds and their odors while the clarifiers help the filter to remove any remaining particles. It’s compatible with chlorine, ozone, and ionization sanitizing systems. Plus, it won’t disrupt your spa’s delicate pH balance.
4. Clean the Filter
The hot tub filter is responsible for trapping debris and contaminants, but it can become clogged over time. Most filters lift out easily and can be easily cleaned with a garden hose. No special tools are required. Maintaining a clean filter will increase the life of your pump and keep your water clear of debris.
5. Drain and Refill Regularly
Eventually, hot tub water gets saturated with contaminates from lotions, perspiration, and other substances, and will need a fresh start. It is recommended that you drain and refill your tub about three times per year. The frequency with which you drain and refill your hot tub will depend, in part, by how much it’s used and how much contamination has accumulated. If you find that the water is looking murky or you’re having to use more chemicals, it may be time. With an ozone or salt system, you can get by with fewer drainings. When the water is drained, before you refill it, it’s a good time to clean the interior, using a soft cloth. It’s a good idea to consult your manual for recommended cleaners, if any that you can use on the interior and cabinet. It’s also a good time to give the cover a good cleaning according to manufacturer recommendations.
6. Add a Salt or Ozone System
If you want fewer chemicals, less frequent draining, and even more carefree maintenance, adding a saltwater system or an ozone system is the way to go. All Hot Spring Highlife® Collection and Limelight® Collection hot tubs come with the FreshWater Salt System as an option, and the FreshWater Ozone System comes standard or can be added to many Hot Spring models.
FreshWater Salt System
With the FreshWater® Salt System, keeping your water fresh and clear will take so much less of your precious time. This innovative technology, available on all Highlife® Collection and Limelight® Collection hot tubs, uses salt to naturally keep your water fresh for up to a year, with fewer chemicals. The cartridge is easily changed, with no tools necessary, every four months. With a Salt System, you’ll also save on water and energy because you’ll only need to drain your tub about once a year.
FreshWater Ozone System
The FreshWater® Ozone System makes maintenance easier and reduces the amount of chemicals required to keep your hot tub water sparkling and healthy. This revolutionary system releases ozone and silver ions into the spa’s water, neutralizing contaminants on contact. The Ozone Generator delivers the ozone, while the Mineral Spa Sanitizer releases silver ions. This drastically reduces the need for chlorine, to a small amount once a week. The ion cartridges get replaced easily, again without tools or skills, every four months, and add MPS non-chlorine, pH neutral oxidizer after every use.
Make Water Care Easier with a 2023 Spa from Creative Energy
Whether you opt for the FreshWater Saltwater or Ozone system, or let your new spa’s control panel guide you, water care need not be a mystery, take long, or be hard to do. If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to ask the helpful Creative Energy staff. If backyard spa is still on your wish list instead of in your backyard, they can also help you find the perfect spa to suit your space and needs amid the wide selection of Hot Spring® spas. You can even send a text directly to the showroom nearest you! Contact us today or visit one of our San Francisco Bay Area showrooms in San Rafael, San Mateo, and Concord to learn more about Hot Spring hot tubs and how easy it is to keep your spa’s water clean and clear.