Pop the Bubbly: Everything You Need to Know About New Year Jacuzzi Maintenance

A jacuzzi can turn your backyard or bathroom into a luxurious spa; a place to unwind with a relaxing soak, or watch your TV covered with waterproof TV covers. Hot tubs offer pleasurable experience, but when improperly maintained, can become hazardous homes of bacteria, unsafe water, and other health hazards. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your jacuzzi running smooth and safe for years to come.

Drain, Clean, and Refill Water

Jacuzzi’s are essentially a loop of water; water is pumped out from the tub through a series of small pipes, and shot back in at high pressure, creating a soothing effect of the warm water and messaging action. So, when dirt, grime, mold or natural debris enters your tub, the jacuzzi will cycle it again and again through its pipes, trapping grime in jets, filters, and pumps.

To prevent water contamination, make sure to drain and refill your hot tub on a semi-regular basis. On average, it’s best to empty your tub every three to four months, but adjust this number based on your frequency of use.

Sanitize your Spa

Over time, chemicals, oils, soaps and lotions will build up in the hot tub’s plumbing. Residue trapped in your jacuzzi’s small pipes creates a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Microorganisms such as algae and fungi flourish in the warm, wet environment of your hot tub. Therefore, use regular sanitization and disinfection practices to keep a decadent soak from starting a skin infection.

Sanitizing agents such as chlorine and bromine will kill the microorganisms in your water, but if misused, can turn your relaxing tub into a safety hazard. Always remember to dissolve all sanitizing agents completely, so no deposits are left floating in the water. There are a few methods to ensure a safe sanitization, such as sprinkling chlorine salts slowly across the water’s surface, diluting your sanitizing agent using a container of warm water, or using a floating dispenser with sanitizing tablets.

Don’t Forget Spa Filter Care

Nothing beats soaking in the spa, relaxing outdoors with your friends beside your fire pit (shaded with custom firepit covers). But, a hot tub is only as functional as its filter. A blocked filter will not only fail to remove debris, but restrict the flow of water, interfering with the pressure of your jets. 

The best way to clean your filters is by spraying them with an instant filter cleaner. Make sure to cover the area around your tub with a custom tarp, to protect your yard from the harsh chemicals. After applying the cleaner, rinse your filter using a pressure washer or hose with a power wash attachment. For blockages created by oils, remove your filters from the tub and soak them in warm water overnight. This will ensure your jets run smooth and your water stays crystal clear.

Use hot tub covers

A custom cover for your hot tubs is a functional accessory for both indoor and outdoor tubs. Whether it is inclement weather, natural debris, critters or dust, covering your jacuzzi keeps your water clean, always ready for a relaxing soak.

A custom cover provides extra insulation for your tub; trapping in heat to regulate the hot tub’s temperature. A cover also offers safety protection for curious kids and pets, keeping everyone out of the water when your tub is unmonitored. You can further isolate the jacuzzi area with a custom tarp, keeping your yard safe for the whole family.

Looking for the right tarp for the job? Here’s our essential how-to guide.   

Adjust Your Water Chemistry

For a clean, safe spritz in the spa, you need high water quality. Use a test kit to gauge your water for the proper pH level, the right amount of sanitizer, and suitable hardness. Make sure to test weekly, and use the appropriate chemicals to keep the water balanced in the proper range:

• Alkalines are basic substances that dissolve in water, such as baking soda or soap. They can act as a buffer to keep your pH levels stable. The total alkalinity of your water should be between 80-120 ppm.
• If your alkaline level is low, add baking soda or an alkaline increaser.
• If your alkaline level is high, add dry acid or another alkaline decreaser.
• pH is a measurement of ions in the water; a low pH means your tub is acidic, while a high pH means your water is basic. While alkalines can be used to stabilize pH level, both basic and acidic solutions are both harmful to the body. For a safe dip, your pH level should be between 7.4 and 7.6 pH.
• If your pH level is high, add Muriatic Acid or another pH lowering agent.
• If your pH level is low, use sodium bicarbonate, or soda ash.
• The level of sanitizer you need varies based on your sanitizer of choice. For Chlorine, levels should be between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm. For Bromine, levels should be between 2.0 and 4.0 ppm.
• The hardness of your water, or level of calcium deposit, needs to be balanced to prevent your water from becoming corrosive, damaging the foundation of your tub. Calcium hardness should always stay between 150-250 ppm. 
• To lower, drain the water from your hot tub and add clean, tap water.
• To raise, add a calcium hardness increaser to your pool.

Spa Shock

If your tub still has nasty foam or a bad odor after sanitizing your water, add a spa shock to your regular cleaning. Spa shocks are a water treatment method that uses oxidation to break down dead chloramines, body oils, perspiration and other contaminants. A spa shock will also kill any bacteria that resist your sanitizer. 

One capful a week of non-chlorine spa shock will be sure to assassinate any microbial stragglers in your water. 

Ten Simple Steps To Clean Your Hot Tub

New to the world of jacuzzis? Here’s 10 simple steps to getting your tub sparkling clean.

1. Prepare your supplies: 
1. Rubber Gloves 
2. Non-abrasive Sponge
3. Cleaning Solution
4. Vinegar
2. Remove all covers and accessories from your tub, such as pillows and headrests.
3. Switch off the power, drain your tub. One your tub is drained, remove the filters and any debris caught in the tub.
4. Remove the shell, then rinse and clean using a sponge and cleaning solution. Once the shell is clean, reinstall it.
5. Remove the jets. Soak each jet in a solution of vinegar and water overnight. 
6. Rinse and wipe down your jets, then reinstall.
7. Run clean water from a hose through your filters to remove any other debris.
8. Power your tub back and refill. 
9. Treat the water with chemicals and let the water circulate for 24 hours. 
10.  Clean your custom cover.