Hot Tub Maintenance Schedule

Bullfrog Spas

3 years ago

Need an easy hot tub maintenance schedule to follow? Keeping your hot tub running smoothly is easy when you follow a simple maintenance schedule. Good hot tub maintenance means taking care of the spa itself as well as the water in it. Here is a simple hot tub maintenance schedule and answers to a couple of frequently asked questions to illustrate just how easy it is to take care of your hot tub.

Basic Hot Tub Maintenance Schedule

To keep your hot tub running well, you must use it correctly and monitor water quality, filter condition, and cleanliness. Not only does this increase the life of your spa, but it also protects the health of those using it. You need to perform some tasks every time you use the hot tub and some only once or twice a year, but all are important components of spa maintenance.

Before Each Use…

Check the water quality before every use. That means using the appropriate testing strips to measure alkalinity and pH levels. If the results of these tests are off, balance the chemicals before using the tub.

After Each Use…

Add sanitizer following every use to combat the growth of bacteria and algae. This ensures the water is safe for the next users.

Once a Month…

Each month remove the spa filter and clean it thoroughly. All this involves is removing the filter, lightly spraying it with a hose, and allowing it to dry completely before putting it back in the spa. You can also soak filters in a filter cleaner to ensure the removal of all dirt and debris buildup. It’s also a good idea to have a spare filter on hand so you can use the hot tub while the cleaned filter is drying. The actual cleaning only takes 10 to 15 minutes.

If your spa has the pleated flat Simplicity™ filter, we recommend that it be cleaned or replaced every 4 weeks, or sooner if needed. You may prefer to simply replace monthly, or Simplicity filters can be cleaned by spraying along the pleats from one side of the filter to the other with a garden hose and nozzle, then rinsing thoroughly. Even with regular cleaning, Simplicity filters will eventually become less effective and should be replaced at least every 12-16 weeks.

One of the best ways to protect your spa is by keeping it covered when it isn’t in use. Part of ongoing hot tub maintenance includes cleaning and conditioning the cover. Why? Because damage from UV rays can lead to drying and cracking which interfere with the proper fit and protective ability of your cover. Clean both the top and underneath of the cover. It might surprise you to know the process takes less than 30 minutes from removal to reattachment.

First, remove the cover and flip it over to clean the underside (the side closest to the water surface). Spray it with a hose and use a non-foaming cleaner on a sponge or soft brush to remove stubborn dirt or mildew stains, then rinse clean.
Next, flip the cover back over and wipe down the top surface with a wet rag, using a non-foaming cleanser if desired. Rinse the lid with clear water and towel dry completely.
Last, apply a vinyl conditioner to the top of the cover and put it back on the hot tub.

Every Four to Six Months…

Every now and then you’ll need to drain your spa, clean it, and fill it with fresh water. Depending on how many people use the hot tub and how often they use it, you should drain and refill your spa every four to six months.

Start by adding a pipe cleaner to the existing spa water. This will remove biofilm film buildup from the spa plumbing lines. Circulate the water for about 30 minutes. Let it sit for an hour to loosen up any gunk in the lines. Then, circulate for another 20-25 minutes to wash the loosened debris from the lines.
Now drain the tub. Open the drain plug and let the tub drain. In some cases, you can attach your garden hose to the drain and direct the water to a location away from the hot tub. In either case, gravity does most of the work. It’s okay if a little water remains in the bottom of the tub after you drain it.
While the spa is draining, you should take the time to clean your filter or to replace it entirely.
After the tub has drained use a damp towel to wipe down the inside of the shell. Use a spa shell cleaner to scrub the water line and any stains that may be present. Be careful to thoroughly rinse the tub before refilling it.
Make sure a clean filter is in place then refill your hot tub. Treat the water appropriately and enjoy a nice, clean soak.

This process can take a couple of hours and is worth the effort for a safe, healthy spa experience. And did I mention that it extends the life of your spa, so you can enjoy it for years to come?

Every Year…

Once a year you should have your spa checked out by a service professional. An annual preventive maintenance check-up is just one more way to keep your hot tub working right and lasting longer.

Seasonal Care

If you choose to close your hot tub during the winter, it is vital that you remove all the water.

Drain the tub
Drain the air blower (if your tub has one)
Remove the filters
Unscrew the fittings to allow drainage
Blow out the pipes
Remove excess water that accumulates in the tub

Bullfrog Spas offers detailed instructions for winterizing your spa yourself. It’s very important to get every drop of water out of your spa, which is why you may want to have your spa dealer take care of this for you. This is also the perfect time for a yearly spa check-up.

Vacation Care

If you’re going to be on vacation less than a week, prepping your spa for your absence is easy.

Test and balance water alkalinity
Clean or replace the filter
Add sanitizer to the water
Shock the water before you leave
Use hurricane straps to ensure your cover is securely attached

For vacations lasting more than seven days, you also need to turn your hot tub temperature to the lowest setting to conserve energy. That’s it!

Other Considerations

Why Your Hot Tub Needs Annual Service

We don’t think twice about going to the doctor for an annual checkup, the dentist for an annual cleaning, or the dealership for an annual car tune-up. Making a service appointment for an annual “well-check” on your spa works much the same way. Prevention goes a long way in prolonging the life and health of a spa. And a certified hot tub technician is trained to ensure all is working as it should be.

The first thing a field technician will help with is the deep cleaning of your hot tub. Over time, biofilm buildup can accumulate in the hot tub’s plumbing despite regular use of sanitizers. A technician will be equipped with the tools needed to completely remove this tougher layer of buildup that can contain viruses or bacteria and, of course, affect the hot tub’s water balance.

In addition to addressing water quality and imbalance issues, the inspection will involve a thorough look through hardware, wiring, and components within the spa. The idea here is not to find unnecessary updates or upgrades that add expense, but to correct smaller issues that ultimately protect against larger problems and more expensive repairs down the road, especially when it involves safety.

To find a service technician, your local spa dealer is a good place to start. It’s ideal that your tech has a working knowledge not just with hot tubs, but with the manufacturer of the hot tub being serviced. They’ll be able to address any technical questions you have about your spa. Plus, they’ll be familiar with your hot tub’s standard warranty coverage as well as any recent notifications the manufacturer has put out that may affect your hot tub’s overall health.

Hot Tub Maintenance Schedule Apps

If documenting this schedule on a whiteboard isn’t really your style, there are a host of hot tub maintenance apps available that do the job just as well, if not better. Here are just a few you can check out:

Hot Tub Maintenance Costs

As you’d guess, the cost of maintenance supplies depends on hot tub usage, both in terms of frequency and volume. So the totals can vary throughout the year and from one owner to another. Based on industry averages, here are some rough estimates of what it may cost to maintain a hot tub’s health:

High Use: $40 per month
Average Use: $30 per month
Low Use: $20 per month

Where to Get Hot Tub Maintenance Supplies

In order to maintain balanced, clean water that’s ready to use at any time, regular use of these common items is needed: test strips, pH increaser, pH decreaser, sanitizer, along with optional oxidizer and anti-foam treatment. Filters will also need to be purchased when they’re due to be replaced. Other than that, cleaning supplies are minimal, comprising mostly of after-care conditioning and/or protectant.

The best source for hot tub supplies will always be your local spa dealer since they will be able to offer expert advice given local climate and conditions. If distance is an issue, another source would be online at Bullfrog Spas’ online accessories shop which specializes in hot tub supplies e-commerce.

Let’s Recap

This may seem like a lot of information, but each task on the hot tub maintenance schedule (with the exception of draining and refilling) takes less than half an hour. It’s all about keeping it clean. From the water to the plumbing to the shell to the cover, a clean healthy hot tub will provide years of healthy fun and relaxation for every user.