You'd think that a hot tub or spa, being so much smaller than a swimming pool, would be much easier to maintain. But a hot tub requires special care for a couple of reasons: With its higher water temperatures (around 100° to 104°F/38° to 40°C) and lesser water volume, any problems with water quality can grow and spread very quickly. Fortunately, after putting in a little extra effort to properly maintain your tub, you can reward yourself with a nice warm soak. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cloudy water. Make sure filter is working properly. Filter basket should be emptied every week, and filter should run at least 2 hours a day (more often with heavy use). A pH of over 7.6 can cause cloudiness. Treat water so that pH falls within recommended range of 7.2 to 7.6. Eventually, residue builds up in water. Every two to four months, empty tub completely. Clean sides with a nonabrasive cleanser and sponge, rinse and wipe with household disinfectant. Refill tub. (Make sure a wooden tub is not left empty for more than two days. The pressure of the water's weight keeps the joints between boards tightly closed.)
2. Water irritates eyes and skin. The pH may be too low or too high; treat water to adjust it. Water may have too much chlorine (free chlorine should measure from 1.0 to 3.0 parts per million [ppm]). Once a week, shock (or superchlorinate) water by adding a much greater amount of chlorine than usual. Follow package directions very closely, and don't go into spa again until chlorine level has gone back down.
3. Leaks in a wooden tub. If leaks are coming from between staves, tighten bands around tub. If tub still leaks, plug leak with silicone caulk.
4. Scale. To avoid these rough calcium deposits, keep pH in the proper range and treat water so that its calcium hardness is between 150 and 400 ppm.
5. Algae. Drain and clean spa as described in "Cloudy water," above. To keep algae off, chlorinate regularly, and keep tub covered when not in use.
6. Stains and colored water. These usually indicate metals, such as copper, in water. You should be able to find products for removing metals at a pool store or water-care company.
