The point is, jets make a spa what it is. If you haven’t given them much thought before, it’s time to get to know them a little better.

How Do Hot Tub Jets Work?

You know they push water into the tub and provide a nice massage when you sit up against them. What you may not know is how.

The jets depend on the movement of water to produce that bubbly effect we love so much. Understanding how hot tub jets work is knowing the basics of hot tub plumbing.

1. Water exits the hot tub via the suction line; the suction is created by the hot tub pump.
2. The water flows through the pump into the filter where debris and contaminants are removed.
3. The filtered water moves into the heater where it passes over the heating element and is heated.
4. The water enters the return line.
5. The water moves through the return line to the hot tub jet’s entrance, where the magic happens.
6. The inner portion of the jet narrows, and then widens again at the exit, which is the part visible in the hot tub shell; picture a sideways hourglass.
7. Physics happens.
8. Water and air are both expelled from the jet and into the hot tub.
9. The process starts over.

That step where the physics happens? That’s called the Venturi effect. The hourglass shape of the inner pipe causes the water’s speed to increase as it flows through the narrow middle portion. At the same time, the pressure inside the pipe decreases.

The air around the jet has a higher pressure than the water as it exits the jet. This causes that air to be forced into and mix with the stream of water, so you end up with a bubbly stream coming out of the jet and into the hot tub for your enjoyment.

This video explains it a lot better:

Like any other part of your spa, the hot tub jets may malfunction from time to time. Learn what to look for before you call a potentially expensive repair expert.

How to Troubleshoot Hot Tub Jets

If you begin to notice the hot tub jets just aren’t working the way they should, they’re not too difficult to troubleshoot, and possibly even fix yourself.

Important: Before you begin any type of hot tub repair, turn the unit off, and turn the breaker off to ensure no electricity is running to the hot tub.

Mobile Jets Become Fixed

If your hot tub jets are supposed to move, but you can no longer adjust them, you may have a hard water problem. The increased calcium content in the water can create hot tub scale, which can build up, harden, and essentially lock up the jets.

The first thing to do is test the hot tub water to determine whether calcium hardness is actually the problem. If it is, you can try using a descaler. If that doesn’t work, you may need to drain and clean the hot tub, giving the jets a good scrubbing with a brush to remove the scale.

If your water source has a high level of calcium and magnesium, use a hose filter when you refill the tub to reduce the probability of this happening again.

SpaGuard Hot Tub Stain and Scale Control

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Reduced or No Pressure

Sometimes, when you drain and refill your hot tub, air can get into the plumbing lines. It may become trapped inside the pump, causing it to lock up, thereby preventing it from being able to move water through the system. As a result, there’s little to no pressure coming out of the hot tub jets.

This is fixed by bleeding the air from the pump. Locate the discharge pipe on the pump, and loosen the coupling, but don’t completely remove it. If you remove it, you may not be able to get it back on due to the pressure from the pump.

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Turn the pump back on, and listen for the air to be expelled via the discharge pipe. You should hear a hissing sound. Once the air has been removed, you should see a column of water coming from the system. Tighten the coupling, and you’re done.

Also, make sure you keep the plumbing and the hot tub jets clean to prevent any kind of buildup from impeding air flow.

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Reduced Water Flow

If you notice the hot tub jets pulsate rather than providing a steady flow of water, it’s likely there’s a water flow problem.

First, check the water level in the hot tub. Make sure it is filled to the correct level recommended by the manufacturer. If the water level is too low, air could be finding its way into your system, causing the jets to pulsate.

If the water level isn’t too low, it could be that the filter has become too dirty or clogged, and is impeding water flow. Remove and clean the filter, or replace it if it’s worn out. Put the filter back, turn the system back on, and check the flow.

If it’s neither of those possibilities, you could have a more serious problem. It’s possible you have a blockage in the hot tub lines. Try to locate a blockage. If you can’t find one, it may be that your pump is shot and needs to be replaced.

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Don’t Be Afraid to Call a Pro

If none of these remedies work, or you’re just not comfortable tackling the issue on your own, just call a pro. Better to get it fixed properly than possibly void the warranty or break it worse, right?

It’s No Jetpack, But We’ll Take It

Until we can fly around like George Jetson, hot tub jets are going to have to suffice for providing fun and relaxation. We could do a lot worse.

Keep your hot tub clean, the jets and plumbing clear, and the equipment maintained, and you’ll be able to enjoy your spa well into the future.

Happy Soaking!

The post The Complete Guide to Hot Tub Jets appeared first on Swim University®.

Why You Need to Clean Hot Tub Filters

Hot tub filters are the things that help keep your spa water clean, but yes, it does get dirty. Very dirty, in fact. That’s because it’s collecting all those nasty contaminants and debris that would otherwise stay in the water.

They’re made to capture dirt, hair, and depending on the type of filter, even bacteria. It’s up to you to remove all that gunk on a regular basis. The dirtier filters get, the less dirt and debris they’ll pick up, which means what it doesn’t catch circulates back into the shell where you sit.

You can’t just pour a bunch of spa filter cleaner into the hot tub to circulate through the water. That would be convenient, but ineffective. The key to properly cleaning hot tub filters is understanding their structure.

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Hot Tub Filter Parts

Spa filters comprise three main parts.

1. Media: Made from white, pleated spunbond polyester, the media is the part that actually cleans the water. As the water passes through the hot tub filter, the media catches the debris.
2. Core: In order to stand up to the force of water flowing through it day after day, the media needs something to reinforce it. That’s the core. It’s usually a piece of tough plastic. Having a hard core in the middle of it also helps the filter perform better. If the filter were the media fabric alone, it would be moved by the water flow, and wouldn’t be able to capture as much debris.
3. End Caps: Two plastic discs on either end of the filter keep the core and media in place. End caps also provide a way for hot tub filters to attach to spas’ filter chambers.

How to Clean Hot Tub Filters

Keep your cleaning supplies on hand so you’re always ready to clean the filters, both on your regular schedule, and if something should unexpectedly spill into the water. You’ll need:

• garden hose
• clean bucket
• hot tub filter cleaner
• filter cleaning wand (optional, for quick rinse)

Tip: Buy two sets of hot tub filters. While you’re cleaning one set, the other can be used in the hot tub.

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Weekly Hot Tub Filter Rinse

Remove the filters from your hot tub and give them a quick but thorough rinse with clean water. You can rinse them with a garden hose or in a large sink.

Be sure to spread apart each pleat and rinse well between them to get any dirt, hair, or other debris out. Allow the filter to dry before putting it back into the spa.

A weekly rinse will help keep debris from building up, and chemicals from eating away at the filter material. This will help the hot tub filters to work more efficiently and last longer.

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Monthly Hot Tub Filter Chemical Rinse

Generously spray the hot tub filters, and let them sit for about 15 minutes to allow the cleaner to do its job. Then rinse thoroughly with clean water.

If the filter cleaner you have doesn’t already come in a spray bottle, you can transfer it to a clean spray bottle. Check to see whether it’s a concentrate that must be diluted. If it is, dilute according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

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Quarterly Hot Tub Filter Chemical Soak (Every 3-4 Months)

Do this when you change your hot tub water, which you should also do every three to four months.

In a large, clean bucket, dilute the filter soak chemical with water according to the directions on the bottle. Make sure you use enough water to submerge one hot tub filter completely. If you have room, you can add more filters to the solution. If not, use one bucket per filter.

Place the filter in the bucket, and let it rest in the solution for 24 hours, or at least overnight. Then thoroughly finse the filter and allow it to air dry before placing it back in the hot tub.

Some pool and hot tub supply stores might offer this service, but it’s really easy to do yourself, and save some money.

Important: Whenever you use any kind of spa filter cleaner, make sure you rinse the filters completely before putting them back into the hot tub. Cleaning chemical residue can cause hot tub foam, and you’ll likely have to drain and refill your spa again.

5 Gallon Bucket with Lid

A 5-gallon bucket is very handy to have for mixing chemicals, soaking filters, or testing for leaks.

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3 Hot Tub Filter Cleaning Mistakes

Taking care of your filters helps them work more efficiently, but also helps them last longer so you don’t have to replace them as often. In addition to the correct cleaning process, you want to avoid a few things that could damage hot tub filters.

1. Never Use Bleach

While bleach can be effective for your hot tub shell, do not use it on your filter. Bleach is a harsh chemical—even when diluted—and it may damage the media fibers, greatly reducing the life of the filter.

2. Avoid Household Cleaners

If you’re trying to save money or just clean your hot tub naturally, you can use household cleaners on nearly every part—except hot tub filters. You could have a major foam problem in your spa, no matter how well you think you’ve rinsed the filter.

The hot tub filter cleaner is explicitly made for filter media. Stick with that.

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3. Don’t Use the Dishwasher

Sure, spa filters may fit in a dishwasher rack, and they’ll come out super clean. But you’ll also find yourself replacing your filter much sooner than necessary.

Dishwashing detergent is made for hard surfaces like ceramics and plastics, not filter media. It can damage the polyester fibers, reducing the filter’s effectiveness.

And no, you can’t put spa filter cleaner in your dishwasher. That’s asking for a whole other basket of trouble.

When to Replace Hot Tub Filters

Cleaning only does so much. After a while, spa filters wear out and can no longer effectively clean the water.

Plan to change spa filters at least once a year, more often if you use your spa often, and/or have a high bather load, which refers to how many people use your hot tub at any given time, and how often.

Dirty hot tub filters can even void your warranty, so it pays to check them once or twice a month. It’s time to replace your filters if:

• the Media is ripped, bent or imploded; or
• the end caps are brittle, cracked, or very discolored.

You’ll be a lot happier, too, knowing your hot tub filter keeps the water you’re soaking in clean and free of contaminants and debris.

Happy Soaking!

The post How to Clean Hot Tub Filters appeared first on Swim University®.

But if you want to keep your hot tub—and yourself—healthy, you’ll learn how often to change hot tub water, and why it’s absolutely, positively necessary.

How Often to Change Hot Tub Water

This is probably one of the first things you wondered about when you got your hot tub. It’s a straightforward question, and the answer is just as straightforward. We recommend you completely change the water in your hot tub at least once every three months.

That’s a very general guideline, though. You can get more specific with a little data and yes, some math. Break out the calculator.

How to Calculate Water Change Frequency

Who knew that in addition to the usual uses for math—at the grocery store, when managing credit cards—you’d need it for maintaining your hot tub? Luckily, it’s not difficult.

Volume

First, you need to know your hot tub’s volume, or how much water it holds. Smaller hot tubs may need to be changed more often than larger ones. They’re smaller bodies of water, so they won’t last as long.

A 2-seater spa holds about 170 gallons (about 650 litres).

A 4-seater hot tub holds about 330 gallons (about 1250 litres).

A large spa that seats 7 or 8 people holds somewhere between 475 and 610 gallons (1800 and 2300 litres).

If you want more accurate information, you’ll find it in your owner’s manual. If you don’t have one, your hot tub manufacturer should be able to provide the volume for your model.

Bather Load

Simply put, this is how many people use your hot tub, and how often. To calculate water change frequency, you’ll just need to estimate the average bather load. You don’t need exact numbers for every day of the year.

Water Change Formula

Now that you have those numbers, here’s the fun part. The general rule of thumb is to first divide the hot tub volume by 3, then divide that number by the bather load. Like this:

Hot tub volume ÷ 3 ÷ estimated average bather load

170 gallons ÷ 3 ÷ 2 bathers = change every 28 days

475 gallons ÷ 3 ÷ 2 bathers = change every 79 days

Remember, this is simply a guideline and not a hard and fast rule. The timing may vary based on the water quality in your area, where your hot tub is located (indoors or out), and how well you take care of the water between changes.

Also, this formula isn’t the only answer to the question of how often to change hot tub water. You may run into one or more problems that require a water change outside of the set schedule.

Clouds in My Coffee … And in My Hot Tub

You’re all ready for a relaxing soak, you uncover your spa, and discover a cloudy hot tub. Not exactly inviting, is it?

You can try to clear it up with a dose of spa shock, but if that doesn’t work, it’s time to change the hot tub water.

Tiny Bubbles

Save the bubbles for the bathtub. If you suddenly find a bunch of foam in your hot tub, you have a little work to do before you can step into the spa.

First, try a foam remover. It may work, but if it does, it’ll only work for a little while because you’re treating the symptom, not the cause. To get rid of whatever it is that’s causing the water to foam up, you’ll need to change the hot tub water.

Smells Like Dirty Water Spirit

There’s no clearer sign that it’s time to change hot tub water than a foul smell. Technically, hot tub water shouldn’t smell like anything, not even the chemicals you put in it. Aside from a “chlorine” smell, though (which actually means you need to add chlorine), if the water just stinks, it could be due to a few things such as bacteria, mildew, or biofilm in the plumbing.

In any of those cases, no amount of chlorine or shock is going to get rid of the smell, or whatever’s causing it. The only way to stop the water from smelling is to change it. Change it now.

What Happens if I Don’t Change the Hot Tub Water?

Would you ever really consider not changing the water in your hot tub? Really? No, of course not. So maybe you’re just asking this out of curiosity.

OK, let’s go with that and take a look at what could happen if you just soaked in the same tub of water, day after day, week after week, month after month, never replacing it with fresh water.

Supersaturation

Water can only hold so much of other substances before it becomes supersaturated. For example, there’s a certain amount of calcium in your hot tub, in the form of a dissolved salt—calcium chloride. This is known as water hardness or calcium hardness. If you wait too long to change the hot tub water—or just never change it at all—the water will get to a point where it can no longer dissolve the calcium chloride.

Well, the calcium has to go somewhere, so you’ll start to see scaling on your hot tub fixtures, in the filter, and even in the pump. Too much scaling can eventually damage surfaces, and break equipment, costing you a lot of money in the process.

Total Dissolved Solids

Never mind the calcium buildup. Every time you soak in a hot tub, you leave behind a lot of contaminants. Sweat, shampoo, perfume, lotion, makeup, deodorant, body oils, other bodily fluids—they all end up in the spa water. These contaminants are referred to collectively as total dissolved solids (TDS).

Your sanitizer can only do so much, and even if you keep adding it, eventually, supersaturation and a high amount of TDS will prevent the water from mixing with the sanitizer.

Now the water will start to become murky, feel gritty, and possibly even smell. Yes, even if you’ve been adding sanitizer. It’s a chemical that must be balanced with the water, not a magical formula that keeps the same water clean forever.

The longer you go without changing the water, the less water there’ll be in the hot tub, replaced instead by all that other gunk until you eventually get to the point where you’re not soaking in water anymore at all. Just a goop made up of all those oils and other substances.

So, you’re going to change your hot tub water on a regular basis, right? That’s what we thought. You can also follow our guide on lowering your hot tub alkalinity.

Note: Between changes, you can keep track of how many total dissolved solids are accumulating in the water with a TDS meter.

When It’s Time to Change …

… You’ve got to rearrange. Actually, more like renew. Getting rid of old, used-up, dirty water, and replacing it with fresh, clean water will make for a much more comfortable soak. And your mind will be at ease knowing you’re not exposing yourself to a lot of nasty stuff you’d really rather not think about.

Now that you know how often to change hot tub water, you really have no excuse, either. Put it on your calendar, test the water frequently, and keep an eye out for cloudy and foamy symptoms that tell you there’s a problem. Trust us, you’ll be a lot happier, and so will your hot tub.

Happy Soaking!

The post How Often Should You Change Hot Tub Water? appeared first on Swim University®.

Eliminating buildup while treating your hot tub surfaces with care is easier than it sounds, and you don’t need a degree in chemistry to do it. Before you change your water, learn how to drain and clean your hot tub the right way.

Want to learn more about how to keep your hot tub clean, balanced, and sanitized? Then you should check out The Hot Tub Handbook and Video Course to help you save hundreds on chemicals and less time on hot tub maintenance all year long.

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Why Should You Know How to Drain Your Hot Tub?

Think about it. The same water sits in your hot tub for weeks or months. Sure, you’re treating it with a sanitizer and shocking it regularly (right?), but it’s still the same water, day after day. Eventually, it will need to be changed, regardless of how vigilant you are about water maintenance.

Every time you use your hot tub, organic contaminants are introduced into the water, such as:

• body oils
• lotions
• cosmetics
• hair products
• sweat
• urine and feces

But it doesn’t just stay in the water. It passes through the filter and plumbing. The filter does its job and grabs most of it, but it can only do so much. And as those contaminants and bacteria pass through the pipes, they start to build up and create a layer of biofilm.

What is Biofilm in Your Hot Tub?

Bits of bacteria and fungi are trucking down your hot tub’s pipes. They decide it’s nice and cozy in there, and they want to stick around for a while. So that’s what they do—they stick themselves to the interior surface of the plumbing.

But they know their mortal enemy, chlorine, will be along any minute to banish them, so they build a barrier around themselves that’s impervious even to chlorine.

More of their buddies come along and join the party, sticking themselves to the pipes, waving and laughing at chlorine as it goes by. They’re digging in for the long haul until you do something about it.

The longer that biofilm stays stuck to the plumbing, the more contaminants stay in the water, too. Let it build up too long, and it will start to impede water flow and affect filter efficiency as well.

Draining and cleaning your hot tub and using a special plumbing cleaning agent is the only way to get rid of it.

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When Should You Drain Your Hot Tub?

How can you tell it’s time to drain and clean your hot tub? Look for a few clear signs and circumstances.

• Your hot tub is giving off foul odors.
• The water won’t clear, no matter what you do to it.
• You’ve been using your spa more frequently than usual.
• You’ve had more guests in the hot tub, more often than usual.
• The hot tub has sat unused for a long time.

If any of those conditions apply, it’s time to act.

How Often Should You Drain Your Hot Tub?

Aside from any specific signs or conditions that tell you your spa needs some attention, it’s a good idea to drain and clean your hot tub quarterly, whether it looks like it needs it or not.

Prevention is always preferable to correction. Keep the biofilm from building up in the first place, and you’re protecting your filter and plumbing system. You’re also maintaining a cleaner, safer soaking environment.

For this reason, it’s always a good idea to keep instructions for how to drain the hot tub nearby to ensure you follow all the steps every time.

How to Drain a Hot Tub

Whoa, not so fast! Don’t pull the plug just yet. You have some work to do before you get rid of the water in your spa.

Flush Your Hot Tub Plumbing with a Cleaner

Even if your sanitizer levels are right on target, your hot tub can develop biofilm. Bacteria feed on it, while also using it as shelter from your sanitizer.

That same bacteria ends up in your water, eating up chlorine and exposing you and other bathers to contaminants, such as Legionella, which causes Legionnaires’ Disease, Staphylococcus aureus, which commonly causes hot tub folliculitis, and E. coli, which can cause intense gastrointestinal distress.

When this goo forms inside your lines, it can’t be removed through normal spa water circulation, filtration, or even by adding more sanitizer or shock.

So before you drain and clean your hot tub, add a plumbing line cleaner, also called a line flush product. This special cleaner is specially formulated to break down biofilm. Follow the package directions to ensure you use the right amount for your hot tub’s volume. Once you’ve added it, let it circulate for a minimum of 20 minutes.

But if this isn’t your first time cleaning your spa, but you haven’t been using a hot tub line flush, or if the hot tub has been sitting unused for quite some time, you can—and really should—let the plumbing cleaner circulate for a few hours, or even overnight.

Plumbing cleaner may cause gross-looking foam to form on the surface of the water as it circulates through your spa. That just means it’s working and pulling all that nasty biofilm out of the pipes. You’ll be draining and cleaning your hot tub next anyway, so don’t worry about the foam.

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Drain Your Hot Tub with The Built-in Drain Plug

The lowest-cost option for draining your hot tub is to connect a hose to the spa drain and allow gravity to work its magic. This is also the most time-consuming choice, usually taking hours to completely empty your spa. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

It actually gives you time to move your hose so drained water doesn’t pool in one area, which you might want to do if you’ll be draining your spa water into your yard or garden.

Important: Before you drain your spa, flip the hot tub breaker to cut all power and eliminate risk of electrical shock.

Drain Your Hot Tub with a Sump Pump

Maybe you’re in a hurry, or you just don’t have the patience to wait on gravity. No problem. You can use a sump pump to empty your hot tub in minutes rather than hours. Open your spa drains at the same time, and empty the tub even more quickly.

Because a sump pump will drain the hot tub quickly, plan to stay nearby to keep an eye on the water level. If the pump continues to run once the water is gone, it can burn up the motor, so turn off the pump as soon as it stops pumping water.

Some pumps will get the water down to a fraction of an inch, while others will need to be shut off with a few inches of water remaining. Your hot tub drains will take care of the rest.

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Where To Drain Hot Tub Water

A lot of cities have laws that require you to drain your hot tub water into the sewer system. Those cities typically provide sewer access through a special drain somewhere on your property.

This is not to be confused with a storm drain, where you should never dispose of hot tub water because those drains lead to natural bodies of water. Drained spa water can harm fish and other wildlife.

If you don’t have direct sewer access, you can run a hose into the drain in a utility sink in your home, or water your lawn or gardens with the old spa water, provided you’ve allowed chemical levels to dissipate. Plants don’t exactly thrive on chlorine.

Important: Before you drain your hot tub, check your city’s ordinances to ensure you’re adhering to the law, and preventing any damage to the environment.

How to Clean a Hot Tub

Now that your hot tub is empty, you’re halfway to the finish line. Get ready to expend a little elbow grease. Just don’t get that grease in your spa. Ew.

Clean or Replace the Hot Tub Filter

While the water is draining from your spa, you have plenty of time to clean your filter. A hot tub filter cleaning spray is suitable for this job.

If your filters are really dirty, you can soak them in the cleaning spray solution for a deep clean. Grab a 5-gallon (20-litre) bucket, and fill it nearly to the brim with water. Add the dose of hot tub filter cleaner indicated in the product instructions, give the water a swish to dilute the cleaner, and submerge the filter. Leave it to soak for 24 hours.

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If you remove the filter, and it’s so dirty no amount of cleaner is going to make a difference, first, replace it. Second, clean your filter more often!

Important: Anytime you clean your filter with a cleaning product, be sure to rinse the filter thoroughly with clean water before placing it back in your hot tub. Any residual cleaner might cause foaming when you restart your spa, and then you’ll have to start this entire process over again.

Clean the Hot Tub Shell

Once it’s empty and you removed the sump pump, your spa is ready for surface cleaning.

• Spray your hot tub shell with hot tub cleaner, diluted white vinegar, or diluted bleach. Pay special attention to nooks and crannies where mildew, algae, or bacteria could be hiding.
• Use a soft cloth or non-scratch nylon scrubber to remove residue.
• Rinse all the surfaces well, and drain all the rinse water to prevent foaming when you refill your spa.
• Double-check that all your jets are open after you’ve finished cleaning and rinsing. This reduces the risk of water pressure problems from trapped air.

Tip: Between quarterly draining and cleaning, you can clean the portion of the shell that’s above the waterline. Any cleaner you use may end up in the water, so we recommend using a melamine sponge (also called a Magic Eraser).

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Don't let your hot tub fill with hard-to-remove gunk. Clear out the gunk and keep your hot tub water fresh. It removes gunk in your pipes caused by lotions, sunscreens, cosmetics, etc.

Kills bacteria inside the pipes for maximum effect.

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If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

How to Refill a Hot Tub

Ah, look at that squeaky clean hot tub! It’s so pretty, you almost don’t want to fill it back up, right? But it’s no fun to sit in an empty spa, so close the drains, and break out that hose.

Important: Before you start adding freshwater, double-check to ensure the breaker is still off. Better safe than sorry.

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Tip: When refilling your hot tub, use a hose filter to reduce impurities such as calcium and copper that may affect your water chemistry and overall spa health. You’ll start out with higher-quality water in your spa and reduce the risk of staining and mineral deposit buildup.

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Set aside some time for refilling the spa. You don’t want to leave it unattended and end up with a flooding situation, especially if your hot tub is indoors.

• Insert the hose into the filter compartment, and turn on the spigot. This helps to force any trapped air out of your circulation system, preventing hot tub air lock. Avoid overfilling as it may cause serious problems, such as backflow into your heater, when you start up your spa. If you do accidentally overfill, drain the excess water immediately.
• Turn your spa breaker back on.
• Start the hot tub, which includes adding sanitizer and other start-up chemicals.
• Turn off air valves if you have them, so they don’t disrupt chemical distribution.
• Add a metal sequestrant, if necessary. This is especially important if you have well water, or even city water that just has a high metal content, to help prevent stains in your spa. Using the hose filter reduces the risk of stains, but if you’ve had metal-related staining problems in the past, it’s worth adding a dose of sequestrant during refills.
• Test the water. Adjust pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness if necessary.
• Cover your spa for 24 hours to allow the chemicals to circulate, and the water to heat up to at least 80°F (27°C), but no higher than 104°F (40°C).
• Retest the water when the spa reaches your desired temperature to confirm the water is balanced before anyone uses the spa. If it’s not, make the necessary adjustments.

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01/27/2023 04:34 pm GMT

While You’re At It …

As you wait for your hot tub to drain and refill, you can take on a few other tasks to get a fully clean hot tub.

Clean the Spa Cover

If you’re using a hot tub cover, now is the perfect time to clean that, too. If your spa resides outside, you may also want to apply a protectant to the cover to help avoid sun damage.

And if you’re not using a cover, you’re losing money in water, chemicals, and energy costs via evaporation, so get a cover!

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Clean the Spa Cabinet

Don’t get so focused on the inside of the hot tub that you forget the outside! Your spa cabinet puts up with a lot of abuse in the form of splashout, humidity, and sun if it’s outside. Take some time to care for it, and it’ll last a lot longer.

Depending on what your cabinet is made from, clean it with an appropriate product. Most cabinets are made from wood, so use a gentle wood cleaner and a soft cloth.

Apply a wood protectant as well, whether your hot tub is indoors or out. And if it’s outside, use a protectant with a UV shield.

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Worry-Free Soaking

Now that you know both how to drain your hot tub and how to clean your hot tub, there’s no excuse to let your spa descend into swamp territory. Keep the water balanced, test it regularly, and keep your filter clean, and you should only have to do a full drain and clean every quarter.

In the meantime, you can relax and enjoy your squeaky clean tub full of sparkling, clear, biofilm-free water.

Happy Soaking!

The post How to Drain and Clean a Hot Tub appeared first on Swim University®.

It is important to periodically perform a hot tub line flush if you want to make sure your water quality is always at its best. But pipes aren’t as easy to get to as the water and shell of your hot tub. So how do you do it?

Why Do a Hot Tub Line Flush?

You may be thinking that with all the chemicals you pour into your hot tub, a good line flush just seems unnecessary. However, over time even when you properly take care of your hot tub, the plumbing inside your hot tub can begin to accumulate mineral deposits, dirt, grime, and much more inside them that regular chlorine simply can’t take care of on its own.

A hot tub line flush will get rid of this buildup, so your water stays as clean as possible.

How Often to Flush Hot Tub Lines

So how often should you flush the pipes? A good rule of thumb to go by is whenever you drain the hot tub, flush the plumbing. Depending on your hot tub use, you should drain and clean it once every 3 months. More often if you use your hot tub frequently.

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Signs That It’s Time for a Cleaning

So how do you tell if it’s time for a good cleaning of your hot tub plumbing? If you notice slime forming in your water or if the water is cloudy and you smell musty odors, it could be time to flush out your system.

Another more serious warning sign is skin rash. If you get a rash on your skin a few days after using your hot tub, it is definitely time to give it a good cleaning.

Clean Your Hot Tub’s Plumbing

While you may regularly take steps to treat the water in your hot tub, periodically you need to give your hot tub’s plumbing a little tender love and care as well. When cleaning your hot tub’s plumbing, there are a few steps you need to take to be sure it gets cleaned the right way.

Clean or Replace the Filter

Remove the filter from your hot tub and clean it with a hot tub filter cleaner. If it is a year old or more or if it looks like it is in bad condition, replace it. Consult with the manual for your hot tub to be sure you purchase the correct filter for your hot tub.

Note: Leave the filter out during the flushing process.

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Shock Your Hot Tub

While you will be changing the water, you need a decent base to start your cleaning process. So, using the water that is in the hot tub, add shock and allow it to circulate through your hot tub and clean as much of the water killing any bacteria that may be present in the process.

Circulate the water at high speed during this process and allow it to run for at least 30 minutes, if not longer before you continue.

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Flush the Plumbing System

Next, add a hot tub line flush product to clear the biofilm from the pipes, turn the jets on high, and allow the water to circulate for 15 to 30 minutes. This system flush will break up much of the sludge and grime that has built up inside the pipes of your hot tub and allow it to become trapped in the filter.

Once the water has circulated, turn the hot tub off, cover it, and let it sit for at least 5 hours. You can also do this in the evening and let it sit overnight if that’s more convenient.

Important: While there’s nothing wrong with using vinegar to clean a hot tub, it’s not the best choice for cleaning hot tub plumbing. The sludge that builds up in the pipes responds much better to a hot tub line flush that will break it down so it can be washed away. We highly recommend sticking with that to make sure the pipes are clean and clear.

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Drain the Hot Tub

There’s no way to completely remove the hot tub line flush product without removing the water. If you’ve never done it before, take a little time to learn how to drain a hot tub to ensure you do it correctly.

Clean the Hot Tub

Take advantage of the spa being empty to really give it a good, thorough cleaning. Wipe it down with diluted white vinegar, or use a special hot tub cleaner formulated for removing accumulated nasties from spa surfaces.

No matter what you use to scrub your hot tub, be sure to rinse it thoroughly before you start refilling, or you may end up with a bubble bath.

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Refill the Hot Tub

Put the filter back into your hot tub, then refill the tub with fresh water. Use a hose filter to keep as many contaminants out as possible.

Once the hot tub is filled, test the water and add the proper chemicals to balance it properly and allow the water to circulate through the hot tub for at least 8 to 12 hours.

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Verify Your Results

After your hot tub has circulated, retest the water and consider shocking the new water to ensure that you have removed any dirt, grime and bacteria from the hot tub.

If you do shock the hot tub, you’ll need to test the water again and be sure it’s properly balanced before you use it.

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When All Else Fails

Sometimes, the pipes will simply be too gunked up with grime, dirt and all manner of nastiness that you just can’t take care of it with a simple hot tub line flush. When this happens, you need to either put your plumber hat on or call in a professional.

Either you or the professional can disassemble the plumbing properly and clean the pipes by hand in order to completely remove all that dirt and grime that has built up inside the plumbing of your hot tub.

Flush Away!

As they say, it’s what inside that truly counts, and the same goes for your hot tub. No matter how clean the outside and the shell of your hot tub is, if the plumbing is dirty, your water quality will suffer.

Doing a hot tub line flush doesn’t have to be difficult, if you do it regularly, you’ll quickly be able to enjoy your hot tub a lot more knowing the water you’re soaking in is truly clean.

Happy Soaking!

The post How to Clean Hot Tub Plumbing appeared first on Swim University®.