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Maintenance of your spa/hot tub
 Spas
provide the perfect environment to relax at the end of a hard day, somewhere
to unwind and spend quality time with a partner or friends & family,
a place where everyday stresses can be left behind.
This guide is designed to provide basic information on the water treatment
of hot tubs so that your hottub is always ready for use. Use the links
below to navigate to the section you wish to read up on :
Recommended Hot Tub Care
Maintenance Routine
- Daily :
Check sanitiser level & dose as required
Check pH level & dose as required
Clean water line with Waterline Cleaning Paste
- Weekly :
Oxidise hot tub with Non Chlorine Shock
Add Spa Sparkle to help obtain beautifully sparkling water
Add No Foam to control foaming
If in area of high calcium hardness add No Scale to prevent scale deposits
- Monthly :
Clean filter cartridge using Cartridge Cleaner
Take water sample to check water balance
- Periodically :
Due to the build up of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) the hot tub will
need completely draining & refilling. There are no hard and fast
rules as to when this should be done but the following formulation seems
to work well in practise.
- Hot Tub litres divided by daily bathers divided by 12 = days
between draining & refilling
Example : 1200 litres divided by 2 divided by 12 = 50 days.
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Water Balance
By balancing the water you are creating the right conditions for bather
comfort, chemical efficiency & equipment protection. A number of factors
are involved in balancing the water but the main areas are : Calcium Hardness,
Total Alkalinity & pH
- Calcium Hardness
- This will vary depending on where you live and where your water
supply comes from and it is very important that the correct level
is established. As a guide soft water tends to be low in Calcium
Hardness and hard water more obviously is high. The level should
be checked each time you top-up or refill the hot tub with fresh
water. The ideal Calcium Hardness level for hot tubs is between
100 - 200mg/l.
- When it is below this level the water could be corrosive which
could lead to damage of plant equipment such as the heater. If this
is the case apply Hardness Plus to achieve the correct level.
- When it is above this level the water has a tendency to appear
cloudy and also calcium can precipitate out and deposit itself on
the tub shell finish, heater element, cartridge element & within
pipework. If this is the case apply No Scale to achieve the correct
level.
- Total Alkalinity
- This will again vary depending upon your water source so must
be checked each time fresh water is added. It acts as a buffer to
prevent pH change and if the level is too low the pH will fluctuate
widely, if too high pH adjustment will be difficult to effect.
- The ideal Total Alkalinity for hottubs is between 125 - 150mg/l.
- When it is below this level not only will pH fluctuate but the
water could be corrosive, cause damage to equipment and be uncomfortable
to bathers. Use pH Plus to raise levels.
- When it is above this level not only is pH difficult to adjust
but also the water could be scale forming and clarity impaired.
Use pH Minus to reduce levels.
- pH Levels
- Regular pH checks are an essential part of your tub maintenance
routine using Test Strips.
- The pH scale has a range of 0 - 14 with 0 being very acidic, 7
being neutral & 14 being very alkali. For tubs the ideal range
is between 7.4 - 7.6, this being slightly alkaline to protect the
hot tub and prevent equipment corrosion. This also provides the
most comfortable conditions for bathers and good sanitiser efficiency.
- If the level is below 7.4 use pH Plus to raise the level.
- If the level is above 7.6 use pH Minus to reduce the level.
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Sanitising
The sanitising of your hot tub water is necessary to kill bacteria and
help in the prevention of algae growth. The level should be checked regularly
using Test Strips and can be in the form of Chlorine or Bromine
- Bromine
- This is an effective hot water sanitiser and ideally suited to
hot tubs.
- It is effective over a wide pH range and has little odour.
- Comes in tablet form making it easy to apply and avoids having
to dose everyday.
- The ideal Bromine level is between 3 - 6mg/l.
- Chlorine
- This is available in granule form which are rapid dissolving and
therefore a good sanitiser.
- It has little effect on the pH levels.
- The ideal Chlorine level is between 3 - 5mg/l.
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Oxidising
- It is necessary to oxidise your hot tub weekly using Non Chlor Shock.
- It destroys odours and wastes such as perspiration, cosmetics and
body oils.
- Restores sparkle.
- Increases bather comfort.
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Hot Tub Speciality Products
Other products also help keep your hot tub clean, clear and enhance
your bathing pleasure.
- Control of Foam
- The rapid circulation & aeration of hot tub water can cause
unsightly foam to appear on the waters surface especially when oils
and lotions are within the water.
- No Foam used regularly will prevent and control excess foaming.
- If excessive foaming is a continuous problem drain the tub and
refill with fresh water.
- Ensuring Water Clarity
- Discolouration or cloudiness of the water is often caused by minute
particles suspended in the hot tub water which are too small for
the filtration system to remove.
- Soaps, cosmetics, body oils and greases can all cause dull, cloudy
water.
Encourage hot tub users to shower before getting into the hot tub
to minimise these problems.
- Spa Sparkle used once a week will assist in the removal of suspended
matter via the filtration system thus restoring and maintaining
the water clarity.
- Cleaning your Hot Tub
- At water line level, grease and debris can accumulate creating
an unattractive 'tide mark' and providing an ideal breeding ground
for bacteria & algae.
- These can be easily removed and prevented by using Waterline Cleaning
Paste daily or when the hot tub is in regular use.
- Waterline Cleaning Paste should also be used to clean all tub
surfaces every time the hottub is emptied prior to refilling.
- Cleaning the Filter Cartridge
- When the filter cartridge is dirty the circulation in the hot
tub may be reduced and water cleanliness will be affected.
- To avoid interference in the optimum working of the filter, the
cartridge should be cleaned at monthly intervals, or more regularly
after heavy usage.
- Cartridge Cleaner makes cleaning the filter cartridge easy and
readily restores the filtration system to full efficiency.
- Fragrances
- Normal bath fragrances will only create a foam on the water surface
so use specific hot tub fragrances that are hot tub water compatible.
- Choose between Spring Rain, Herbal, Alpine Forest & Musk
- Adds a touch of luxury and enhanced aesthetic benefit
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Hot Tub & Chemical Safety
Tips
- Never allow the water temperature to exceed 40°C
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages before or during the use of the hot
tub.
- Before children use the hot tub ensure the water temperature does
not exceed 30°C
- Do not allow children to use the hottub without supervision.
- If you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, any cardiovascular
condition or on medication consult your doctor before using the tub.
- Keep all chemical containers sealed and out of reach of children.
- Read and follow all label directions.
- NEVER mix chemicals.
- Accurately measure chemicals.
- Always add chemicals into water, never the reverse.
- Store chemicals in a cool, dry place.
- Never store chemicals in direct sunlight.
- Always handle chemicals with great care.
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