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Traditional Hot Tub Water Care
Clean water
Clean & Clear Hot Tub Water
Here are some tips to help you achieve and maintain crystal clear water in hot tub. Should you experience any issues with your water maintenance program, feel free to contact us with questions or concerns!
Maintaining proper chemical levels will make the water clear and comfortable, kill bacteria that can multiply rapidly in your spa, and protect spa surfaces and equipment. Interested in making life easier? Check out the FROG @ease Floating System!
Start-Up Guide
1
FILL YOUR HOT TUB
Power must always be OFF while the spa is empty.
Fill the hot tub with fresh water to approximately 1″ above the jets. Place your hose in the gray filter standpipe in order to force air out of the lines.
If you are filling your hot tub with well water: after 10 minutes of running water through the gray standpipe, install the EcoOne Hose Filter on the end of the hose. Flush filter outside of the spa in the grass or mulch area for 3-5 seconds to remove carbon, and complete the filling process by placing the hose with filter attached back in the filter compartment and proceeding as outlined above.
If your source water is high in calcium, iron, or other metals, please contact us for further instructions. Stain and Scale Defense can be used to treat the water for metals, but you MUST wait 24 hours and clean your filters after treatment before proceeding to the next step or adding chlorine.
2
BALANCE TOTAL ALKALINITY
IMPORTANT: Add all hot tub chemicals directly to the filter compartment while the jet pump is running. Run the jets for a minimum of 10 minutes with the cover folded back. Always follow printed instructions on the balancing chemical packages. Add balancing chemicals in small increments one at a time with the jets on and wait 6 hours before testing again and adding any additional balancing chemicals.
Total Alkalinity is the measure of your water’s ability to resist pH changes or buffer capacity. Low TA allows the pH to fluctuate easily, while high levels will make it difficult to lower the pH and can cause scale or cloudy water.
The recommended Alkalinity reading is between 80-120 ppm. Use Spa Total Alkalinity Increaser or pH Up to raise TA and pH/Alkalinity Decreaser to lower levels. Wait at least 30 minutes to retest.
3
ESTABLISH PH LEVEL
pH is the measure of acidity and alkalinity – low pH levels can dissipate sanitize, cause corrosion, and irritate your skin, while high levels will neutralize sanitizers and promote scaling and cloudy water.
The recommended range for pH is between 7.2 and 7.8. pH Decreaser (sodium bisulfate) will lower pH, while Increaser (sodium hydrogen carbonate) will increase levels.
4
DETERMINE CALCIUM HARDNESS
This is measure of dissolved calcium in the water. Low levels can make the water corrosive and high levels cause scale formation on spa components.
The recommended Calcium Hardness reading is between 50-150 ppm. Use Calcium Hardness Increaser to raise hardness levels and Vanishing Act to lower.
5
SANITIZE HOT TUB WATER
Sanitizers work to kill bacteria in the water and bind contaminants. We recommend using either Chlorinating Concentrate (sodium dichlor) and Spa Shock (monopersulfate or MPS) or Spa Enhanced Shock, which is a 2-in-1 product. Adding a Mineral Spa Sanitizer to your spa will provide an additional sanitizing effect and reduce the amount of chlorine required.
If your spa is new, it’s important to superchlorinate your water and maintain a target chlorine level of 5 ppm during the start-up process. Keep in mind that there are trace amounts of water remaining in the plumbing from factory testing. Your hot tub will probably also receive higher than normal usage during the first month of ownership.
You should not use sodium trichlor tablets – we highly recommend granulated chemicals, which are totally soluble, dissolve quickly, and are pH neutral.
6
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
It is ultimately your responsibility to maintain balanced and sanitized spa water to ensure the proper operation and lifespan of your hot tub – if your water isn’t balanced, your sanitizers will be neutralized and won’t work effectively.
DAILY
Add 1/2 teaspoon of Chlorinating Granules per 250 gallons. By adding a small amount of chlorine daily, you can minimize the “yo-yo affect” and maintain a lower chlorine residual in the water.
BALANCE & SHOCK WATER WEEKLY
Use a FreshWater 5-Way Test Strip to keep pH, Alkalinity, and Calcium Hardness levels in the recommended ranges.
Add 3 tablespoons of Spa Shock or MPS per 250 gallons. Shocking the water once a week will burn off contaminants and activate the silver ion cartridge.
CLEAN FILTERS MONTHLY
Saturate the filter surface with SpaGuard Filter Cleaner, allow the filters to sit for 15-20 minutes, then hose off with a high pressure hose or Water Wand. Ensure ALL soap is removed before placing the filters back to avoid foaming. We recommend purchasing a second filter to switch out every month, making cleaning a breeze and extending the life of your filters.
REPLACE MINERAL SANITIZER
You will need to remove the Mineral Spa Sanitizer after 4 months. It’s important to discard the used Mineral Cartridge after 4 months, whether you choose to replace it or not – after this time period, it loses its efficacy and will cause cloudy water.
DRAIN & REFILL WATER AS NEEDED
Over time, the level of total dissolved solids build up and saturate the water, preventing proper sanitation and balancing. With standard spa usage, you will typically need to drain and refill your spa every 4 months.
CLEANING YOUR HOT TUB
Soak in your spa’s sparkling clean water by following these simple cleaning tips.
FOR THE WHOLE HOT TUB
Use a mild non-abrasive, non-sudsing cleaner, such as Off the Wall, and a soft rag or nylon scrubber to remove dirt build-up.
FOR MINOR SURFACE CLEANING
Use common baking soda and a microfiber cloth to clean small surface areas.
FOR HOT TUB PILLOWS
Remove pillows and clean with mild soap and water solution – always rinse off thoroughly, and then condition with Cover Shield.
FOR VINYL COVER
First remove the cover and spray it lightly with a garden hose to loosen any dirt or debris that might have built up. Then, using a mild soap solution (1 tablespoon dishwashing liquid with 2 gallons water) or baking soda, scrub the vinyl in a circular motion with a large sponge and rinse with a garden hose. Rinse the bottom of the cover without using soap, and wipe it clean with a dry rag. To condition the cover after cleaning, apply a thin film of Cover Shield.
HELPFUL HINT
To keep detergent and soap residue out of your spa water, shower without soap before soaking in your spa, and instead of washing your swimsuit, use the rinse cycle.
Troubleshooting
Probably Cause:
- Dirty filters
- Excessive oils / organic matter
- Improper sanitation
- Suspended particles / organic matter
- Overused or old water
Solution:
- Clean filters
- Shock spa with sanitizer
- Add sanitizer and run jet pumps
- Adjust pH and/or Alkalinity
- Use Natural Spa Enzyme to control cloudiness
- Drain, clean, and refill the spa
Probably Cause:
- Excessive organics in water
- Improper sanitization
- Low pH
Solution:
- Shock spa with sanitizer
- Adjust pH to recommended range
- Use Natural Spa Enzyme to reduce scum-line build-up and odors
Probably Cause:
- Chloramine level too high
- Low pH
Solution:
- Shock spa with Chlorinating Concentrate
- Adjust pH to recommended range
Probably Cause:
- Bacteria or algae growth
Solution:
- Shock spa with sanitizer – if problem is visible or persistent, drain, clean, and refill the spa
Probably Cause:
- Buildup of oils and dirt
Solution:
- Wipe off scum with clean rag – if severe, drain, clean, and refill the spa using Off the Wall to protect the spa shell
- Use Natural Spa Enzyme to reduce scum-line build-up and odors
Probably Cause:
- Low sanitizer level
- High pH
Solution:
- Shock spa with Chlorinating Concentrate and maintain sanitizer level
- Adjust pH to recommended range
Probably Cause:
- Low pH
- Low sanitizer level / high chloramines
Solution:
- Adjust pH to recommended range
- Shock spa with Chlorinating Concentrate and maintain sanitizer level
Probably Cause:
- Unsanitary water
- Free available chlorine level above 5 ppm
Solution:
- Shock spa with Chlorinating Concentrate and maintain sanitizer level
- Allow free available chlorine level to drop below 5 ppm before spa use or add hydrogen peroxide to reduce chlorine level
Probably Cause:
- Total Alkalinity and/or pH too low
- High iron or copper in source water
Solution:
- Adjust Total Alkalinity and pH to recommended ranges
- Fill spa with EcoOne Hose Filter and use Vanishing Act
- Use Stain and Scale to inhibit metals
Probably Cause:
- High calcium content in water
- Total Alkalinity and/or pH too high
Solution:
- Use Vanishing Act
- Add Stain and Scale
- Adjust Total Alkalinity and pH to recommended ranges
- If scale requires removal, drain the spa, scrub off the scale, clean spa shell with Off the Wall, and refill the spa
SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT