SPA MAINTENANCE & TIPS

A spa or swim spa is a great investment for your physical and mental health. It is important to maintain your spa to increase the longevity of your investment. 

Turn off the breaker (220V) or unplug your spa (110V). Open the equipment door leading to the spa pack. Attach a garden hose to a spigot. Open spigot. Allow water to drain to the center of the spa. The remainder of the water must be removed manually. After draining, close the spigot and detach the garden hose. Never operate your spa without water.

Pressure Filters

Turn off or unplug your spa. On top of the filter, there is a thumbscrew. Turn the thumbscrew counterclockwise to release pressure in the filter. Remove the large ring around the filter top by lifting the button and turning counterclockwise. Pull up on life and remove the filter cartridge from the inside of the filter canister. Rinse the cartridge and soak it in filter cleaner. Place the cartridge back in the filter chamber. Replace the lid, replace the large ring, and turn the thumbscrew clockwise to tighten. Turn the spa back on and enjoy!

Skim Filters

Turn off or unplug the spa. Remove the grate on top of the filter cartridge. Remove the cartridge from the inside of the filter canister. Rinse the cartridge and soak it in filter cleaner. After cleaning place the cartridge back into the canister. Replace grate. Turn the spa on and enjoy!

 

What may result from a dirty filter? A dirty filter means a low flow rate, and this means trouble. Without proper flow, your heater will not heat properly and sometimes not at all. This could cause permanent damage to your filter and automatically VOID YOUR WARRANTY.

To protect your spa finish, always keep the cover on when not in use. A spa surface cleaner should be used to remove residue and lime build-up at the water level of the spa surface. This can be applied to the acrylic surface with a soft cloth and wiped clean. Use small amounts of cleaners. It is best to clean your spa surface after it has been drained.
Rinse dirt and dust regularly with water. To remove stubborn dirt, grime, and discoloration, wash with a mild detergent and warm water.

The Importance of Chemical Balance
Chemicals serve a variety of functions in your spa. They purify and disinfect the spa water and they help to prevent mineral build-up and damage to spa’s heater pack. Failure to maintain proper Ph balance in your spa at all times can cause severe and permanent damage to your spa’s heater pack, pillows, and cover.

A Simple Overview of Spa Chemistry and Disinfecting: The filtering action of your spa’s filter can effectively remove soil particles and other debris, but the addition of spa chemicals is required to disinfect your spa. Bromine is the disinfecting agent most commonly used in spas. Bromine products possess strong oxidizing properties, which cause them to react with and destroy many foreign materials other than bacteria.


Ph Control
Ph is measured on a scale between 0 to 14 ppm. Ph is a measure of the relative acidity of water. The midpoint of 7 is said to be neutral. In spa water it is important to maintain a slightly alkaline condition of 7.2 to 7.8. Problems may become severe if the Ph range is exceeded or diminished.

Total Alkalinity
In simple terms, alkalinity is the measure of water’s “buffering capacity”, or it’s ability to resist changes in Ph. Total alkalinity should be in the range of 80-150ppm. After the total alkalinity is broughtwithin its proper range it should be tested weekly. With high alkalinity it becomes extremely difficult to balance the Ph.

Disinfect Water with Bromine
The most common type of disinfectant is Bromine. The ideal range for bromine is 1.5 to 3.0 ppm. Refer to your test strips to find the level of bromine in your spa. The amount of bromine needed in your spa is dependent upon temperature, length of time the spa is used, the amount of water in the spa, and the number of people in it.

Other Additives
Many other additives are available for your spa. Some are necessary to compensate for out of balance water. Many additives aid in cosmetic water treatment and others simply make the water fell or smell better.


Remember…
• Test water at least once a week
• Drain spa every 3 to 4 months
• Keep your filter clean
• Shock your spa once a week
• To raise Ph or alkalinity add Ph/Alkalinity plus
• To lower Ph or Alkalinity add Ph/Alkalinity minus
• Bromine kills algae and purifies water

Cleaning Your Spa

Soak in your spa's sparkling clean water by following these simple cleaning tips.

  1. For the whole spa: Use a mild non-abrasive, non sudsing cleaner and a soft rag or nylon scrubber to remove dirt build-up.
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  3. For minor surface cleaning: Use common baking soda to clean small surface areas.
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  5. For a shiny look: Apply FreshWater Spa Shine to your clean and dry spa shell.
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  7. For spa pillows: Follow the instructions in your Owner's Manual to remove and clean your spa pillows.
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  9. 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 teaspoon 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 Hot Spring Cover Shield™ product.

Water is the essence of your spa, so it should be fresh, clean and ready to enjoy. Hot Springs offers two accessories to keep your water clean and your care routine easy.

Spa Vac Spa Vac cleans dirt, gravel, leaves and other debris without draining your spa. This self-contained, simple-to-use water vacuum requires no pumping, batteries or water hook-ups, while the telescopic aluminum pole makes it easy to remove debris from hard-to-reach areas. You can also it on your swimming pool steps and in fountains.

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 bathing suit use the rinse cycle.

Clean Your Spa Filter Cartridges

Because mineral particles or calcification from hard water can clog any water filtration system, we recommend following these light cleaning tips each month to keep your spa's water flowing properly.

  1. Spray cartridges: Spray each cartridge with a garden hose, rotating while spraying to thoroughly remove any debris between filter pleats.
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  3. Use filter cleaner: Use filter cleaner to keep your filters clean and in good operating condition.
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  5. Replace filters: While cleaning your filters will help keep water running smoothly, you should replace your filters every three years with genuine Watkins replacement filters.

Replacing Your Spa Water

While following spa water cleaning tips will keep your water fresh longer, soaps and detergents can build over time in your spa to cause residue. Know how to replace your water with these steps:

  1. Drain and refill tub: Following the instructions in your Owner's Manual, drain and refill the water in your spa to clear detergent and soap residue that may have accumulated over time.
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