As we know, owning your own spa is the BEST. Hot bubbly water to relax in at home, whenever you want, is a real luxury in these anxious times. In fact, more hot tubs are being purchased in 2020 than ever, as people are taking the decision to put off holidays and instead relax and unwind in the comfort of their own homes.
So, to help you keep your spa clean and in tip top condition, the team at Aqua Pulse Spas have put together a few expert spa maintenance tips to help you out.
General spa maintenance. It is obviously important to keep the filter and pump clean. Clean the filter regularly and empty hair and fluff from the pump as often as required.
And it is equally important to ensure you are keeping the water in your spa healthy: To do this, it is best to completely empty the spa and add fresh water every three to four months or replace about a third of the volume every three to four weeks. We would recommend you also completely empty the spa to freshen the water once every 6 months. This will also enable you to check your spa for any potential issues such as small cracks, or things stuck in jets, in the interior.
To avoid changing the water with every use, you will also need to add chemicals to your spa water which, properly applied, will keep it clean and healthy and get rid of all nasties including viruses, bacteria and algae. You can purchase spa chemicals from Aqua Pulse Spas on our website and get advice from our customer service team if you need help. To keep your spa water in tip top condition we recommend testing the water before each use or weekly to see what chemicals need to be added, depending on frequency of use.
Make sure to always allow one hour before using the spa after adding chemicals to the water. Regularly check total alkalinity, pH and sanitiser levels. Again, you can buy testing kits from us and our after-sales customer service team are very happy to answer any questions you have about using these chemicals.
Testing the pH is an important part of spa maintenance. The pH level refers to acidity and alkalinity and it is measured on a scale of 1 to 14.
- Below 7.0 is acidic
- 0 being neutral.
- and above 7.0 is alkaline
Incorrect pH levels can cause eye and skin irritations, corrosion of metal fittings, cloudy water and the formation of scale on your spa walls and fittings. Your reading should be above 7.0 when measured at room temperature to avoid possible corrosion of equipment, and lower than 7.8 to ensure sanitiser efficiency. The recommended range is 7.2 to 7.6. You can increase the pH by adding soda ash and reduced it by adding acid. Always test again after one hour. If you are at all worried about using chemicals, particularly on the first occasion of using your spa please call our customer service team or consider using a spa maintenance service provider.
To sanitise the spa, you will need to use chemicals approved for use in your spa which can keep your spa free from harmful germs. You can also find chlorine-free sanitisers for people who have developed an intolerance to chlorine, or suffer from asthma, which are registered by the Australian registration authority (further details can be found at www.apvma.gov.au). Remember to store any chemicals used to sanitise your spa in a cool dry place and always OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
And, on that note, spa maintenance includes being aware of spa safety. The most important things to remember about spa safety are:
- Keep your spa’s water temperature below 40 degrees, 26-36 is ideal
- Supervise children near spas
- Spa use should be restricted to approximately 20 minutes to avoid heat stress
- Never put your head under the water
- If you have any physical ailments, always see your doctor before using a spa or hot tub
- People with heart or blood pressure problems and pregnant women should also consult a doctor permission prior to use
To find out more about spa maintenance, or purchasing your own spa, contact the Aqua Pulse Spa team today!