10 Hot Tub Tips for Spring
The days are getting longer, the sun is shining and we are on the cusp of summer. This is a time where many hot tub users get their hot tub up and running again or increase their usage generally. At Happy Hot Tubs we are massive advocates for hot tubbing all year round and you can see our blog, 10 Benefits of Using a Hot Tub in Winter to find out why. For those who are firing up their hot tub as we enter Spring, we are providing some top tips to prevent issues and ensure a smooth season of hot tubbing.
1. Fill Your Hot Tub Through The Filters
Placing the hose down your filter (or in your filter housing) when filling will help prevent air locks. It is not totally going to remove the risk of an air lock but it will certainly help fill the pipework and lower the risk. A hot tub air lock is where the pump essentially makes a noise but no flow comes through the jets due to an air blockage in the pipework. This can be removed by either opening a union slightly to bleed the air out or by turning the jet pump on and off simultaneously to push ther air out.
2. Shock Your Hot Tub on Start Up
Shocking your hot tub involves using shock treatment to kill off any bacteria and give the hot tub a thorough clean. If your hot tub has been shut down for winter this ensures any stagnant water is sanitised and it helps build a strong base level of sanitiser for easy maintenance going forward.
Find out more about shocking your hot tub
3. Check Your Drain Valve Before Filling
Why would you want to check your hot tub drain valve when you are not draining your hot tub? Good question! Well if you drained down your hot tub for winter then the drain valve was probably used many months ago and the cap may have even been removed for winter. Checking the cap is attached and tight, with the valve closed before filling will therefore prevent any water wastage and frustration.
4. Run Your Hose Elsewhere for a Few Minutes
Hosepipes do not get much usage during our UK Autumn/Winter months and as a result can have water inside that has been sat stagnant for months. By running the hose onto your grass or flowers for a few minutes before placing it into the hot tub, you will give it a quick flush through and help prevent any nasties from getting into your spa water.
5. Check and Clean Your Filters
It seems obvious to clean your filters coming into Spring but there are a few useful pointers on this topic too. After a hot tub is filled fresh, it is important to clean your filters 2-3 days after. The reason for this process is because your filters will collect lots of debris from where the hot tub was sat dry, from the fill/hosepipe and it will filter impurities from the tap water. We always reccomend using a filter cleaner as this degreases a filter thoroughly whereas rinsing with water will only remove large debris.
Find out more about filter cleaning
6. Check Main Components
The best way to diagnose any issues with a hot tub is to have it full and operating. This will allow you to see error messages and notice any issues with the functions of the spa. But before filling the hot tub in Spring, it is also worth visually inspecting components like pumps, heaters and sensors. You are looking for signs of corrosion or any obvious issues like exposed wires or cracked pipework.
7. Keep a Close Eye on Water Chemistry
Hot tub water chemistry is important to safe hot tub usage at all times but during Spring there are some specific things to key an eye on. If you are re-filling from a shut down, keeping your sanitiser level within range is especially important for the first few days to ensure you fight off any bacteria that may be lurking. PH level needs setting as soon as possible as tap water, any stagnant water and any old cleaner residue may put this out of range. We recommend waiting until the water is warm before setting your PH as tests can change as water temperature changes.
8. Clean and Protect your Hot Tub Cover
Mildew, moss and debris can form on your hot tub cover over the Winter months. The best way to clean this is with warm soapy water, followed by a thorough rinse. Once dry, it is then recommended to apply a protectant like 303 or Cover Shield to offer a layer of protection on the cover vinyl as UV's rays increase in Spring. Although this process helps with the aesthetics, your hot tub cover is a key component to energy efficiency so keeping it clean and using a protectant helps prolong its life and effectiveness.
9. Replenish Your Chemicals
It is important to check your chemical store and replenish what you need ready for a higher usage period. Please note that old chemicals generally work fine, they may need to be broken up a little as they can become compacted over time. For old test strips, as long as they are stored dry they also should work perfectly fine. Dip one stri[ and check if the colour change occurs to see if they are working, if nothing happens when you dip the strip then they are probably wet or the paper has dried out.
10. Flush, Drain and Refill (For Very Dirty Hot Tubs!)
Some hot tubs may need to be filled, flushed through, drained and re-filled if they are very dirty or have been shut for a long period. This process will ensure the pipes are thoroughly cleaned. If you follow this process, ensure you shock the water aftter the initial fill.
Find out more about the flushing, draining and re-filling process
Don't want to flush/clean yourself? Check out our one-off servicing and care plans
