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

Cloudy Water

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

Water Odor

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

Chlorine Odor

Probably Cause:

Chloramine level too high
Low pH

Solution:

Shock spa with Chlorinating Concentrate
Adjust pH to recommended range

Musty Odor

Probably Cause:

Bacteria or algae growth

Solution:

Shock spa with sanitizer – if problem is visible or persistent, drain, clean, and refill the spa

Organic Buildup / Scum Ring

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

Algae Growth

Probably Cause:

Low sanitizer level
High pH

Solution:

Shock spa with Chlorinating Concentrate and maintain sanitizer level
Adjust pH to recommended range

Eye Irritation

Probably Cause:

Low pH
Low sanitizer level / high chloramines

Solution:

Adjust pH to recommended range
Shock spa with Chlorinating Concentrate and maintain sanitizer level

Skin Irritation

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

Stains

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

Scale

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

Request Service From Our Experts

Our team understands how frustrating it can be when your spa isn’t working properly. We’ll work hard to get it back in peak operating condition for you and your loved ones.

Traditional Hot Tub Water Care

Clean & Clear Hot Tub Water

Start-Up Guide

1

FILL YOUR HOT TUB

2

BALANCE TOTAL ALKALINITY

3

ESTABLISH PH LEVEL

4

DETERMINE CALCIUM HARDNESS

5

SANITIZE HOT TUB WATER

6

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

DAILY

BALANCE & SHOCK WATER WEEKLY

CLEAN FILTERS MONTHLY

REPLACE MINERAL SANITIZER

DRAIN & REFILL WATER AS NEEDED

CLEANING YOUR HOT TUB

FOR THE WHOLE HOT TUB

FOR MINOR SURFACE CLEANING

FOR HOT TUB PILLOWS

FOR VINYL COVER

HELPFUL HINT

Troubleshooting

Request Service From Our Experts

Charlotte

Greensboro

Huntersville

Winston Salem

Products

Quick Links

For Owners