2 Important Hot-Tub Care and Maintenance Practices You Should Know
Posted on: 28 July 2016
Hot tubs are a luxury addition to any household, but they can be more than just a place to keep warm during cold autumn and winter nights. Spas are useful for muscle relaxation and stress relief and can be great for pain relief and physical therapy. To get the best service out of your spa, you must invest in certain maintenance protocols, two of which are discussed in detail below.
Getting a hot tub cover
Normal covers are made from vinyl with polystyrene at the core for insulation. Aluminium covers are available if you need stronger protection, e.g. a cover that can hold the weight of playing children. You have a host of materials, styles and sizes to choose from according to functionality and aesthetic requirements. Here's why you need a cover:
Prevent contamination
Investing in a hot tub cover can help to protect the pool from contamination. These include falling leaves and sticks, pests such as rodents and bugs, dust particles, loose debris and even snow. In addition, having a cover can prevent growth of bacteria and mildew. What's more, covering the tub is just what you need to keep intrusion of your space by uncouth neighbours at bay.
Maintain temperature
A cover not only keeps unwanted stuff out, it helps to maintain the right internal environment, which is great for saving energy. The cover is insulated to prevent heat loss and evaporation, resulting in more constant temperature over time. Keeping the spa at a constant temperature by keeping it on consumes less energy than heating the pool each time you need it. Of course, closing it up makes this temperature regulation much easier.
Maintaining chemical balance
Just like your regular pool, hot tubs should maintain a certain chemical balance in order to maintain cleanliness and safety for users. Regular maintenance is even more important if you have multiple users every day. The following are some of the most important chemical maintenance practices:
- Sanitization – this is the most important maintenance activity. You can use chlorine, bromine, biguanide or mineral sanitizers. Each has its pros and cons, as well as recommended levels depending on the tub size. Pools being used frequently should be sanitized twice or more weekly, while infrequently used pools can be checked once a week.
- pH levels – the optimal pH range is slightly alkaline, specifically between 7.4 and 7.6 – this is to prevent corrosion of equipment. Oxidizing shock treatment can also be done to remove residues of cosmetics, body oils and perspiration.
- Calcium – calcium levels differ in water in different regions, but it should ideally be maintained between 100-200 parts per million (mg/L). Any excess can cause deposits to build up as well as make the water cloudy. Low levels can damage or corrode the water heater. Calcium levels can be managed by using descaler to reduce calcium levels and water hardener to increase it.
