Hot Tub Maintenance

Woman sitting in hot tub

Much like having a pool, hot tubs aren’t just all fun and games – you have to take care of them properly. When it comes to hot tubs, the majority of the maintenance involves keeping the water at the right chemical balance. If the chemical levels are too low, you could be dealing with excessive bacterial contamination. But if the levels are too high, the hot tub’s internal components could corrode – not to mention users could experience some skin irritation upon bathing in it.

So what’s involved in a good hot tub maintenance plan? We break it down below:

Hot Tub Maintenance 101

Check chemical levels

Using test strips, check the levels in your hot tub at least once per week. Simply sink the strips in the water for about 15-20 seconds and then remove them to see what your levels are. You can even purchase test strips that test for alkalinity, calcium, chlorine, pH, bromine and hardness all in one. Here’s a look at the general recommendations when it comes to chemical levels in your hot tub:

  • Alkalinity: Between 80 and 120 parts per million (PPM)
  • Chlorine: Between 1.5 and 3 PPM
  • Calcium hardness: Between 100 and 250 PPM for hot tubs with an acrylic finish and 250 to 450 PPM for tubs with a plaster finish
  • pH: Between 7.2 and 7.8

Add chemicals when necessary

You should always know what the ideal chemical levels are when it comes to your hot tub. This will determine whether you need to add anything upon testing. If you do need to add chemicals, only add these one at a time – and allow at least two hours in between each chemical to allow proper dispersion and avoid a possible chemical reaction. Pre-measure these chemicals and add them while the jets are on to encourage dispersion.

“Shock” it once per week

Deodorizers help keep the hot tub water clean and destroy any waste. It’s always advised to use these at least once per week, in addition to “shocking” the tub water with chlorine or bromine to destroy any potential harmful pathogens. If you have a particularly high amount of people using the hot tub in a given week, you may want to do this more than once.

Clean the filter

Just as it’s advised to change your furnace filter for best results from your HVAC system, the same is true of cleaning your hot tub filter. Remove the cartridge and run water over it to rid it of any dirt, debris or other matter that has wedged its way into the filter. Before re-inserting the filter, make sure it is fully dry. Filter replacement is also something that becomes necessary in time, usually due to damage or when it becomes dirty frequently.

Clean the cover

Last but not least, you shouldn’t neglect the cover of your hot tub. After all, the cover itself is key to keeping your hot tub clean. We recommend cleaning it manually at least a few times a month and then applying a conditioner four times during the summer to prolong its life. Don’t forget to clean the inside of the cover too, especially if you notice mold or mildew building up. 


As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into hot tub maintenance. However, if maintained properly, your hot tub will bring you and your family enjoyment for years to come! Give our team at Blue Haven a call today to learn more about the hot tubs we offer.