If a hot tub has not been used for a while it may need a little TLC before you can jump back into it with your friends and family for a nice hot soak. By following a routine of deep cleaning your hot tub every 6 months in between your 3 monthly water replacement your hot tub should remain safe, clean, and clear for you and your family to enjoy.
The jets will all require a good flushing, do this using the old water from your tub. Open them all up, and add Aqua Finesse Spa Clean. This tablet needs to be dissolved in a bucket of hot water then added to your spa water with a chlorine shock. Leave your hot tub running for 12-24 hours (depending on the condition and age) and the jets activated often so the solution can be properly circulated through the pipe work. The solution will help dissolve and loosen debris and calcium deposits which can damage the internal mechanisms of your spa. (During the deep clean please ensure all jets, air blowers, waterfalls etc., are on the open position).
While you are waiting for the jets to flush through, we recommend cleaning your spa cover with some Cover Cleaner 303 to remove and algae, dirt and grime. It’s important to remember to clean the inside of the cover too. This can be done with a solution of Milton fluid, afterwards simply leave in the sun to dry.
Once you finished the deep clean you can drain your hot tub and remove the jets to check if any of them need cleaning or replacing. If you need to speed up the process of draining your hot tub we recommend the use of a submersible pump.
Before refilling your hot tub you will need to clean or replace your filters. You don’t want your clean water passing through a dirty filter! It’s a good idea to rotate sets of filters. By doing this you can install a fresh set of filters, while allowing the set you have removed time to dry out after cleaning. To clean your filters, we recommend soaking them in a solution of AquaFinesse Filter Cleaner. A great and mess free way to clean down your filters is the Estelle Filter Cleaning system. Typically a filter that has been properly maintained should last between 6 to 12 months before needing replacing.
Now that you have given your hot tub a clean, I’m sure you are ready to refill and jump in! But you must be patient! Leave the hot tub to dry. Leave it over night and then you can inspect it for cracks, stains, mildew and any other damage. If your hot tub is damp, these issues may be disguised. So it is best to let your hot tub dry out so these can be identified and addressed.
If your hot tub has been unused for awhile, or if you haven’t undertaken any maintenance in the last year, it may well be worth having a look at the wiring before you refill it and turn it on. Make sure the hot tub is disconnected from the mains before looking at or touching any wiring. Our qualified servicing and engineering team are able to do this for you, whether you purchased the hot tub from us or not.
Once everything has checked out ok, you can refill your hot tub. Then you can turn it on and add your chemicals including sanitiser. Once you have allowed the jets to circulate the chemicals through the water properly you can check your pH levels, Total Alkalinity, and sanitiser are all within the correct range. If that is all good…. Jump in! If you’re not sure what the correct levels are – read our guides for more information, or call our water technician. We offer a free water care advice service.
