A hot tub is a wonderful thing to have for the summer, both for entertaining guests and to enjoy for yourself. Whether you’ve used the hot tub all winter or covered it up during the cold season, there are some things you have to do before enjoying it through the summer. Follow Haven Spa Pool & Hearth’s tips on how to prepare your hot tub for summer, and you’ll be sure to keep loving it all season long.
Drain It
Whether you use the hot tub year-round or not, before you have your first summer shindig, drain your hot tub and give it a good cleaning. If you prefer to keep your hot tub running all year long, make sure to drain and clean it every four months.
Flush out the pipes, too. Think of it like hitting a reset button. You’ll be proud to welcome guests into your hot tub knowing that it’s sparkling clean!
Inspection Time
Before you refill the hot tub, disconnect it from all power before you check to make sure everything’s in working order—jets, pumps, valves, the works. Clean out any dirt or grime that may have built up.
If anything malfunctions or breaks loose, or if you’ve got any cracks or leaks, call a hot tub professional. Haven Spa Pool & Hearth’s service department is highly rated by our customers. Our hot tubs for sale in Portland, Oregon are the best in their class, and we provide excellent assistance in maintaining your hot tub throughout the season.
Adjust for the Season
If you “winterized” your hot tub and kept it dormant through its wintry off-season, you may have loosened some drain plugs and fittings. Tighten those back up, ensure that the pump is connected, close any drain valves, and open any slice valves.
Check the filters, too—if they’re just dirty, spray them down with filter cleaner. If they’re damaged, replace them before starting up your hot tub for the summer.
Fill It Up
When you refill your hot tub, use a filter for your hose to prevent hard water and unwanted chemicals from entering the tub right at the start. Put the hose in the hot tub’s filter well (or simply the general filter area) to get it circulating through the pipes and push out any air pockets stuck in the plumbing. Take care not to overfill!
Prime the Pump
As mentioned above, it is important to push any stubborn air pockets (air locks) out of your hot tub’s plumbing. If your jets aren’t working and are clogged up with air, follow a few easy steps:
- Disconnect your hot tub from all power—this means unplugging everything, not simply flipping a switch!
- Once the power is completely off, locate your hot tub’s pump. (If you have trouble finding it, consult your owner’s manual.)
- Shut off all water flow by closing the gate valve on the discharge side of the pump.
- Loosen your bleeder valve until you hear a hissing noise; this is all that excess air escaping.
- Once the hissing stops, tighten the bleeder valve, open the gate valve, and reconnect your hot tub to its power source.
- Run the jets to make sure they’re flowing properly. If they’re not, repeat this process until they run smoothly.
Test the Water
Use test strips to gauge the balance of acids and alkalis in the water. When the water temperature has reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit and you add your chemicals, check that the pump is running to ensure even distribution. (Take care not to disperse those chemicals right by a jet, though.) Hot tub chemical solutions are different than those used in a pool; only use those specifically formulated for hot tubs! If you’re unsure what chemical levels your hot tub needs, call our service department and we’ll be happy to walk you through those steps.
Make sure the water treatment system you have in your hot tub is in excellent working condition, as untreated or undertreated water can be a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms. The only organisms in that water should be you and your friends!
Check Out the Cover
When your hot tub is not in use, the cover should be firmly in place to maintain the water temperature, keep critters out, and reduce the temptation for little ones to take an unsupervised dip in the tub. Check for any cracks on the cover itself and test all the clips to ensure that they create a proper seal. While you’re at it, wipe down the whole cover with a non-bleach cleaning solution. If there is any damage to the cover, get a new one right away.
Make Decisions About Temperature
A hot tub is presumably called a hot tub because the water’s hot, right? If you’re sweating through an extra-warm summer, though, you may want to turn down the temperature a bit to keep it comfortable. (This depends on your personal preferences, as well as the preferences of any friends who will be regular guests in your hot tub).
Crank it down a couple of notches to slightly below body temperature, and test it out to see if the cooler water is right for you. When the evening rolls around, crank it back up to combat the cooler air.
Show It Off
Now it’s time to plan a get-together with your closest friends to debut your hot tub for the season! Choose your guest list in accordance with how many people your hot tub comfortably fits. While the tub is certainly the focal point of the party, plan other forms of outdoor fun like disc golf or a barbecue. Create a playlist, put up some string lights for ambience, and invite your pals to have a soak in your sparkling, summer-ready hot tub!
Getting your hot tub in shape for the season is an all-day activity, but the payoff is spectacular. When you take good care of your hot tub, it’ll last you for years to come and reduce the need for service or repairs. This summer as you plan cookouts and daytime outings, make your hot tub a part of the fun for everyone. Learning how to prepare your hot tub for summer is essential to tub ownership, and now that you know how, make it an essential part of your post-spring cleaning.
