The first few months that you owned your hot tub you played by all the rules and followed all of the instructions. The longer you own your hot tub the easier it is to start making up your own rules. Letting things go a little longer than you should. Skimping a little here or there. Some of those things might be OK, but some of them could have a bigger impact on your tub than you thought. We put together a list of the worst mistakes a hot tub owner can make to help you know where you definitely should play by the rules.
Mistake #1 Not Changing The Water
We know draining, cleaning and refilling your hot tub is not an exciting task, but it absolutely must be done every 3-4 months. If you neglect this important job, bacteria can build up in the plumbing. When this happens you will encounter problems in balancing your water even after you finally refill with fresh water. It creates a nightmare and usually results in draining, cleaning and another refilling. Save yourself the hassle and change the water religiously every 3-4 months.
Mistake #2 Turning Off The Power
Some hot tub owners decide to save energy by turning off the power when their tub will not be used for an extended period of time. This is a big no no. Not only will your water go south very quickly, but you could end up with dried out gaskets that won’t seal properly. During the winter months powering down your hot tub could also lead to freezing which could create a whole host of other problems.
Mistake #3 Neglecting The Water
This mistake also relates to extended periods of non-use. Just because you aren’t using your hot tub, doesn’t mean you can forget about it. Your water chemistry must be maintained all the time. When your water goes without being checked for long periods of time, a little problem can quickly turn into a much larger problem. Save yourself time and money by regularly checking the water – even if you aren’t regularly soaking.
Mistake #4 Letting Your Cover Get Heavy
When your cover gets heavy that means it’s getting waterlogged. A waterlogged cover is providing virtually no insulation to your tub. It’s also a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Not to mention the fact that a cover that’s too heavy to lift is going to keep you from enjoying your hot tub. Make sure that your cover stays light. If it starts getting heavier take care of the problem immediately.
Mistake #5 Using Your Hot Tub Like A Bathtub
No we don’t mean grabbing the soap and rubber ducky. We’d hope everyone knows not to do that! We’re talking about jumping in to “rinse off” after yard work or exercise. All of the excess sweat, body oils and debris are not good for your filters. Take a minute to shower off first so that you eliminate most of the excess debris and sweat. Then you’re free to enjoy a soak.
Mistake #6 Running Your Tub Without A Filter
Occasionally hot tub owners determine that their filter needs to be replaced, but rather than running to the store for a new one or putting the old one back in until they can get a new one; they run their tub without a filter. This is a bad plan. All of the oil and debris that your filter would normally be guarding against are now flowing directly into your plumbing and pumps. This can cause things to malfunction and bacteria to accumulate in places you can’t easily clean. Never skip the filter.
Mistake #7 Not Maintaining Filters
Nobody likes cleaning and replacing filters, but it really is on the list of things you can’t skimp on. Without fail you need to clean your filter every month and replace it every year. Even if you haven’t used it much. Even if it seems fine. The fibers of your filter are intended to catch very small things like body oils. Over time, those fibers wear down and create spaces for body oils and other debris to get through. To keep your tub in peak condition, you must take care of your filter.
There you have it, our 7 worst mistakes that hot tub owners make. Don’t let that be you. You want your investment to last as long as possible, so take care of it. As always if you have any questions about hot tub maintenance or ownership. Give us a call, shoot us an email or stop by the store we would be glad to help you out.