Most Common Hot Tub Issues

Hot tubs are quite easy to maintain if you know what you’re doing, if you don’t, they are a recipe for disaster.  Too many people purchase a hot tub and then fail to take care of it properly.  Below are the common hot tub problems that can easily be avoided with a little caution.  

Water Chemistry

In order to properly care for your hot tub, you can’t just dump in a cup chemicals every time you use it and call it good.  You have to make sure that your chemicals are always balanced whether or not you are using it in order to prevent algae, cloudy water, and other problems.  Due to the heat of the hot tub, the chemicals break down much faster than they do in a pool.  Your chemical levels should be as follows: chlorine at 1.5-3.0 ppm or if you use bromine, 3.0-5.0 ppm, pH should be between 7.2 and 7.8, total alkalinity below 80 ppm, and calcium hardness between 100 and 250 ppm if you have an acrylic tub, and 250-450 for a plaster finish.  Purchase a couple of test strips so that you can keep an eye on the chemicals in your spa.  

Clogged Filters

Again, it is important to take care of your hot tub, or you will run into many problems, and a clogged filter is one of them.  Body oils, hair and other residue can cause blockage, causing your hot tub to become dirty or even shut down.  This can damage the pump and cover, as well as allow pathogens to grow.  You can avoid clogged filters by cleaning your filter frequently, always rinsing off before getting into the pool, and making sure that those with long hair tie it up before soaking.  

Heater Failure

Hot tubs are famous for being hot, and if your heater breaks, you will no longer have that luxury.  Most of the time, heaters break due to improper pH levels in the water.  If your pH falls below 7.0 for too long, it will corrode the heating element, causing the heater to fail.  Avoid heater failure by properly maintaining your water chemistry.  

Leaking Hot Tub

The most common cause of a leaking hot tub is a worn out seal or other connection.  If this is yoru problem, you need to first diagnose  it before you can fix it.  Check the pump first, and then the union fittings, as those are normally where the leaks are.  It can be hard to prevent a leaking hot tub, but the faster you catch it, the easier it will be.  

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