Mr Hottubs Care & Maintenance Guide

Hot tub and Spa Care for Optimum Performance

Hot Tubs have for a long time been proven to provide health benefits through hydrotherapeutic massage, relaxation, pain relief and stress reduction with the added benefit of being a wonderful asset for family and friends in the home or garden.

Hot Tubs provide the perfect environment to relax at the end of a hard day, somewhere to unwind and spend time with friends and family.

To ensure that your Hot Tub remains safe, clean and always ready to use correct water treatment and chemical control is vital. The following guide is designed to provide basic information on the careful and thorough spa water treatment and chemical dosing as recommended by BISHTA (British & Irish Hot Tub Association - Promoting Safe Spa Water).

Recommended Hot Tub Care & Maintenance Routine

DAILY:
Check sanitiser Level & Dose as required.
Check pH level & dose as required
Clean water line with waterline cleaning paste

WEEKLY:
Oxidise Hot Tub with Non Chlorine Shock
Add Spa Sparkle / Water Clarifier to help obtain beautifully sparkling water
Add No Foam / Anti Foam to control foaming in the water
If in area of high calcium hardness add No Scale / Anti Scale to prevent excess scaling

MONTHLY:
Remove Filter Cartridges and clean thoroughly using Spa Cartridge Cleaner
Take water sample to check water balance

PERIODICALLY:
Due to the build up of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) your Hot Tub will need completely draining & re filling with fresh water. There are no specific rules as to how often this should be done however, the following is a general guide provided by BISHTA (British & Irish Hot Tub Association - Promoting Safe Spa Water)

Spa capacity in litres divided by the average daily bathers divided by 12 is a good formula
e.g Spa capacity 1200 litres divided by 2 daily bathers divided by 12 = recommended water change every 50 days.

Water Balance
By balancing the water you are creating the right conditions for bather comfort, chemical efficiency and equipment protection. A number of factors are

Calcium Hardness
This will vary depending on where you live and where your water supply comes from. it is however, very important that the correct level is established. As a guide soft water tends to be low in calcium hardness and hard water more obviously is high. The level should be checked each time you top up or re fill the Hot Tub with fresh water. The ideal calcium hardness level for Hot Tubs is between 100-200 mg per litre.

When it is below this level the water could be corrosive which could lead to damage of plant equipment such as the heater. In order to achieve the correct level apply Hardness Plus to the water.

When it is above this level the water has a tendency to appear cloudy and also calcium can precipitate out and deposit itself on the Hot Tub shell, heater element, cartridge element and within the pipework. In order to achieve the correct level apply Spa No Scale / Anti Scale.

Total Alkalinity
This again will vary depending upon your water source so must be checked each time fresh water is added . It acts as a buffer to prevent pH change and if the level is too low the pH will fluctuate widely, if too high the pH adjustment will be difficult to effect.
The ideal Total Alkalinity for Hot Tubs is between 80-160mg per litre.

When it is below this level not only will the pH fluctuate but the water could be corrosive, cause damage to the equipment and be uncomfortable to bathers. In order to achieve the correct level apply pH Plus / Soda Ash.

When it is above this level not only is pH difficult to adjust but also the water could be scale forming and clarity impaired. In order to achieve the correct level apply pH Minus / Dry Acid.

pH Levels
Regular pH checks are an essential part of your Hot Tub maintenance routine.

The pH scale has a range of 0-14 with 0 being very acidic, 7 being neutral and 14 being very alkali. For Hot Tubs the ideal range is between 7.2 - 7.6 this being slightly alkaline to protect the Hot Tub and prevent equipment corrosion. This also provides the most comfortable conditions for bathers and suitable level for sanitisers to be effective.

If the level is below 7.4 use pH Plus / Soda Ash to increase the level.
If the level is above 7.6 use pH Minus / Dry Acid to reduce the level.

Sanitising
Spa water sanitation must satisfy three basic requirements individually and as a whole:
Continuous disinfection
Removal of excess organics
Prevention of algae growth, particularly for outdoor spas.

Compounds of two main chemicals are commonly used in the sanitation of spa water. One is a family based on Chlorine, the other is based on Bromine. Both Chlorine and Bromine act to kill bacteria and algae leaving the water in a clean and pleasant condition for bathers to use.

Bromine
This is an effective hot water sanitiser and ideally suited to Hot Tubs
It is effective over a wide pH range and has little odour
Available in tablet and granule form making it easy to apply.
The ideal Bromine level is between 3-6 mg per litre

Chlorine
This is available in granule and tablet form and is an extremely well known and effective sanitiser.
It has little effect on the pH levels.
The ideal Chlorine level is between 3-5 mg per litre.

Oxidising
In order to destroy odours and wastes such as perspiration, cosmetics and body oils it is necessary to oxidise your Hot Tub on a weekly basis. This will ensure increased bather comfort and restore sparkle to lack lustre water.

Super-Chlorination (Granular Shock)
As the spa is used, non filterable wastes such as body oil and perspiration etc, along with the more resistant strains of bacteria can accumulate. In some cases this can lead to the water becoming dull, irritating and unattractive. To help prevent this the spa should be Super-chlorinated (to remove excess organics) by adding 20 grams of Chlorine per 350 gallons to raise the chlorine content to approximately 10 mg/l once a week. Choose a time when the spa is not in use and add the chlorine to the spa.

Chlorine-Free Shock (Non-chlorine Shock)
This is an alternative means of shocking the water that does not add Chlorine but only acts as an Oxidiser. Bathing can therefore quickly be resumed. The same product is also used in conjunction with Sodium Bromide to form a Bromine based sanitiser.

Hot Tub Speciality Products
In order to maintain clean and clear water whilst enhancing bather pleasure a variety of speciality products are available. These products are specifically manufactured for Hot Tubs and should therefore only be used for this purpose.

Control of Foam
The rapid circulation and aeration of Hot Tub water can cause foam to appear on the waters surface especially when oils and lotions are within the water
No Foam used regularly will help prevent and control excess foaming
If excessive foaming is a continuous problem a full drain of the Hot Tub and re fill with fresh water may be required.

Sparkling Water / Water Clarity
Discolouration or cloudiness of the water is often caused by minute particles suspended in the Hot Tub water which are too small for the filtration system to remove.
Soaps, cosmetics, body oils and greases can all cause dull, cloudy water. Encourage bathers to shower before getting into the Hot Tub to help minimise these problems.
Spa Sparkle / Water Clarifier used once a week will assist in the removal of suspended matter via the filtration system thus restoring and maintaining the water clarity.

Cleaning your Hot Tub
At water line level, grease and debris can accumulate creating an unattractive `tide mark` and providing an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and algae.
These can be easily removed and prevented by using waterline cleaning paste. paste daily or when the Hot Tub is in regular use.
Waterline Cleaning Paste should also be used to clean all tub surfaces every time the Hot Tub is emptied prior to refilling.

Cleaning the Filter Cartridges
When the filter cartridge is dirty the circulation in the Hot Tub may be reduced and water cleanliness will be affected.
To avoid interference in the optimum working of the filter, the cartridges should be cleaned at monthly intervals or more regularly after heavy usage.
Cartridge Cleaner makes cleaning the filter cartridge easy and readily restores the filtration system to full efficiency.

Fragrances
Normal bath fragrances will only create excess oil and foaming in the water which, may in turn damage the filter cartridges. Only use specific Hot Tub fragrances that are water compatible.
Choose between Alpine Forest, Gardenia, Herbal, Honeysuckle, Musk, Peach, Spring Rain and Tropicana to add a touch of luxury and enhanced aesthetic benefit.

Key Spa Chemical Parameters
MEASURE
Sanitiser (Chlorine)
(Bromine)
pH
Total Alkalinity
Calcium Hardness DESIRED LEVEL
2 - 5mg per litre
4 - 6mg per litre
Between 7.2 - 7.6
80 - 160mg per litre
100 - 200mg per litre

Chemical Safety Tips
All chemicals can constitute a Health hazard if handled, stored or used incorrectly or imprudently. Customers should therefore acquaint him/herself with the appropriate health & safety information and take all necessary precautions to ensure that proper standards are maintained.

Before adding chemicals to the spa always make sure that bathers are out of the spa and have been warned not to use it until told that they may do so.

When adding chemicals leave the filtration cycle working for at least 1 hour and use the air blower for a few minutes (if fitted) to agitate and mix the chemicals.

The following points need to be followed to ensure safety in spas:
NEVER allow the temperature of the water to exceed 40 degrees Celsius
DO NOT use a spa if under the influence of alcohol or drugs
DO NOT allow children to use the Hot Tub without supervision
IF YOU are pregnant, have high blood pressure, any cardiovascular problem or are on any medication consult your GP before using a Hot Tub.
KEEP ALL Chemicals out of the reach of children and pets
DO NOT use contents of unlabelled containers
ALWAYS follows safety precautions specified on the product label
OPEN ALL chemical containers carefully and keep an arms distance away
NEVER mix chemicals with any other substance
NEVER mix different types of chemicals. Add each chemical to the water separately
ALWAYS add chemicals to the water NEVER add water to the chemicals
ALWAYS use exact quantities as specified on the product label
ALWAYS re seal each container tightly after use.
KEEP ALL chemicals away from heat or open flame
KEEP ALL chemicals in a cool, safe and dry environment, away from direct sunlight
ALWAYS handle chemicals with great care
ALWAYS read first aid procedures printed on the product labels before using. If the product gets on your skin, in your eyes, is swallowed or inhaled, follow the correct procedure which is clearly printed on the label.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CALL 999

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Call us on 01302 343988