Hot Tub Checklist: Weekly Maintenance

Once a week, perhaps on the weekend, you will need to go just one step further. Reserve about 15-20 minutes for your weekly maintenance. As you get used to it, you might find it takes even less time. Keep track of your weekly test results so you can notice any trends.

• Test your water for alkalinity, pH, and sanitizer. Make adjustments. If you notice minor fluctuations during the week, you can let them slide. But once a week you should adjust everything back to their ideal levels. This counts as one of your three weekly checks, too.

• Shock your hot tub. You can use chlorine-based or non-chlorine shock. Just make sure you follow the manufacturer’s directions. Leave the cover off for a few hours afterward to let the chemical off-gas.

• Remove your hot tub filter and rinse it out with some plain water. A clean filter will do a better, more efficient job cleaning your water. On some of the less frequent maintenance schedules, you will use chemicals for an extra clean.

• Clean your spa cover. Just wipe it down with a specialized cleaner or some very diluted bleach. Clean the top and bottom. Dust and pollen can settle on the top of the cover and wiping it down weekly will prevent a buildup. Wiping the inside of the cover weekly prevents the accumulation of mold or algae.