Spa Maintenance Tips

The Spa Doctor Maintenance

Spa Start-up and Refilling: Note: Please make sure the power is off before filling your spa.

Always fill your hot tub through a filter standpipe or opening – this will purge the air from the system

Freshwater Ag+ Cartridge: Inside filter compartment, unscrew gray filter cap and insert new Freshwater Ag+ Cartridge into opening on filter standpipe. Screw the cap back onto the pipe.

Spa Metal Gone: While filling your spa add 1 entire bottle of Spa metal gone to remove any metals that might be in the water.

Check Alkalinity: Follow instructions on test strips. Alkalinity reading should be in the 120-180 ppm range. If OK, proceed to next step. If low, adjust alkalinity to around 150 ppm using Spa Alkalinity Increaser per label instructions. 1 tablespoon will raise alkalinity approximately 10 ppm, come back in 10 minutes, recheck and readjust until it is in balance.

Check pH: pH should be around 7.6. Adjust if necessary up or down to a reading right around 7.6 by adding either pH Increaser or pH Decreaser. Never add more than 2 tablespoons per 250 gallons of water at a time, come back in 10 minutes, recheck and readjust until it is in balance. then move to the next step.

Lithium Chlorine Shock: Prior to use add 2 tablespoons of the Lithium Chlorine (a fast-acting/fast-dissipating type of chlorine) to assure new water is clean, clear, and sanitized. It is very important to replace with the same type.

Weekly Spa Maintenance:

Chlorine Shock: Once a week, even if the spa was not used, shock with Chlorine. Use approximately 1 tablespoon per 150 gallons of water, but more importantly you need to reach a proper shock level 10 minutes after adding, which is indicated by a chlorine reading on your test strips of 5 ppm or higher. This will go away overnight. Ideally shocking is best done in the evening before you go to bed, when nobody or no chemicals go in for about 8 hours. Heavy use: (i.e.: more than 4 times a week usage, twice a day, children, parties, etc.) may sometimes require a extra couple of tablespoons and or twice a week shocking.

Check pH: At least 24 hours after shock, check and adjust pH (if needed). The reading should be around 7.6. Never add more than 2 tablespoons per 250 gallons at a time. If necessary, come back in 10 minutes and recheck and readjust until you reach the correct reading.

Spa Perfect: Add Spa perfect approximately 1 tablespoon per 100 gallons of water, to filter area without running jets. Combined with shocking and pH balancing, this product helps keep the water clear, absorbs odors and removes oils and lotions that commonly create cloudy water.

Monthly Maintenance:

Clean Filters: first turn power off to the spa, the carefully remove filters and briefly hose off with a high pressure hose attachment. Next spray filter cartridge with Spa Instant Cartridge Clean and let stand for about 10 minutes. Then thoroughly hose off. When finished, replace filters and turn power back on.

Check Alkalinity: If necessary, adjust. Follow instructions on test strips. Alkalinity reading should be in the 120-180 ppm range. If OK, proceed to next step. If low, adjust alkalinity to around 150 ppm using Spa Alkalinity Increaser per label instructions. 1 tablespoon will raise alkalinity approximately 10 ppm, come back in 10 minutes, recheck and readjust until it is in balance.

Check Ozone: Smell for ozone when you open the cover. Tiny bubbles should always be coming out of the bottom drain. If you have the Delzone ultraviolet unit, there should be a faint blue light coming from under the equipment door at night. If you have the Freshwater II corona discharge unit there should be a slight buzzing sound coming from the ozone unit while the equipment door is open and spa is in normal circulating/heating mode.

Every Four Months:

Condition Cover: Clean cover with mild soapy water, rinse and dry, then apply Protect 303 to protect cover from cracking and peeling.

Replace Freshwater Ag+ Cartridge with a new one. Follow procedure under Start-up and Refilling.

Drain, Clean, and Refill: If you have a Jetsetter or Sumatran Model, or are a heavy user (i.e. more than 4 time a week usage, twice a day, children parties etc.) or are having problems maintaining clear water – turn power off then drain, clean and refill. then follow the steps for Start-Up and Refilling. All other models should be drained, cleaned, and refilled every eight months.

Once a Year:

For heavy use and/or hard water: Soak filters in filter cleaning solution called Filter Cleanse available at our store, to remove heavy mineral and oil build-ups.

Check your Ozone Check Valve: If you have an ozonator refer to your owner’s manual for proper cleaning of the check valve and injector. Because of hard water deposits they can clog up and reduce flow, thereby reducing the proper levels of ozone coming into the spa.

Every Two Years:

Ozone Maintenance: replace Ozone tubing check valves and clean ozone injector (if needed) or call for service.

Every three Years:

Replace Filter Cartridges: Unscrew caps on filters, then remove and discard used filter cartridges. Replace with new ones available from our store.

Ozone Maintenance: If you have the Delzone ultraviolet unit; replace ozone bulb cartridge (or call for service). If you have the Freshwater II Corona Discharge unit, please bring it into our store for routine service (or call us for service, 209-545-5224).