The quality of your spa water can shape your hot tub ownership experience to a surprising degree.
The best hot tub water is perfectly clean and clear, but also soft, fresh and luxurious, lacking the overly chemical smell and associated irritations that can be all too common in backyard spas.
The good news: maintaining hot tub water can be super simple when you’re armed with the right equipment and techniques. In this guide we’ll walk you through all the best ways to keep spa water clean.
The importance of keeping hot tub water clean
Why is spa water cleanliness so important? Firstly, and most importantly, dirty spa water represents a health hazard. The warm, moist conditions found in a hot tub can form an ideal breeding ground for all manner of nasties like bacteria, viruses, algae, mould and mildew, all of which can have adverse effects on your health.
The reasons for keeping hot tub water clean extend beyond safety too. When you properly maintain your water, you grant yourself access to the most comfortable and luxurious soaking experience possible. This ensures you maximise the use of your spa and enjoy the complete range of health and wellness benefits that hot tubs have been proven to deliver.
With clean, clear, warm and luxurious water just steps from your backdoor, you can start or finish every day with the most relaxing and sumptuous soak.
How to keep hot tub water clear
Now that we understand the ‘why’, the question becomes how to keep my hot tub water crystal clear? There are four main elements to keeping hot tub water clean:
Hot tub cover
The first and most basic way to ensure your water stays clean and clear is to stop debris and contaminants from entering in the first place. A hot tub cover is a critical piece of equipment not just for keeping invaders out, but also for keeping warmth in, which makes your hot tub far more energy efficient.
For these reasons you should always cover your hot tub when not in use.
Filtration
No matter how careful you are about covering your hot tub, over time outside invaders will inevitably sneak in. hot tub filter systems are designed to deal with visible intruders like dirt and debris. When you choose a high quality system and maintain it according to the manufacturer’s instructions, you’ll have a far better chance of keeping your spa water clear.
One such high quality filter: Hot Spring’s 100% no-bypass system, exclusive to the Highlife collection, which is the only system on the market that ensures all of your water is filtered all of the time.
Water testing and care
While your filter system deals with the bigger contaminants, your water care system deals with invisible contaminants and microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, that the filter can’t catch. These systems dispense chemicals like chlorine and bromine that sanitise your water, stopping it going cloudy and making it safe to soak in. Test strips allow you to check that chemical levels are where they need to be to deal with these contaminants.
Want the best of the best? Working in tandem with our FreshWater Salt water care system, FreshWater® IQ is a revolutionary automated testing system that uses sensors to check the exact chemical composition of your spa water every hour, and when improvements can be made, it tells you exactly what to do. Keeping your water clear has never been easier!
Draining and refilling
Hot tub water doesn’t last forever, so it’s important to drain, clean and refill your hot tub at regular intervals, according to the spa manufacturer’s instructions. Most commonly this 3-4 times a year, but in the case of hot tubs fitted with FreshWater® IQ and the FreshWater Salt System, you may only need to drain and refill once a year!
