10 Ways to Destroy Your Hot Tub

Taking care of a hot tub nowadays is not too difficult, but if you're not careful, small slips can cause big problems. Most of these won't destroy your hot tub, but any of these will cause minor to major hot tub problems, which are best avoided.

Leaving the Hot Tub Empty After Draining

If you want to cause serious hot tub problems, this can be the number one way. One or two days won't cause much problem, but beyond that, the water and moisture remaining in the pipes and equipment will grow into a bacteria biofilm, which can be hard to eradicate completely once large colonies are established. Secondly, without water in the tub, seals and gaskets can more easily become dry and begin to leak, and dried out cartridges require new spa filters.

Using Pool Chemicals in Your Hot Tub

Spa chemicals are specially formulated to work in hot water, and with hot tub surfaces. More importantly, spa chemicals are labeled for use in a spa or hot tub, with dosage and application information for very small bodies of water. For spa shock treatments, do not use pool shock, as the granules do not dissolve quickly enough, and more importantly, a 1 lb. bag of shock cannot be resealed safely, being designed for one-time use.

Using a Pressure Washer

Even a small pressure washer is too much pressure for cleaning cartridges. A pressure washer will force dirt, oil, and scale deeper into the fabric and separate the fibers at the same time. Use a regular garden hose with spray nozzle, and be sure to use a spa filter cleaner 1-2x per year, to gently loosen dirt, oil and scale.

Shutting Off Power to the Hot Tub

Keep the spa running, and check on it often, to be sure it is still running. If you leave town for a few weeks, or otherwise are unable to use the spa for extended periods, you must keep it running, with at least a few hours of high speed circulation daily, and low-speed circulation for most other times. Spa pumps don't need to run 24/7 to keep a covered spa clean, but you do need daily circulation, filtering and sanitation, or larger spa water problems are sure to arise.

Overfilling Your Hot Tub

It's happened to most spa owners, you're adding water to fill the spa or top off the hot tub, when the phone or doorbell rings. Overflowing spas usually don't cause problems, but depending on your spa make and model, some components can become water damaged if a spa overflows. After overflowing my own spa twice, I bought a plastic timer that screws onto my hose spigot. It can be set for up to 2 hours, before it shuts off the water flow. Also, don't under-fill the spa, or air can be sucked into the pump - keep it full.

Overtreating the Water

Spas and hot tubs are small bodies of water, and most chemical adjustments require just a few ounces of liquid or powder. Overdosing your spa with hot tub shock, or over-adjusting the pH or Alkalinity can create a see-saw effect that costs money and time. Make small adjustments, read the label and add doses appropriate for your spa size, in gallons.

Not Using a Hot Tub Filter

There are situations when you want to briefly test the system without the spa filter cartridge in place, to see if the heater will come on with the filter removed, for example. But running the pump for long periods of time without the filter could lead to clogged pump impellers, and rapid water quality problems. However, if your spa filter is cracked or broken, or if your dog carried off and buried your filter - it's better to leave the pump running on low speed, than to shut down the spa completely.

Leaving Your Hot Tub Uncovered

Besides getting dirty, wasting water and chemicals, and causing your spa heater to work overtime, leaving a spa uncovered and unattended is unsafe for children, animals and some adults. On the other hand, covering it too tightly, with plastic wrap or tarps tightly sealed, can also cause a problem for electronics and cabinet trim, when moisture is under pressure. Be sure to keep your spa cover on the spa when un-used, clipped snugly in place.