Spa & Hot Tub FAQs
Spa Design and Maintenance FAQs
Spas and hot tubs provide you with the ultimate spot for relaxation in your backyard. At All Seasons Pools & Spas, we provide a wide range of services, from design and installations to maintenance and repairs. We understand that new and long-time hot tub owners will have plenty of questions about their products. We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about designing, installing, maintaining, and repairing your spa or hot tub. For everything else, contact our team. We provide spa and hot tub services for clients throughout Orland Park and the southwest suburbs of Chicago, IL.
How often should I change my spa water?
You should change the water in your spa typically every three to four months, depending on your usage.
How much does my spa cost to run from electricity?
The typical cost of a spa throughout the summer, fall, and spring varies from $13 to $35 per month, depending on how often you use it and the surrounding climate. You should anticipate a cost to double throughout the winter.
How much do chemicals cost?
How frequently chemicals need to be applied depends on how frequently your hot tub is used. Chemicals typically cost between $10 and $20 per month.
Can I use my spa all year long?
Yes! Year-round enjoyment of hot tubs is possible. In whatever season—winter, spring, summer, or fall—hot tubs are the ideal way to unwind. We recommend installing an outdoor space heater next to your hot tub for the colder months to help ease the process of getting in and out of your hot tub.
What chemicals should I use?
The two primary chemical kinds are chlorine and bromine, each of which offers advantages.
If you would rather use chlorine, add 1/2 teaspoon of chlorinating concentrate per 100 gallons. Repeat this process every 15 to 20 minutes until a chlorine residual of 3-5 ppm is reached.
For bromine, add one teaspoon of brominating concentrate per 200 gallons. Until a residual bromine concentration of 3-6 ppm is reached, repeat adding every 15 to 20 minutes. To establish a bromine level, you can also add brominating tablets to an automated feeder or floater. To check the sanitizer level in your water, use test strips or a kit.
In general, spa owners favor bromine more. Both a tablet form of bromine and a two-part system are available. Unlike chlorine, bromine doesn’t damage your eyes or bleach bathing suits and is effective across a larger pH range. In addition, bromine works well when combined, has no scent, and is a powerful sanitizer.
However, a lot of spa owners choose to sterilize using chlorine. It has a long history of usage in swimming pools and is a powerful sanitizer and oxidant. The most convenient kind of chlorine to use to keep the water sparkling clean is granular chlorine.
How do I keep my hot tub clean and sanitary?
Maintaining the cleanliness of your hot tub helps you to fully enjoy your experience. You must frequently clean your hot tub’s filter and cover, add the proper chemicals to the water, and monitor the water’s chemical levels if you want to keep it clean. It is crucial to maintain the right chemical levels since either too much or too little might lead to bacteria growth or corrosive effects on the spa’s machinery.
Why is my water cloudy?
If the water in your hot tub is cloudy, there is a problem that has to be fixed. It should always be clear, allowing you to see to the bottom. There are many different culprits that could be clouding your hot tub’s water. They can include:
- Incorrect pH Balance
- Low Sanitizer
- Body Care Products, Such as Lotion and Oils
- Malfunctioning Filter
Why is my hot tub foaming?
A spa foams for a variety of reasons. The combination of quickly moving water and occupants carrying in soaps and detergents on their bodies and bathing suits is a frequent problem. Preventing this issue involves taking a shower before using the spa. Soft water can also cause foaming. This can be rectified by altering your calcium level.
How often should I shock my water?
To shock your hot tub, you must add more oxidizer chemicals than usual to the water. This process is often referred to as oxidizing. To decrease germs and pollutants, we suggest everyone shock their water once a week. You have two options for doing this: chlorine shock or non-chlorine shock.
I just refilled my hot tub. How do I get the chemical balance right?
Always address the low value first when the pH and total alkalinity are at odds. Add a pH increaser in this situation until the pH is within a normal range. The overall alkalinity can then be adjusted by adding a pH reducer.
Do I need a sanitizer even if I have an ozonator?
Yes. Ozone is a powerful oxidant that may even kill germs that are exposed to it directly, but it only lasts a brief time in your hot tub’s water. As a result, the ozone is not present in the water for long enough to ensure that the tub, its surfaces, and its piping are sufficiently clean. Using an ozonator will help you use less chlorine or bromine since it’s simpler to keep the water’s concentration at the right level. However, it doesn’t take away from their value.
Contact Us Today
For anything else hot tub, spa, pool, and remodeling related, just give us a call at 708-345-2222 and we will get one of our Spa experts to help!