.: Hot Tub Maintenance

If you want to not only enjoy your hot tub but also keep it working in good condition for years to come, you'll need to give it proper care and maintenance. Here are the major items that you should focus on.

Keep your sanitizer level up to code

The use of sanitizers are one of the most important things that you want to monitor and control in your hot tub use. Sanitizing refers to killing, preventing, and controlling the algae and bacteria levels in it. In other words their purpose is to improve the water quality through the reduction of microorganisms. Using a hot tub with contaminated water can spread serious illnesses. If the sanitizer level is not maintained to a proper level, waterborne germs will thrive and migrate to human hosts.

The most popular traditional sanitizers are bromine and chlorine. But the newer technologies such as ozone and ionizer sanitizers become more popular every year. Whichever type of sanitizer you use, make sure it doesn't void the manufacturer's warranty of it. Also, keep from using sanitizers with harsh chemicals that can harm the components.

Keep Your pH levels under control

pH refers to the acidity of the water. The lower the pH of the water, the more acidic it is. If the acidity level is too high (i.e., the pH is too low) the water will begin to corrode the metal parts of it. A pH level too high can also cause problems for your hot tub. A high pH level can cause build up of scale and make it easy for stains to form.

The perfect pH range is between 7.2 and 8.0. You can easily test the pH level with spa strips. Use a non soap based cleaner to clean the water line. This is not simply an aesthetic quirk. Bacteria and algae regard a water line as a great breading ground for growth.

About once every two months - more if you subject yours to heavy use, drain your hot tub and clean it with a good, non soap based, cleaning paste. Failure to clean yours on a regular basis will lead to the build of up total dissolved solids which will make the water cloudy and contribute to the amount of unsightly surface foam.

Once a month, clean the water filter cartridge with a good cartridge cleaner. A dirty water filter not only inhibits water flow in it, it helps create an environment that bacteria love. If the water filter is still dirty after a cleaning or two, you may have to replace it entirely.

And finally, use hot tub covers. A cover will help to keep the tub from getting dirty by keeping out insects, debris, and other things that can possibly clog your filters. An added benefit is that a good thermal cover will help to save heating costs by preventing heat from escaping. Following these tips along with other tips recommend by your owners manual will keep your hot tub functioning in good shape for many years.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Shearier