If you invested in a hot tub over the last couple of years, it may be that you are looking forward to your first holiday away from home in a while.
If this is the case, it might be the first time that your hot tub may be out of use for a while. Understandably, you may be unsure how best to care for it whilst you are away, but fear not, we are here to offer our hot tub care advice for keeping your spa in great working condition whilst you enjoy your holiday.
Don’t switch your hot tub off
Since your hot tub won’t be in use for a week or two, the obvious solution may be to turn it off like you do the other electrical appliances in your home, but this isn’t the best idea. If your hot tub is not switched on, this means that it will be unable to filter and circulate the water in it. This could lead to problems with your pipework when you return home.
It’s also important to consider that while it is summer now, should you be planning a holiday in the sun for the winter time, switching your hot tub off could run the risk of the water inside freezing. Needless to say, when water freezes, it expands. As a result it could do catastrophic damage to your jets and pipework!
Turn down the temperature
Rather than switching off your hot tub completely, to save energy whilst you are away, you should consider lowering the temperature of the water. Since the hot tub won’t be used, you can afford to drop the temperature a few degrees. Not only does this ensure that the water continues to circulate through filtration systems and keep pipework free of any potential debris, it also means that when you come to use your hot tub again, it won’t take as long to heat up to normal temperature as it would if it had been switched off completely.
If your hot tub has a sleep setting, then you can choose this in order to ensure water stays circulating but the water remains at a lower temperature than normal.
Make sure your hot tub cover is secure
This may seem obvious, but if your hot tub is not going to be in use, it’s even more important that you ensure that no debris such as leaves, or dust, or even insects or animals can find their way into your tub. This helps to keep your water clean, keep pH levels stable, and prevents bacterial growth, and also helps to maintain heat levels whilst you are away.
Make sure your hot tub’s water levels are safe and the water is pure
Before you leave for your holiday, it’s important to test the levels of your water and ensure that they are where they need to be. If you leave your hot tub with unbalanced levels, this increases the chances of issues while you are away or when you return. You should be aiming for a total alkalinity of between 80 and 120ppm in order to achieve the right pH level.
You should ensure that your water pH level is a very low alkalinity of between 7.2 and 7.8. This is just past neutral, and a pH much lower or higher than this is not only damaging for your hot tub, but it makes the water sanitiser less effective and is dangerous for anyone who bathes in your hot tub when you are home from your holiday.
To purify your water, shock with a Chlorine or Bromine sanitiser. We would suggest that you also use a non-Chlorine shock as this will not increase Chlorine or Bromine levels, helping ensure that your bathing can continue safely when you are home.
We recommend that you clean your filter out or even replace it in order to remove greases, oils, or debris. A clean filter is much less likely to contaminate your clean hot tub water.
Maintain sanitiser levels
Although you will be away from home, you can help make sure your sanitiser remains at the right levels by using a floating sanitiser dispenser. Add Chlorine or Bromine tablets to your dispenser and place in your water to float and slowly release sanitiser to maintain the right levels.
If you are unsure about caring for your hot tub whilst on holiday, you can contact us or visit our showrooms. Our team are specialists in hot tub maintenance, so we will be more than happy to advise you on the best practices to follow.
To stock up on hot tub chemicals and accessories, browse our online store, or visit us in Cannock or Shrewsbury.
