SC101: Intro to Spa Care

1. SC101: INTRO TO SPA CARE
SMART START Pool School

2. WHAT IS A SPA?
➤ Spas, also known as hot tubs, are sometimes thought of as just
being much smaller pools. This misses some of the aspects of
a spa that make it unique, thus requiring some differences in
in care.
➤ It’s difficult to say whether caring for a spa is “easier” or not
versus a pool. There are fewer parameters to balance and
draining is almost always an option if something goes wrong,
but spa features like jets and always-on covers present their
own challenges.
➤ In general, a spa is a system—usually under 1000gal—that has
consistent, frequent circulation and typically some type of
forced-air system in the return lines.

3. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES VERSUS A POOL
➤ Smaller chemical
applications (teaspoons
and tablespoons)
➤ Generally less expensive to
operate
➤ Unlikely to get algae
➤ Able to drain if problems
arise that cannot be easily
corrected
➤ Better breeding ground for
bacteria
➤ pH more difficult to
manage
➤ More likely to have issues
with scaling in areas with
high water hardness
➤ Higher sanitizer (e.g.
chlorine) consumption
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

4. THE 6 KEYS TO SPA CARE
➤ Every spa should follow the same 6 keys to proper spa care:
➤ Circulation
➤ Filtration
➤ Cleaning
➤ Draining & Refilling
➤ Testing
➤ Chemicals
➤ We’ll look at each key in-depth to give you a better understanding of
how each key affects proper spa care.

5. CIRCULATION
➤ Spas turn over water much faster than pools; most modern hot
tubs can complete a turnover in as little as 30 minutes.
➤ A turnover refers to the time it takes for the system’s pump
to move a number of gallons equal to the system’s volume
through the circulation and filtration system.
➤ Many modern spas are equipped with circulation pumps that
handle this circulation for you; spas without circulation pumps
will generally have programmed timers for their jet pumps to
circulate water.
➤ Make sure your spa runs every day. If your spa is relatively new,
you won’t need to intervene to run the jets; your spa will take
care of circulation for you.

6. FILTRATION & CLEANING
➤ Higher water temperatures mean that more bather waste—
body oils, sweat, dead skin cells, etc.—will accumulate at the
waterline and in the water.
➤ Increased circulation means that more of this debris will be
caught in the filter; as a result, it’s a good idea to take out your
filter and rinse it at least once a month.
➤ Every other month, chemically clean the filter with SpaGuard®
Filter Cleaner to remove debris trapped in the filter media.
➤ For debris that gathers at the waterline, use Off the Wall® to
break down these contaminants before they can cause sanitizer
problems.

7. TESTING & CHEMICALS
➤ Test your spa at least once a week, paying special attention to the following parameters:
➤ pH
➤ Sanitizer (chlorine, bromine, biguanide, etc.)
➤ Once a month, bring a water sample to The Pool & Spa House for more in-depth
testing that includes total alkalinity, calcium hardness, common metals, and TDS.
➤ If any parameter needs adjustment, make any changes in the following order:
➤ Total alkalinity
➤ pH
➤ Calcium hardness
➤ Sanitizer & shock
➤ Broadcast products into the main body of the spa with the circulation on and the jets
(or aeration) off. Circulate each product for 15-30 minutes before adding other
products or before re-entering the spa.

8. DRAINING & REFILLING
➤ Unlike pools, spas need to be drained regularly to preserve the health of bathers and the
system. The frequency of draining depends on usage and can be calculated using the
formula below:
FREQUENCY =
# OF DAILY BATHERS PER WEEK
(SPA GALLONS ÷ 3)
➤ Example: Jim bought a 400-gal hot tub. He and his wife use the hot tub approximately
3-4 nights a week. Our formula would be (400 ÷ 3) / 1, or 133 days between drains and
refills. (Our daily bather count is 1, since each person only uses the tub half of the week.)
➤ For spas with very little use, it’s recommended to drain at least every 6 months; heavy-use
spas, especially brand-new spas, may need to be drained more frequently.
➤ Before draining, it’s a good idea to apply a pipe cleaning product like System Flush to
remove built-up organic matter in the plumbing.

9. CONGRATULATIONS!
You have completed the activity!