Time to Change the Water

Even the cleanest water needs to be changed

My hot tub water is balanced and well maintained, should I change it?

This is a very common question. Yes, your water needs to be changed regularly (every 3 to 4 months) - with some exceptions.

Water in Alberta starts with higher levels of "total dissolved solids" (TDS) - made of microscopic minerals. Every time you add sanitizers, chemicals, people, TDS increases slightly. Hot water evaporation further concentrates TDS.

When TDS counts get too high, you will begin to see and feel problems with the water. You will likely need to use more and more sanitizer to reach the same levels and you water quality will continually go down. It may become cloudy, cause itchy skin and be more difficult to balance. Your water will also become more corrosive to pumps, pipes and heater element.

If you are using well water, TDS counts start much higher than municipal water. If your last test shows TDS levels higher than 1000 mg/L, you can either schedule water changes more frequently, or have municipal water trucked in (Red Deer municipal exchange starts with average 500 mg/L TDS and serves Innisfail, Bowden, Olds, Didsbury, Carstairs)

By scheduling a water change every 3 months - you can avoid many problems and keep a fun, clean water atmosphere. Unless it's winter. Outside temperatures should be no lower than -10 when changing the water, to prevent pipe freezes.

Here's a step by step guide (or refresher):

You will need

• 2 garden hoses

• Spa purge or flush

• Filter cleaner

• Hot tub acrylic spray cleaner

• Soft cloth (clean and dry)
  

PART 1 OF 2 - THE DRAIN

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1. Water Check and Preparation

   Remove the cover completely. Remove the bromine/chlorine feeder and anything floating in the water (toys, sponges, etc). Remove the filter completely and set it aside.

   
   

   Now is a good time to visually check your water for any signs of algae growth. Look for clear, noodle-like floaters. If you have any in your water, take a picture and call RIPS for advice. If the water appears okay - proceed to step 2.
   

2. Purge / Flush the Lines - Clean the Filter

   A purge or flush is a cleaning chemical you add to your tub that uses enzymes for deep cleaning pipe interiors. Follow the instructions on the container. Most deep cleaners remain in the water for 12 to 24 hours. You will not be able to use your tub during this time. While waiting for your flush to complete, place your filter in a bucket of water treated with a filter cleaner. Most filter cleaners take 6 to 8 hour to work effectively. When the time is up, rinse your filter with a garden hose and set aside to dry. Do not place in back in the tub until it is refilled.

   
   

3. Drain the Water

   Turn off the breaker to the hot tub now - and leave it off until you have refilled it. Once the flush is complete, you can drain the water from your tub. It is best to use a garden hose attached to the drain, so you can direct where you want the water to go. The sanitizer should be neutral now and it is safe to drain directly onto your lawn.
   

4. Clean the interior

   There are cleaners specially designed for hot tub interiors (acrylic) that will not affect water balance or quality. These are enzyme based ("Clean and Perfect" by Natural Chemistry, is available at RIPS). Simply spray the inside of the tub, wait for 20 minutes, wipe with a soft, damp cloth. There is no need to rinse.
   

   
   

PART 2 OF 2 - THE REFILL

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1. Fill your tub with water

   Place your garden hose into the area where your filter normally sits, and turn on the water. Filling from this position helps to prevent air-locks in the heating chamber.

For an extra flush, attach a 2nd hose to the drain for 10 to 20 minutes. The water will rinse through the pipes and flow out, until you remove the 2nd hose and close the drain.

If there is no marker inside the tub showing where to fill to, ensure the water goes above the skimmer and the highest jet (not including neck jets).

1. Turn on the breaker and power

   You are now ready to turn the breaker back on. Then turn on the power and turn up the thermostat. Depending on tub size and season, it can take 4 to 8 hours to get your water to temperature (up to 24 hours for a 110v plug and play).

   
   

   For faster heating: Summer months - leave the cover off where there is sunlight. Winter months, ensure the cover is closed. If you begin heating the tub in the early evening, during winter, it's advisable to fill from your hot water tank for several minutes to help prevent freezing and allow the heater to work more efficiently.

   
   

2. Replace the Filter

   When the tub is full, remove the hose from the filter area and put your filter back in, or use a new one.

   
   

3. Balance the Water

   Once the water is up to temperature, balance it (Alkalinity and PH), then add anti-scaling treatment and sanitizer.

   
   

Ensure there is enough sanitizer in the water (use a test strip) prior to entering your hot tub after a fill. Floating feeders are a slow release, and can take several days to build up enough sanitizer residual for safe use. During those days you can add a small amount of sanitizer granules prior to, or after entering to temporarily bring up the sanitizer to a safe level.

You now have approximately 3 months of continual use, before the next water change.