Procedures for Filling a Hot Tub

Make sure you follow proper procedures for filling your hot tub.jacuzzi love image by .shock from Fotolia.com

Getting your hot tub ready for use requires more than just filling it up with water, pushing a button and jumping in. You certainly could do it that way, but the results would probably be undesirable and it would not be as sanitary and stable as possible. If you are going to take full advantage of your hot tub, you should follow all the procedures for getting the tub ready and into shape for you and guests to enjoy.

Clean and Wax

After a season of dormancy, you have decided to refill the hot tub and let the soaking begin. Clean the hot tub surface thoroughly using a cleaning agent specifically designed to clean the surface of your hot tub. Many common brands of tub and tile cleaner for bathrooms may have soap in them and shouldn't be used in a hot tub. These products can cause a foaming problem later, leave a soap residue on the walls or even include abrasives that will scratch the smooth surface, according to the Pool and Spa website.

After the hot tub is completely clean, use an acrylic wax to bring your spa surface to a shine. This wax is best applied using an old cotton t-shirt. Use a clean cotton shirt to buff it until it shines. Never use car wax on a hot tub.

When you drained your hot tub for the winter, you may have removed some of the fittings from the jets or other components. Remember to replace the fittings and get everything back in place before adding the water.

Put the garden hose into the hot tub and turn on the water to begin filling it up. Keep a close watch around the hot tub as the water level begins to rise above different fittings and seams. Watch for leaks and determine if the tub is holding water properly before you fill it completely up.

If you notice dripping or leaking, turn the water supply off immediately and locate the source of the leak. Once you get it repaired, you can fill the tub back up.

Hot tub chemistry is not rocket science, but it is science that requires some attention to detail. Properly balancing the chemicals in your hot tub will make the water stay cleaner and clearer as well as remain healthy and trouble free.

Perhaps the most important part of hot tub chemistry is the sanitizing element. Spas typically use bromine or chlorine to sanitize the water and eliminate potentially harmful microorganisms. Bromine is the most common in today's hot tubs. It is distributed through a floating device and should be tested at a level between 3 and 5 parts per million. Chlorine works equally as well, but is a bit harsher and stronger smelling and should be tested between 1.5 and 3 parts per million. Overdosing the tub on sanitizer occasionally is called "shocking." This is a necessary routine and should be done on the first fill. It eliminates any unwanted material that could be in the pool.