Archive for March, 2010

Tools You Will Need In Cleaning Your Hot Tub

With a hot tub comes responsibility. It’s not just about fun, you have to clean your hot tub as often as possible for hygienic purposes.

Here are some of the commonly used hot tub cleaning tools:

  1. Telepoles
    This is the main cleaning instrument you need. They are made of fiberglass of aluminum. They come in various sizes. The end has a rounded tip or a handgrip in order for your hand to not slip when you’re cleaning your pool or your hot tub. It also comes with magnets so that it can pick up metallic items such as nails or hairpins.
  2. Wall and Floor Brush
    These are used in order to remove the stains, dirt and materials that stick on the surface. The wall is there to brush off the spa and tub interior surfaces. These are often made from an aluminum frame and come with a shank that perfectly fits your grip. They have nylon bristles that can easily brush across every end.
    The curved kinds are used in order to get to those corners that are very tight. These wall and floor brushes also come in different sizes. Don’t use wire brushes that aren’t made of stainless steel because the bristles snap while you are brushing. It will also leave stains when they rust on the plaster. You also have to check whether they are rusty because these might cause further staining.
  3. Vacuum Head and Hose
    Vacuums are specially made to suck in the dirt in the spa or hot tub. There are two procedures to vacuum these equipments. The first one is to suck the dirt and sent it into the filter. The second one is to use water pressure from the hose and force the debris in the bag then removing and cleaning it with the vacuum. Vacuum heads are usually made of plastic that keeps the head above the surface as it does the cleaning. A flexible head lets the contour go in accordance with the curves of the hot tub and the spa.
  4. Tile Brush and Tile Soap
    These are used to clean the tiles. Tile brushes don’t bend too much in order to allow more cleaning. Tile soaps are often mixed of muriatic acids. These cut the stubborn oils and stains. It also eats through the plastic of the brush pads so make sure that you continue rinsing the hot tub after you apply and scrub. Don’t use other kinds of soap aside from one that is made specifically for cleaning the hot tub or spa. If you do, it might only sud and foam.
  5. Pumice Stones
    These are used in order to remove the scales from the hot tub tiles. It also removes the stains or other deposits from the surfaces. By using these, the surface isn’t excessively scratched.
    These stones are made from volcanic ash and are specifically made for abrasive actions. They are often sold in blocks and are attached to the telepoles or brushes in order to reach the surface easier. Pumice stones disintegrate so we suggest that you do the scrubbing before you do the vacuuming. Another alternative for pumice stones are plastic foams or Styrofoam because these do not scratch the fiberglass. Read more

All About Hot Tub Water

A majority of hot water tubs incur chemistry problems because of the improper diagnosis with test strips. Some people think that just by dipping them into the water, they will get an accurate prognosis of what’s wrong with the water in the hot tub or spa.

There is some truth to that. You can actually troubleshoot hot tub or spa problems on your own. The important thing you should be aware of is how to diagnose these properly and the steps you must take in order to fix the water problem.

For future resources, here is a run through of the possible solutions to water chemistry problems in the hot tub or spa.

  1. You should always make sure that the water in your hot tub is safe. You may get a lot of tips online claiming that the safest hot tub water is less stringent. Nonetheless, it is highly recommended that the water be reduced to a low point in order for your family and yourself to enjoy your hut tub safely.
  2. Purchase the chemicals you will need for your hot tub from the best store. Get them in pristine condition. Just make sure that you read the details of each chemical before you actually put it in your hot tub.You have to test the chlorine levels and make sure that they fall in the range of 3 to 5 mg for every liter. This is the required dosage for every hot tub. Test the pH levels and check whether they are between the range of 7.2 to 7.6. If it doesn’t, then you have to toggle the hot tub pH content and meet these figures. If the water foams, then use the anti-foam. You can also go for the diluted form which comes in spray bottles. Spray them on the surface of the water.
  3. You should put oxidizing agents like Calcium Hypochlorite or Non chlorine in your hot tub once every week. These clean the filter. You should also have spare filters which you use whenever you dry one. Notice that the fibers of the filter are bound together after you clean them. Read more