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.

Things to Remember if you have a Hot Tub

1. Calcium Hardness
   You have to get the right calcium level in the water. The calcium levels depend on the source of water, where you get your supply and where you live. Soft water has low calcium while hard water has higher calcium. Each time you refill the tub with water, you have to check the calcium level. Ideally, the calcium level that is appropriate for a tub ranges between 100 up to 200 mg for every liter. If the calcium level for the tub is less than this, then it might result in damage or corrosion. If you find that the level of calcium is lower than the range mentioned, then use products such as the Hot Tub Hardness Plus in order to increase the calcium level up to the ideal.
   If the level of your hot tub is way above than the ideal, then the results will be cloudy water. You can deposit the excess calcium on the heater element, tub shell, filter cartridge or in the pipe. You can also use the product No Scale in order to bring it to the calcium level you prefer.
2. Alkalinity
   This depends on where you get your water. You should always check whether fresh water has been added. Ideally, Alkalinity for the hot tub ranges between 125 up to 500 mg per liter. If this stays in this range, then the water doesn’t fluctuate. If it drops, then the water becomes corrosive and causes damage on the equipment. We therefore suggest you use the product pH plus in order to increase the alkaline level.
   However, if the alkaline level is higher than the ideal, then the water is not that clear and scales slowly form. In order to reduce this, we recommend ph Minus.
3. pH Levels
   It’s important that you check the hot tub ph level on a regular basis. Use the Test Strips that you can buy over the counter at your local drug stores. Ideally, the pH range equates 7.4 up to 7.6. The alkaline protects the equipment and provides an ideal condition for the users because of its sanitizing effect.

Plan Ahead For Strength And Safety

No matter where you decide to place your hot tub you need to make sure that the location has a solid foundation. What this means to you is that the foundation must be a uniformly firm, continuous, and it must provide a level setting. The recommended foundation is a concrete pad with a minimum thickness of 4 inches with steel reinforced cross bars throughout.

When installing your spa on a wood deck or balcony, the same load requirements must be met. Total load may be as much as 90 pounds per square foot. Remember that your hot tub weights about 700 pounds on its own, then when you add water and people, it could have a total weight of up to 4,000 pounds.

Regardless of the location that you decide upon, you need to be sure that the hot tub is not within 10 feet of overhead power lines and that you leave access to the internal equipment.In order to complete maintenance or to make a needed repair, you will need adequate space to be able to reach the internal components. If your hot tub has external equipment you need to know that most city codes require that the equipment be at least 5′ from the tub, unless they are separated by a permanent solid barrier.Considerations For Indoor Placement Of Your Hot Tub

If you decide to place your hot tub indoors you need to understand that moisture will accumulate. Think about it, when the hot tub is being used, it puts off a great deal of steam. The steam that is created must go somewhere, and it will leave moisture on your walls, ceiling, floor, etc.

In any indoor location, you absolutely need to make sure that you have really good ventilation. The amount of moisture created will vary according to how frequently you use your hot tub. The ventilation not only helps dissipate the moisture and steam, but it also allows the chemicals to be circulated out.

The odor of the cleaning components can accumulate indoors and even create electrical problems, unless the area is well ventilated. The good news is that if you place your hot tub indoors it will probably stay cleaner and require less frequent chemical treatments.

Here comes the big news about installing a hot tub indoors; you should have some kind of drainage system in place! Experts recommend that you change the water in your hot tub every four months or so. And, the bucket brigade is not my idea of a Saturday afternoon well spent.

You always have the option of running sewage drains to your hot tub, and if you are placing your hot tub on an existing slab, you will need to dig up the concrete to build your drain system.

Another option that is a little less painful would be to get a small submersible pump. You can use the pump to push most of the water out of your hot tub, but pumps usually fail to move the last inch or so of water at the bottom of the tub.

Some manufacturers, build their hot tubs with a water hose connection inside of the cabinet at the bottom of the hot tub. This will enable you to hook a water hose to your hot tub, so that you can easily drain the water and move it to another drain or outside on the ground.

Additional Tips

No matter how well made your hot tub is, it is always possible that after years of usage, leaks can occur due to worn gaskets or seals. That water must have a place to go. Be prepared to deal with this if the situation arises.

Another obvious thought that may sometimes get overlooked is that you have to get the hot tub into your house. Measure to make sure that you have enough room to navigate it into your house and then measure again, after you do that, measure once more!

Many companies suggest that you spend the money to have a licensed contractor make sure that the local building codes are met, and the installation can occur safely, and that load requirements can be met.

Your Hot Tub Outdoors And Under The Stars

For many people, outdoors is the best location for a hot tub. A hot tub can be enjoyed on a warm sunny day or on a chilly night while you stay nice and toasty in your hot tub.

Being outdoors, there are fewer concerns for the hot tub. You do not have to worry about the steam and humidity or the chemicals affecting your home. Locating your hot tub outdoors though does mean that you may have to get a concrete pad laid down so that the hot tub has a proper foundation.

Other considerations with placing a hot tub outdoors include that it will get dirtier easier. Walking to and from the hot tub, your feet will get dirty and that will get in the hot tub. You also have to consider that leaves and such may end up in your new hot tub.

A cover is very important when placing a hot tub anywhere, but it is especially important when placing it outdoors. Always have a cover on the hot tub when you are not in it. This is a safety measure to prevent small children from falling into it and it also helps it to stay cleaner and keep insects out. The cleaner the water in the hot tub stays, the less frequently you have to treat the water with chemicals.

There are a wide variety of pictures on the Internet of hot tubs being placed outdoors in very creative ways. If you want to invest the money, a stand-alone deck can be built that encompasses the hot tub. The only limit here is your imagination and your budget.

Placing Your Hot Tub In A Screened In Room

Putting a hot tub in a screened in porch mostly resembles an outdoor installation. You have to consider some of the factors that go with both indoor and outdoor installations though.

A screened in porch will obviously allow for ventilation and the steam and humidity will not harm your walls.

You will still need a drain put into the floor of the porch though, if one does not already exist. If the manufacturer uses the water hose connection, this will not be an issue for you.

Again, you can find many creative pictures of hot tubs installed in screened porches on the Internet.

In Conclusion…

In the end, the placement of your new hot tub is completely up to you and your preferences. No matter where you decide to put it, be sure to plan ahead. The more that you plan ahead the easier it will be to install and to enjoy.

If you are not sure whether or not your chosen location is suitable for a hot tub, then you should seriously consider contacting a licensed contractor to review your location and make sure that it is suitable.

Finally, always take into account safety factors when deciding where to put your hot tub. As stated before, a cover should always be in place when it is not in use. Also consider the surface that you will be walking on when going to and from the hot tub. If the path is smooth concrete you may want to put some mats down to prevent slipping.

Now go out and enjoy your new hot tub and take satisfaction in knowing that your preplanning has prevented headaches and will help to prevent any future problems.

When to Clean Your Hot Tub Filter The industry standard for hot tub filter maintenance is as follows: Rinse once a month Clean with a filter cleaning solution every two to four months

However, with that said, the duration and frequency at which a filter is cleaned will differ for hot tub owners. How much and how quickly a filter collects debris is dependent on several variables, including usage, whether bathers rinse prior to entering the hot tub, the hardness of the source water, how well the chemicals are maintained at recommended ranges, the environment where the hot tub is located, the make and model of the hot tub, and the type of filter. (See Helpful Tip #1)

For example, some manufacturers recommend that a hot tub is drained and refilled every 50 to 90 days; whereas, Watkins® Manufacturing recommends every 120-180 days for Hot Spring® models (dependent on variables and type of water care accessory—EverFresh® system, FreshWater® ozone, silver ion cartridge, ACE® salt water sanitization system). In areas with higher levels of calcium in the water, hot tub owners may need to change their water more frequently than hot tub owners in areas with low calcium levels in the water.You should adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines, but understand that you may be able to, based on your experience with your hot tub, adjust the frequency at which you drain and refill your hot tub. If you have not been following manufacturer or industry recommendations for filter maintenance, here are a few signs that it may be time to clean or replace your hot tub’s filter: Diminished water clarity—water is becoming cloudy Decreased jet pressure Decreased ozone (if installed on your hot tub)—fewer ozone bubbles (Note: this may be a sign of a clogged ozone injector) Alert on control panel—blinking, dotted, or dashed lights (reference your hot tub manual) Dirty filter—if the filter has a cracked end, torn or frayed pleat, collapsed core, or is worn out and dirt stains can not be cleaned, you should replace the filter (See Helpful Tip #2)

How to Clean Your Hot Tub Filter The steps outlined in this section are to be used as a guide and should not replace the instructions in your hot tub manual.

1.Remove the filter from the filter compartment. (Follow the steps outlined in your hot tub’s manual). (See Helpful Tip #3)

2.Rinse the filter (rinsing your hot tub filter should be done once a month). Using a garden hose placed at a 45 degree angle to the filter, gently spray any debris from each filter pleat (make sure the water stream is forceful enough to knock away debris, but gently enough not to tear or damage the filter).

3.Clean the filter using a filter cleaning solution (this should be done each time you drain and refill, at minimum, and with a cleaner that is specifically designed to clean hot tub filters). There are two filter cleaning methods: Spray cleaning: Using a filter cleaner with a spray nozzle, spray down each pleat on the filter. Let filter sit for at least 15 minutes. (Follow the directions on the filter cleaner bottle). Soak cleaning: Using a bucket/container, soak the filter in a cleaner/water mix (follow the mix ratio on the filter cleaner bottle—usually a 1:5 cleaner to water ratio). Let filter sit for at least 1 hour. (Follow the directions on the filter cleaner bottle).

4.Rinse solution and remaining debris from filter by repeating Step 2.

5.Place the filter into the filter compartment and replace any hot tub components that were removed during Step 1. If your hot tub has more than one filter, it is a good idea to rotate the placement of your filters (similar to rotating tires on a vehicle). (See Helpful Tip #4)

Note: If you have a Tri-X® (ceramic filter), it is recommended that you rinse and run the filter through a rinse cycle with no soap in your dishwasher once a month, and that you clean your filter using a filter cleaning solution each time you drain and refill your hot tub.

Helpful Tips for Hot Tub Filter Maintenance Tip #1: Keeping the cover on your hot tub while it is not in use and rinsing off before entering your hot tub will reduce the amount of contaminants and debris that find their way into your hot tub, which extends the life of your filter, water, and chemicals.

Tip #2: When it is time to replace a filter, ensure that you are purchasing the correct filter for your hot tub model. There are numerous shapes and sizes of filters—make sure you purchase one that is designed to fit in your filter compartment and that has a square footage capacity that matches the gallon per minute flow rate of your hot tub.

Tip #3: Your hot tub should be set to circulate the water for at least one hour each day. If you have a Hot Spring spa, your hot tub is designed to circulate your hot tub’s water 24 hours a day. This 24-hour silent filtration process uses less energy than a 40-watt light bulb.

Tip #4: It is useful to have two sets of filters—you can use the hot tub while one of the sets is being cleaner.