BIO110: 6 Keys to Spa Care

1. BIO110: 6 KEYS TO SPA CARE
Pool & Spa University

2. THE 6 KEYS
➤ No matter what type of spa or system
the customer owns, there are six keys
to keeping that spa clean and clear.
➤ The 6 Keys:
➤ Circulation
➤ Filtration
➤ Cleaning
➤ Draining & Refilling
➤ Testing
➤ Chemicals
➤ We’ll look at each key in the order
presented above; this list can also be
used as a rough “order of operations”
when it comes to troubleshooting.

3. CIRCULATION
➤ You may remember that pools need to circulate at least 10-12
hours a day to accomplish a specific number of turnovers.
➤ Most modern spas nowadays have two ways to circulate water:
a series of timers to turn their jet pumps on and off, or a low-
horsepower circulation pump that runs 24/7 and cannot be
turned off without shutting off all power to the spa. Either
way, most spas manage their circulation independent of owner
control.
➤ Spas are able to accomplish a turnover generally in 30
minutes. Customers should aim to accomplish as many
turnovers as they can in a 24-hour period and run their spa
every day.

4. FILTRATION
➤ For many spas, the filtration system is actually plumbed before the
circulation pump and jet pumps; this catches all debris before it
circulates back into the spa.
➤ Note: some brands will tout “no-bypass filtration,” meaning that all
water passes through the filter before re-entering the spa. Many
brands will have intakes independent of the filters to circulate water.
➤ Because of increased water temperatures, filters will collect more bather
waste (dead skin, oils, sweat) than they would in a pool.
➤ Customers should physically clean their filters at least once a month
and chemically clean their filters with SpaGuard
®
Filter Cleaner every
other month.
➤ The use of a Filter Flosser can make physically cleaning the filter
much easier as it forces water deep into the pleats of the filter.

5. CLEANING
➤ Cleaning a spa is similar to cleaning a pool; regular cleaning of the
waterline and vacuuming are both essential to keeping the water
clean.
➤ Higher water temperatures in the spa mean that more bather waste
like oils, sweat, and dead skin can gather at the waterline and cause a
variety of water care problems including foaming, yellow residue, and
increased need for sanitizer.
➤ Clean the waterline with Off the Wall®
and a soft rag or non-
abrasive scrubbing pad. Using a material that’s too abrasive may
scratch the shell, leaving behind marks that can become breeding
grounds for bacteria.
➤ A secondary part of cleaning is draining and refilling. We’ll post the
slide from the previous presentation again to review.

6. 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)
➤ For spas with very little use, it’s recommended to drain at least every 6 months.
➤ 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.
➤ High-use spas—especially brand-new spas—may need frequent draining. Be sure to
communicate this to customers to help them manage expectations of how often a drain
& refill is necessary.

7. TESTING
➤ Customers should test their pool at home at least once a week,
paying special attention to the sanitizer level (chlorine, bromine,
SoftSoak Sanitizer) and the pH, and make adjustments as necessary.
➤ It’s common to need to test sanitizer more than once a week in a
spa; the higher water temperatures result in faster sanitizer
consumption.
➤ Customers should have their water professionally analyzed at The
Pool & Spa House monthly; more frequent testing may be required
when problem-solving.
➤ It’s also a good idea to have source water tested and stored to easily
provide customers with “fresh fill recipes" that can help them start
up their spa quickly and easily.

8. CHEMICALS
➤ Using at-home testing and professional analysis as a guide, treat the spa
using spa chemicals (generic replacements are not recommended) in the
following order and as needed:
➤ Total alkalinity
➤ pH
➤ Calcium hardness
➤ Sanitizer/shock
➤ Broadcast products into the spa with the pump running, the air turned off if
possible, and the cover off. Wait at least 15 minutes between chemical
additions and at least 30 minutes before re-entering the spa.
➤ For large doses or treatment in cold water, recommend dividing doses
into several smaller doses. Predissolving is usually not necessary in spas.

9. CONGRATULATIONS!
You have completed the activity!