http://www.poolbuilderpalmsprings.com/pools-hot-tubs-spas The hot tub is a luxury that continues to cost money long after the installation. Obviously, heating the water is a large part of the ongoing costs, but if you have a well-insulated tub and the same in a cover, you can hold the extra electrical usage down some.

1. Maintaining Hot Tub or Spa Tips and Tricks By: POOL BUILDER PALM SPRINGS

2. The hot tub is a luxury that continues to cost money long after the installation. Obviously, heating the water is a large part of the ongoing costs, but if you have a well-insulated tub and the same in a cover, you can hold the extra electrical usage down some. Hot Tubs & Spas Palm Springs@ www.PoolBuilderPalmSprings.com

3. Spa and Hot Tub Settings and Timers Most health departments recommend a temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit for both adults and children in a spa or hot tub. The temperature should be set using a floating thermometer that has been tested for accuracy. Hot Tubs & Spas Palm Springs@ www.PoolBuilderPalmSprings.com

4. Some tubs are set with higher temperatures at the factory, and this can cost money and make the water a little uncomfortable. You may even find you prefer the water temperature lower than what is recommended. Being conservative is good for both the environment and your pocketbook. Adding a timer that turns off the heater during peak electrical use is a good way for you to be responsible and save money. Giving the heater a rest in the mornings from 6 to 10 and again in the evenings from 5 to 9 helps you and the utility company. Hot Tubs & Spas Palm Springs@ www.PoolBuilderPalmSprings.com

5. Using a timer should work around the time you spend in your tub. If you don't use it at night, you might have it set to shut down for several hours. Discuss the number of cycles your pump needs to go through each day with a manufacturer's rep and you may find it helpful to cut back on the hours the pump runs. Hot Tubs & Spas Palm Springs@ www.PoolBuilderPalmSprings.com

6. Ozone Generator Some pool owners have gone completely to ozone generators in lieu of chlorine to purify the water. This takes away some of the expense of maintaining a pool, after the cost of the equipment, as well as the time spent worrying with pH and adding chemicals. Ozone is produced from oxygen and it enters the pool from the pump. In Europe, ozone has been used for a hundred years to purify water, but some older equipment used in the United States does not do an adequate job. Hot Tubs & Spas Palm Springs@ www.PoolBuilderPalmSprings.com

7. Better Efficiency and More Insulation in Your Hot Tub One of the best things you can do for maintenance is to purchase energy efficient equipment to begin with. The difference in power consumption can be considerable between an inefficient tub and a good one. You can expect the better tubs to use from 5 to 7 kilowatt hours per day compared to from 12 to 16 kilowatt hours for the inefficient models. Hot Tubs & Spas Palm Springs@ www.PoolBuilderPalmSprings.com

8. Insulation is most important for the hot tub cover because heat rises. Most hard foam covers have an insulating value of about R-12, which is very good. You can increase that by getting a floating blanket to lie directly on the water before the cover is put in place. This increases the insulation value to R-16, and it also keeps moisture off the underside of the cover. Hot Tubs & Spas Palm Springs@ www.PoolBuilderPalmSprings.com

9. Other Tips on Water Spa Quality Read the documentation that comes with your hot tub to be sure that you are following the maintenance guidelines of the manufacturer. Whether you have any information about cleaning the filter or not, you should make a habit of cleaning it once a month. Body oils and scale will stop up the filter if you do not clean it regularly. Hot Tubs & Spas Palm Springs@ www.PoolBuilderPalmSprings.com

10. A ring will form around the sides of the hot tub at the top of the water. Cleaning isn't that much of a chore, but you should be careful to use a product designed specifically for hot tubs and spas. Cloudy water can be the result of an improper pH level or because the filter is not doing its job. You may find that the sanitizer is not in the right range and you need to raise the pH level. Sometimes cloudy water just means that you need to add some shock, which is available at most pool/spa supply stores. Hot Tubs & Spas Palm Springs@ www.PoolBuilderPalmSprings.com

11. If you test your water often and maintain a proper chlorine level (2-3 ppm) shock won't become necessary because any bacteria will be destroyed on an ongoing basis. Hot Tubs & Spas Palm Springs@ www.PoolBuilderPalmSprings.com