It's time to drain and clean that spa

Rick the Spa Guy

Is it time to drain and clean that spa already? Heres some info that you may find useful.

• When draining the spa be sure to turn the breakers off first so the pumps will not run with no water and burn up.
• You may find that purchasing a small submersible pump much faster and easier than hooking a garden hose up to the gravity drain built into the spa plumbing. Little Giant makes a great pump that can drain your spa at a rate of 1200 gallons per hour. This pump will empty a 500 gallon spa in less than 30 min.
• Use a NON-ABRASSIVE cleaner to wipe down the spa surface, so you won't scratch the acrylic. Be sure to rinse the spa thoroughly and get rid of the left over water before you refill the spa.
• This is the time to soak those filter cartridges. Use a good filter cleaner so you can break down the organics that are stuck to the filter and you can not see them. If you soak your filters every time you drain your spa, you will have less trouble keeping the spa clean and clear. The paper filters are good for about 2 years if maintained properly.
• If you have signs of mildew on the under side or the spa cover you can use a LIGHT bleach solution to clean the mold. Use 3 parts water to 1 part bleach. ALWAYS ADD BLEACH TO WATER NEVER WATER TO BLEACH. Use a soft brissle brush to scrub the cover and rinse off with fresh water.
• Use a cover protectant after you clean the surface debris off like 303 protectant. This will put a new coat of UV protection on the vinyl and your cover will last much longer and look great.
• When you start the refilling process, stick your garden hose down into the filter area first and let the spa fill from the plumbing lines fist. This will push any air that may be trapped in the pump out and allow the pumps to start up smoothly and not cavitate and become air locked.
• Once you have a foot or so of water in the bottom of the spa add a metal remover to the water while it is filling. Once the spa is full you can turn the breaker back on and test for full operation.
• Now test the water with a test kit and determine the level of Alkalinty and PH in the water. Always adjust the Alkalinity first, then the PH and finally the sanitizer. Wait for the spa temperature to get above 70 degrees before you add and Bromine/Chlorine as these products work more efficiently in warmer water.

Now you should be ready to start using your spa again. Remember the better care you take of your spa the less problems you will encounter and the less money you will have to spend on repair bills.


Until Next Time...