One of the best ways to warm the body during winter is to take a soak in a hot tub. Don’t you agree?
However, setting up the hot tub for the first time can be challenging since you must ensure the water is safe for long soaks. Plus, you should check that the tub is clean before pouring the water for the soak.
We have put together this guide to help you set up the hot tub in 12 easy steps. Keep reading if you want to learn more!
12 Easy Steps To Start Your Hot Tub For The First Time
1. Rinse And Drain
Before starting a new hot tub, the first step you should take is to clean the hot tub thoroughly. Nowadays, most manufacturers apply an antifreeze solution on the hot tub before it gets shipped to your place.
This prevents the plumbing and the tub from any potential damage caused during transit. However, this solution isn’t safe to take a soak in. So, cleaning the tank is very important.
For this purpose, you can fill the bottom of the tank with water and run the pump for a couple of minutes. This will remove any antifreeze solution from the plumbing so that it doesn’t harm your body and skin when you take a soak.
2. Turn Off All Power
Most hot tubs these days run on electricity since it allows the appliance to offer various features to the users. As such, you should always turn off the main power supply before taking any measures to clean the tub.
Simply flipping the switch of the spa equipment will not do the trick since current can still pass through the appliance. You must unplug the tub from the main power outlet and turn off the circuit breaker. This will ensure that the tub isn’t drawing any power from the main electrical circuit.
3. Clean The New Hot Tub
Once you have turned off the main power supply, the next step for maintaining the new tub is to get it thoroughly cleaned. For this purpose, we highly recommend using hardware upkeep and commercial-grade cleaners.
You can also use a non-abrasive cleaner and a sponge to clean the tank’s surface. This will prevent impurities and dust from sticking to the tank’s surface.
4. Clean The Filter
Apart from cleaning the hot tub, you must also clean the filter since it plays a crucial role in keeping the hot tub water supply clean. A dirty hot tub filter might not be able to function efficiently, and this will prevent you from having a pleasant spa time.
After you have cleaned the filter, you can simply install the hot tub filter cartridges to the filter well, which will keep the hot tub water clean for a long time.
5. Fill The Hot Tub With A Filter Hose
When filling the hot tub, we suggest using a hose filter since it removes all impurities from the water source. For instance, it prevents minerals and metals such as iron and copper from entering the tub, which can cause much damage later on.
6. Prime The Pump
If air gets trapped within the hot tub’s line, it can cause a lot of damage to the hot tub. Nevertheless, you can avoid this problem if you prime the hot tub pump. But you must ensure that you follow the correct steps. A hot tub manufacturer can provide a given set of instructions for priming their pump.
7. Add The Start-Up Chemicals
After you have completed the previous steps, it is high time to add the start-up chemical to the water. Before adding the start-up chemical, ensure that the water temperature is 30℃. The water’s heat will help break down the chemical and make it dissolve easily.
8. Turn On The Pump
You can now turn on the pump and let the water cycle for around ten minutes at high speed. This process helps to distribute the hot tub chemicals in the water to get an accurate result during the test.
9. Test The Water
Testing the water is one of the most important steps when you start a new hot tub. If the chemistry is off balance, it can do a lot of damage to the hot tub and the skin. Some people might even experience skill irritation and other problems. A proper test must be conducted to ensure that the water is balanced with the start-up chemical.
10. Set The Correct Water Temperature
When setting the correct temperature for the water, always set it according to your preference. This will ensure you will feel comfortable while taking a soak. Ideally, the water should have a temperature of between 36℃ to 38℃.
11. Cover The Hot Tub
Once you have set the desired temperature, let the water circulate for around ten minutes before you cover the top for 24 hours. Covering the hot tubprevents the chemicals and water from evaporating while the temperature rises and the tub retains the heat.
12. Test The Water Once Again
Although this might seem like a repetition of the earlier step, we still recommend testing the water. If the water meets all the parameters, you can enjoy a nice soak without hassle.
Get Going With Your New Spa
With that, we conclude this guide and hope you found it informative. Before taking a long soak, we highly recommend you inspect the hot tub for any damage.
If you notice cracks, mildew, or stains, we suggest fixing the tub before pouring the hot water. You should also inspect the wiring and plumbing system connected to the hot tub.
Hiring a professional regarding electrical and plumbing-related problems is always recommended. And for any help installing a spa in Sydney, speak to the leading pool and spa specialists at The Pool Co today!
