Hot Tub & Spa Care

The routine is smaller but far less forgiving. A hot tub holds a fraction of the water at nearly double the temperature, so sanitizer burns off faster, pH climbs faster from the jets, and a single heavy session moves the chemistry further than a whole weekend does in a pool. The jobs are quicker. The margin for error is much thinner.

Bromine holds up better in hot water and keeps working across a wider pH range, which is why most spa dealers recommend it. Chlorine acts faster and costs less, and works well if you test regularly. Use granular dichlor rather than the trichlor tablets sold for pools, which are far too acidic for a spa.

Every three to four months for most households. A common rule of thumb is gallons divided by bather load: take the volume, divide by the average number of bathers per day times three, and that is roughly your days between drains. Heavy use shortens it considerably.