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If you want to keep your hot tub happy and healthy -- not to mention the people who want to use it -- shocking your hot tub is important. As far as timing, you’ll want to understand the factors that go into it so that you don’t under- or over-shock your hot tub. It’s one of those things that seems really confusing ,but it doesn’t have to be. You just need to focus on the right details.
The role of shocking If you’ve read up on hot tubs, you know that chlorine is going to sanitize it. So, why do you need to shock it, to? It seems like overkill, right? The thing is, no matter how careful and particular you are at watching your pH and your chlorine levels, shocking is crucial for safety and cleanliness (not to mention hygiene) on a regular basis. This kills organic matter in your tub and it will help your water return to its natural self, too. Your hot tub not only benefits from shocking, it is built deliberately to be shocked. How often should you shock your hot tub? There are a few factors that go into determining just how often you should shock your tub. Here are the main pointers that you’re going to want to think about for your tub’s shocking schedule:
Hot tubs require quite a lot of work when it comes to getting used to them ,but learning how to shock properly is going to really help keep your investment safe as well as make sure that everyone enjoys themselves -- including you. The good news is, once you adjust, it’ll be reassuring to know that you’ve adjusted to the right techniques and approaches to help you make the most out of your tub and its comfortable use.
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Chemicals are always a little bit tricky in the beginning when it comes to treating your hot tub right, but if you are hunting for information on shocking and you’re worried that you’ve accidentally over-shocked your hot tub, you’re going to want to give this a read.
Shock and its role in hot tubbing Okay, so firstly, let’s understand what shocking is when it comes to your tub. This is a strange term that refers to when you oxidize your water using chlorine. Shocking will help remove debris, destroy any kind of bacteria and germs that are floating around in your water, and also reactivate the chemicals in the water. Think of it as a tune-up, chemically speaking. This is done when you’ve had a lot of people in your tub, many of them might be bringing leaves and other organic matter with them, and you want to get your water back to basics. Can you over-shock your tub? This all sounds great, and you might love the idea of making sure that your water is fresh and sanitary before you get in it. Shocking is crucial, but you can overdo it. The main two causes include:
How to deal with over-shocking Time is your friend, for most situations. Wait for the chemical levels to go down to where you need and expect them too and then you can enjoy the hot tub as planned. If you have a deadline to reach, you can definitely use a neutralizer, but you’ll have to make sure that you use it responsibly, otherwise you’ll go too far. Be careful and make sure that you follow the directions for your hot tub specifically. The honest truth is that every hot tub owner has accidentally over-shocked their hot tub at least once. It happens from time to time and it’s not the end of the world. Try to keep it to a minimum, though, as it can damage your hot tub and actually harm your body, too. So, keep a close eye on the instructions and timings and make sure that you follow them as closely as possible. The bottom line is that over-shocking is possible, but being responsible with your chemicals and timing will help you to avoid it as often as possible! Hot tubs may be confusing and frustrating while you’re getting used to them, but there is a serious reason, which is that they take a lot of upkeep. If you are dealing with this all for the first time and you’re looking for support and help on what to add, some searching may have led you to baking soda. But why? Let’s take a look.
pH and baking soda The water in your hot tube should be between 7.2 and 7.8 for pH rating. This is considered normal and not a reason for concern. However, what if you can’t get the pH to the right level and you don’t want to add in unnecessary chemicals? Baking soda can step! This will naturally increase the alkaline level in your water and can be just what you need to get it in the proper zone. Plus, since it’s natural, no chemicals needed Another plus is that most of us have baking soda in our kitchen cupboards so that we can grab it and use it when you need to have it in a pinch. How to use baking soda for hot tubs If you want to use baking soda responsibly, you’re going to want to add 1 oz of baking soda at a time. Yes, really. No more, as it is deceptively strong and it may push your pH level over the top, defeating the purpose! Add 1 oz and then let it circulate over 2-3 hours. Test the pH again and you’ll likely find that it is where it needs to be. If not, you can add another oz and try the same thing again. This will get it to where it should be in most situations. Remember to wait the full 2-3 hours or longer, as it needs time to circulate and dissolve into the water. Baking soda is not a replacement If you love the thought of relying on natural baking soda instead of pH chemical regularly, this is a common thought. However, pH balance chemicals are required for safe and long-term use of your hot tub. Your tub is designed for them and all spas will recommend them. They are designed to maintain your tub’s water long-term and keep your system running smoothly. While using baking soda to give it a little boost is great and done widely by hot tub users of all experience levels, it is not intended as a long-term replacement, just a little helping hand when you’re in need. It’s so cool to think that something so ordinary can help keep your pH level in the right zone when it drops, but it is really important to make sure that you see it as a temporary fix instead of just being something you can substitute whenever you feel like it. A great boost when you need it, you’ll want to add a box of it to your cupboard just for those situations where you are in need of a natural solution for your pH balance! One of the things that you’re going to get used to doing with your hot tub is cleaning it. Sure, not everyone’s idea of a good time, but it’s definitely important to make sure that you stay safe and healthy -- as does everyone else who uses your hot tub. If you’re looking for some tips on how to clean your hot tub water, you’ll find yourself in just the right spot! Here’s what you should know.
Frequency of water change On average, you’re going to need to completely change over your hot tub water about every 3 months. There are some factors that make this earlier or later, of course, but this is the standard number to go by. However, you’ll also need to clean the hot tub water itself while it’s still in the tub. This should be done, ideally, after you use your tub each time. Chemicals to use You’ve got your basic hot tub chemicals that you’ll want to add in, and this is going to be specific to your unit, so make sure that you read the instructions properly. The two products to use are going to be chlorine and pH controllers. Chlorine is a natural bacteria killer and sanitizer for your hot tub, whereas the pH controller is going to be for maintaining the proper pH level in your water (important for your tub’s cleanliness and general health). These chemicals are absolutely essential, so make sure that you don’t skip them. You must have these in your water to make sure that you aren’t accidentally growing an entire fish tank of bacteria (gross, right?). Hot water is perfect for that kind of thing, so these chemicals are not to be skipped. Once a week, or so, you’re also going to want to add a specially designed filter cleaning agent that will help keep your filter humming and your water clean, A dirty, clogged filter is a useless one, after all. Not to mention that it’ll put more strain on your system and can even create more need for maintenance. The tub itself Keeping you water clean itself with the right chemicals is going tobe the main point here, of course, but it goes to say, too, that you should make time to clean your actual tub. Most people will time this with draining the water for simplicity. After all, build-up will get into the jets, the pipes and the tub itself. You can have a series of tools to help you, including a spa vacuum, suction hoses that create a siphon, and a good old soft mop or towel. It takes a bit of elbow grease, but having a squeaky clean hot tub is certainly going to be worth it. While cleaning the hot tub is admittedly less fun than using it, you can bet that knowing you are in clean water is going to add a little extra relaxation to your session, so make sure that you take the time to properly clean your water with chemicals and full water changes when the time comes! We get it. You’re looking forward to turning on your spa and hopping in to soak away your woes and troubles. We’ve all been there and, yes, the bubbling water is additive. However, part of making sure that you can soak your troubles away is in knowing and trusting that the hot tub is clean! So, here are some tips and suggestions to look at when you want to assure yourself that it is, indeed, clean and entirely safe for you to enjoy your soak. Top cleanliness tips Here is your sensory-friendly list of ways that you can determine how clean (or not clean) your hot tub is:
Extra safety tips Feeling kinda grossed out now? It’s okay, it’s to be expected. If you want to make sure that you are keeping your health controlled and general heebie jeebies down, then here are some tips to keep in mind.
Your hot tub is going to be your oasis from the world, so keep it safe and healthy by making sure that your clean water is really going to be clean. Since looks can be kind of deceiving, those tips will help you stay on top of the water quality so that your health stays a priority. If you’ve done any amount of reading on the so-called magic of vinegar, it’s pretty neat to think about using it in your hot tub. After all, if it’s so helpful and useful in everything from skin care to cleaning, it makes sense that a hot tub is going to be a great location to use it to your advantage! You’re absolutely right, as it so happens, and there are two main ways that you can use it when it comes to your hot tub, specifically.
Vinegar and pH One of the most popular ways to rely on vinegar is when you’re having a hard time keeping your pH between the accepted levels of 7.2 and 7.6. Vinegar is the easier option to get it between those ranges with minimal effort, too. Using either household vinegar, or apple cider vinegar, measure out 4 cups and pour it directly into your hot tub. No more, as once it works through your water filtering system, the pH may be okay. If, after a few hours, it still measures outside of the accepted range, you can then consider adding another 4 cups. Continue to do that, waiting several hours before retesting, until you get it to the proper pH zone. Cleaning your hot tub with vinegar The other popular do between your hot tub and vinegar is, of course, cleaning. Since it's naturally acidic, it will easily wipe away the build-up, water scaling and more that builds up in your hot tub over time. It’s also harmless to the water, too, in case of any residue left over. When used properly, vinegar can help deodourize your water and even help effortlessly take care of those water spots and residue that is stuck in those hard-to-reach corners. It will even prevent clogs in the future, too, thanks to its excellent descaling. Another perk to vinegar is that, since it’s chemical-free, you don’t need to worry about it hurting sensitive skin or causing irritations if it’s put in a bit too often or in too large amounts. While you’ll want to make sure to be responsible with the vinegar, of course, it’s nice to know that it is harmless when it comes to human skin. Magic has its limits So, vinegar is pretty fantastic and it has an important role to play when it comes to your hot tub and its maintenance. However, it’s not a replacement for proper draining and treating with chlorine and other chemicals as indicated in your care manual. While vinegar can help keep the scrubbing and fuss to a minimum, it won’t replace those cleaning tips and tricks that you’re also responsible for. When you’re ready to step up your hot tub care game and you need some support on doing it right, vinegar is going to be the ideal starting point for pH balance and cleaning. Effective, safe, professional, and available at cheap prices in both small and large amounts, as you need it, what’s not to love? Okay, so you really want to figure out how you can effectively clean your hot tub but you don’t want to drain it. Perhaps you just drained it and it’s got some build-up, or some dirt or something that is now making your entire hot tub dirty, you may want to figure out how you can clean out your hot tub without having to drain it again. We get it, so here’s some advice to keep in mind.
The best solution You aren’t going to want to hear this, maybe, but you’ll most likely find that your best bet is going to be draining your hot tub. It’s the only way that you’ll get all of the dirt and grit and general build-up out completely, and that’s part of why regularly draining your hot tub is so important! Sure, it’s an extra drain cycle, but it can help you out a whole lot. Other non-draining solutions Okay, if that’s really not an option for whatever reason, there are a few alternatives that you can try to help clean your hot tub effectively when you are looking for a little extra power and comfort when it comes to cleanliness. These include:
While they are not quite as effective as just draining your spa, it is nice to know that there are trustworthy options to help you lighten the load when you need it. Whether you try all of these or one of them, they’ll be what you need to give you the best clean in your tub without the need to drain the water. If you’re new to the hot tub world, you may be worried about the safety of the water when the time comes to drain it. After all, you want to drain it onto your lawn or use it to water the trees and such, to make proper use of the water and make sure that none goes to waste. Right? One of the questions that people tend to ask is whether or not draining hot tub water will kill your grass. The short answer If done correctly, as directed, then your hot tub water will not kill your grass. In fact, watering your grass, flowers and trees is a great use of your hot tub water! However, doing it incorrectly could possibly kill your grass and anything else that you water, so you’ll really want to make teh time to read the instructions on that! Here are the main things to focus on. The chlorine level As you most likely know, chlorine is not good for grass. It’s strong and grass is pretty sensitive to begin with. Since draining your hot tub is not something you just randomly decide to do, plan it so that you add your last chlorine at least 48 hours before you plan on draining it, or even longer if you wish. Before you drain the water, make sure the chlorine level measures at 0. The pH level of the water As far as gras is concerned, pH is more of the issue. In order for it to be safe water for your grass, you are going to have to make sure that it’s between 7.0-7.8 on your reading. If it’s not within that range, you’ll be safer to use it on your trees or your shrubs, which are heartier with their ability to handle different water pH levels. It will take a day or two before you realize that it’s caused a problem, so you can always test on a small portion of your grass if you want to be sure. In the event of a splash If you’ve got kids or a few extra people in your hot tub, water will often splash over the edge and onto the pad below. Of course, your hot tub should be on a properly sized and designed slab so that it doesn’t hit your garden. However, if there are a few splashes here and there, your grass should be fine! If someone is dumping bucketfuls out of the tub and directly onto the grass, you may have a problem. In most situations, the only time you’ll have to worry about hot tub water killing your grass is if you drain the water directly after adding your chlorine to your hot tub, or if your pH level is outside of the normal range. Since these are both things that you can check before you drain your water, you’ll be a-okay to let it pour over your grass (though you will want to move the hose around to prevent flooding! Alright, so this is one of those topics that a lot of people don’t really want to think about. Why? Because it requires effort and scheduling. Sure, your hot tub is your spot of relaxation and forgetting about the world, but that doesn’t mean that you get to simply forget about how to take care of it! Both your financial investment and your health are depending on that, too. So, let’s tackle it head-on and get back to relaxing, okay?
How often should you change the hot tub water? The standard, fast answer is that you should change your hot water (as in, completely drain and refill fresh) approximately every 3 months of use. However, this number is going to be a little different for each hot tub, because there are a few factors that go into how that approximate number is calculated! Factors that impact the timing The first two items of the list below are going to be used to help you figure out the actual timing. The third item is more about your own comfort and sanitation practices!
The math What a lot of people do is turn this into a simple math equation to take the guesswork out of it. This math equation would be: the hot tub volume divided by 3 and then divided by the amount of people in your tub. This will give you a number of days. So, every time that number of days goes by, change your water. The importance of changing your hot tub water Let’s say you get the math done and the final answer is 20. But, you don’t feel like changing your tub water every 20 days. Well, technically you don’t have to. But, you’ll soon get filmy, smelly and foamy water. Not only is it uninviting, it’s also asking for trouble when it comes to bacteria and germs. It also puts a lot more work on your system and can create buildup in your pipes and filter. This means more repairs and leaks. Sure, it takes time and effort to drain and refill your hot tub, but it will be worthwhile when you can enjoy fresh, healthy water that is going to truly bubble away your troubles and concerns. Realistically, hot tubs can take a lot of effort to care for properly, even if they are worth it. One of those questions that often comes up with recent buyers of hot tubs is how to get the water out of the bottom of the hot tub itself. There’s always that little bit left over and you’re looking at how to get it out since you can’t exactly just tip it over and manually drain it, right? Here are some tips!
Real tips for getting the water out of the bottom of your hot tub These are some of the “tried and tested” approaches for getting the bottom of your hot tub emptied without getting stressed or frustrated in the process:
One of the cool features about all of these is that they’re pretty much all low-tech. No gadgets or gizmos needed here, just simple, straight-forward tools to do all of the heavy lifting! You have to admit that sticking a towel to the end of a stick is kind of funny, right? Sure, it’d be nice if hot tubs were designed to pour out every single last drop from every little crevice of your tub, but that’s not likely. When you need manual help for the dregs at the bottom, any and all of these options are going to keep the manual labour to the minimum while still giving you effective draining tips for your hot tub, even if it’s irregularly shaped. Okay, so you’ve recently noticed a leak in your hot tub and you’re trying to make sure that you handle it the proper way -- congratulations! Making sure that you treat your hot tub with proper products is a great first step. Consider the potential magic of Flex Seal? Here’s everything that you’ll need to know about its usability in your hot tub.
What is Flex Seal? As likely already know, Flex Seal is a concentrated liquid that is going to plug a leak or a hole that you find. It goes on liquid, or pastey, and then dries/cures to a hard and effective solid that basically erases the crack or hole. It’s widely used in home renovation projects, but it’s not as magic as people think and it may not be effective on all surfaces and for all leaks. How does Flex Seal work for hot tubs? Technically, Flex Seal does work with hot tubs. You’ll be able to use it to fill a hole or a crack, but there are a few things to factor in about its usability:
There are so many potential perks to Flex Seal, especially when it comes to the idea of getting back into that hot tub. But, you need to make sure that you protect your investment and your home by doing it the right way. When in doubt, reach out to a professional hot tub repair specialist and ask. They’ll always be happy to lead you to the right information to the best care of your hot tub. As high maintenance as it may seem, there’s so much to love about soaking in your hot tub. Relaxing and soothing, it’s the thing you look forward to the most after a hard and tough day, right? One of the things you may notice one day is that the water seems low. As far as you know, everything’s okay, but perhaps the water line is lower than you think it should be. What’s going on? Is water loss normal in a hot tub? Take a look below and find out!
Is needing to add more water normal? Just like a pool, there is a need to add water from time to time to your hot tub. Since your hot tub is exposed, water will evaporate and this water will need to be replaced from time to time. The water that you put in your hot tub doesn’t just stay there forever, and you will have to add more in no matter what. Is water loss normal? Yup, water loss is considered normal when it comes to evaporation. The standard rate for water loss is about 1 inch a week. This means that, hypothetically, you should add 1 inch a week to keep it at the same level constantly. Of course, you don’t need to be that specific or attentive to it. But, the rate of 1 inch a week is considered normal. If you want to make sure that your water loss is normal, and that there’s no problem, you can measure it and see if that lines up! What could excessive water loss mean? If you find that you’re losing, say, 2+ inches per week for water loss in your hot tub, it could be an indicator that something else is going on. The most likely scenario is that you have some sort of undetected leak, since it’s not exactly logical that someone is grabbing your hot tub water with a pitcher (yuck!). That’s part of why understanding “normal” water loss and “abnormal” water loss is so important! When you notice that is faster than normal, you can call in the pros and get a feel for what’s going on with your hot tub and get a repair done before it gets too expensive (in terms of water pricing and the repair and other damage itself). How to minimize water loss Since water does have a price tag, you can look at minimizing your water loss as much as possible. Some of the best tips include:
While water evaporation is important to understand for the thoughtful hot tub owner, minimizing it is easier than you’d think! The first step to making sure that your hot tub is fixed is going to be determining where the leak is coming from. Whether you’re dealing with a leak now or you’re just looking to be a prepared hot tub owner and familiarize yourself with the most common locations for a hot tub leak, you’re in the right spot -- see what we did there?
Some points to remember with a leak If you do find yourself dealing with a leak and you’re trying to figure out which of these spots is the culprit, here are some tips to help you sort it out before you call in the professionals for a repair.
Your hot tub deserves care and attention, especially when it comes to understanding where a leak comes from and how you can find it. While a specialist is still needed to come in and repair it, knowing what to expect and how to source it is going to be very helpful to keeping the process as simple and straight-forward as possible. While there is a bit of work that goes into it, leak detection can be one of the key points to getting your tub back up and running with as minimal a delay as possible. There are so many parts and pieces to a hot tub that it can be a serious pain to understand how it all works. This is partially why you are going to need a special technician to come in and help you out. However, you can also take some time to familiarize yourself with one of the crucial parts of your tub so that you know what you’re dealing with: the heating element for your hot tub.
The good news about having a bad heating element is that it’s a pretty run of the mill repair. Not only is a technician going to be able to understand what needs to be done and how to do it, access to heating elements is easy both in terms of the physical location on the hot tub, but also the heating element in a warehouse, etc. If you want to have a DIY flair for your beloved hot tub, learning how to spot an issue with your heating element is going to be a fantastic detail, as it will help you understand what to expect when having a professional come in to repair it! However, keep in mind that you should never try to repair a heating element yourself. Water and electricity don’t mix and unless you are both a properly certified electrician and a hot tub repair specialist, you will not have the proper experience to keep you and your hot tub safe. Since safety is the most important thing, you’ll definitely want to keep this in mind! Need to fix a leak fast? You’ve probably done some frantic research about just the topic. Perhaps you came upon a leak sealant such as “Fix-a-Leak”. Not entirely sure if it’s going to be what you need to get to the bottom of a leak situation? Here’s what you should know about its pros and cons, both of which should be taken into consideration for everyone’s comfort and safety.
What is a leak sealant? While you can find quite a few out there under varying names, “Fix-A-Leak” is a standard sealant that is intended to, as the name suggests, stop a leak. It goes on as a liquid that is very concentrated and it will help creep into a leak and then seal it so that water is no longer able to leak through and cause any more damage. It reacts with the water and will create a coating to prevent it from leaking through. This dries into a reliable leak seal In theory, anyway. But, does it work? Here are the things to keep in mind if you’re considering using “Fix-a-Leak” for your hot tub. It can’t be used just anywhere While it is designed for various kinds of leaks, it’s not a miracle product that can be put to use just anywhere for any leak. Designed specifically for hot tubs, pools and even walls and floors, it can be applied in these kinds of locations safely. It won’t hurt your filters or other spa or pool equipment, However it’s not suitable for pets or anything that has living things in it due to the concentration of the formula. For example, an aquarium. The other thing to keep in mind is that it won’t be able to hold its own against a leak of over 3mm per day. For this reason, it’s thought to be only reliable for relatively minor leaks. It’s not a permanent fix While the packaging and online content may tell you otherwise, you shouldn’t see “Fix-a-Leak” as a permanent solution. Once you stop the leak and it does actually stop, you’ll still want to call in a professional to give it a solid look. A leak is always serious and having someone take a look at what you’re dealing with will help you keep your expenses low. They’ll often ask what product you use, too, and even how much of it. So, make sure you’ve got the packaging handy! While “Fix-a-Leak” is very useful and reliable, especially if you discover the leak at 2am on a Saturday, it’s intended as more of a stop gate than a cure. A properly licensed repair specialist is your solution for this and this is sort of like your band-aid until they can get to your home and assess the situation properly. It’s nice knowing that you’ve got help if you need it, and any responsible hot tub owner is certainly going to feel a whole lot better having a package of “Fix-a-Leak” in their cabinet just in case! Let’s be honest for a second here: no matter how high quality your hot tub is and no matter how well you take care of it, leaks are an unfortunate reality with hot tubs. After all. They’re giant tubs of rushing water that are especially heavy and on for long periods of time...that’s going to lead to a leak at some point or another and you’ll want to make sure that you are properly prepared for handling it.
What to do if you have a leaky hot tub As a responsible hot tub owner, dealing with a hot tub has a few steps to help protect you, your home, your loved ones and, of course, your hot tub! Here are the general steps to help you manage.
There’s never a good time for a leaky hot tub and it’s certainly frustrating, but it will happen. Being prepared can help keep it as stress-free and as safe as possible, not to mention that it can even help you feel involved in the process! Whatever approach you take, knowing what to do and how to do it is important when you have a leak. Discovering that you have a leak in your hot tub is never a fun time, no question. But, do you know what’s even worse? Not discovering you have a leak until 3 months later and then having extensive water damage that is going to cost you a fortune and a whole lot of heartache. From detecting a leak to understanding the problem is, here are some essential details to diagnose your hot tub issue and then get someone in to fix it as soon as possible! The more you can tell them, the better, too.
Location is important When you discover that your hot tub is leaking from the bottom, understanding where on the bottom the leak is coming from is crucial. Don’t just take one look at the pooling and decide that’s where the leak is coming from. Water is notorious for running and spreading, so you’ll need to be careful to seek out the location of the water leak from your tub specifically. Common issues include:
If you have a good quality hot tub, it’s unlikely that you have a crack in the actual hot tub itself. They are intended to be especially strong and are reinforced for this particular reason. However, if you can’t spot an obvious sign of water leakage but you know it is leaking, it might be a good idea to check as carefully as possible inside the tub for obvious signs of wear. Plumbing can cause issues Sometimes it’s not a part of the hot tub itself, but the plumbing! It could be a frozen pipe, which can commonly happen. Or, it could be something simple like or rings or gaskets. Anything with these parts can leak and that’s part of why proper maintenance and check-ups are so important. Whatever the issue may be, it’s not a good idea to fix it yourself. Hot tubs are specialized equipment that require equally specialized repair and addressing, so you’ll always want to bring in the pros to help you out as soon as possible. You’ve invested time and money into your hot tub, so you want to make sure that you are getting your absolute money’s worth, right? It makes total sense and we are here to help you do just that. The key is to start with understanding just how long you can expect your hot tub to last, generally speaking, and then make it a little more personal by focusing on those specific factors that can impact its natural lifespan.
The general age estimation As vague as it will sound, a hot tub can last anywhere from 5-20 years. This means that the lowest quality hot tub should last you about 5 years, and top quality and high end ones can last you up to 20 years. Here are the factors that go into determining just how they are going to last.
Some reminders There are some details to keep in mind when you are looking at the scope of the lifespan and trying to sort out what the right choice is for your hot tub preferences!
When you are looking to get the most out of your hot tub and its substantial investment, all of these things are going to factor in. While it certainly seems appealing to go for the cheapest overall quality, you want to make sure that you are reasonable and level-minded when it comes to picking the model you choose, including those details above! With all of this kept fresh, we wish you and your hot tub many years of happiness together so that you can look back 15 years from now and know for sure that you made the right call on your hot tub’s maintenance. Hot tubs require some pretty serious care and protection in order to keep them running smoothly. When they need to be repaired, you’ll want to be as careful as possible in hiring the right professionals to do the job properly. After all, the wrong professional can actually make a problem worse than when they started, so this is something to think about seriously. The bottom line is that not everyone can repair a hot tub.
Can plumbers fix hot tubs? One of the first things that most people think of when looking to have someone come take a look at their hot tub is a plumber. After all, plumbers take care of water and hot tubs push water around, right? Exactly, it’s a logical choice and one that many make. Unfortunately it’s not always a great choice for the following reasons:
Who is the right call for a hot tub repair Ideally, the right call to make is going to be the hot tub company who sold you your hot tub. Quite a few of them outsource to dedicate hot tub specialists that will come in and take a look at your hot tub. Since they work with that company, they’re bound to be knowledgeable on your specific hot tub, too, which is going to be a huge perk when it comes to assessing the repair needs and the expertise to actually repair them. If you’ve moved, or your hot tub company is not available for whatever reason, you’ll want to dedicate your energy looking at hot tub repair specialists. These are professionals who deliberately dedicate their time to hot tub repairs and they’ll be the best experienced professionals to help you with your problem, however minor or major it may be. There may be some jobs that require a plumber and/or an electrician, which is completely normal, but the right first call will certainly be a hot tub repair specialist. You’ve spent a lot of money on your hot tub, and when it breaks down, you want to make sure that you are hiring the right person to fix it properly and professionally. While a plumber has many uses, and has a role to play in hot tub repair, they can only help with certain parts of hot tub repair.
Your hot tub matters to you, and it’s a key part of taking the edge off after a long week, or a hard day. But what happens when it breaks down or simply isn’t working well? How much are you going to have to pay in order to fix your hot tub properly? Here are some general pointers to keep in mind that will help you get a handle on the price range that you can expect. What’s the general range for hot tub repair If you’re looking for the quick answer, the general accepted range for the price of hot tub repair is going to between $100-$1, 000. Obviously, that ranges quite a bit and you’re going to want to know what end of the range you’re in, right? That’s totally to be expected, and we go into more detail below to help you out. How hot tub repair pricing works As with anything else, the piercing for hot tub repair is going to vary greatly based on what you need repaired. Also, is there more than one thing one? Or, if one thing needs be replaced or repaired, does something else need to be, too? This all factors into what you need done.
How to get a handle on the price Surprisingly, the best way to keep your hot tub repair prices as low as possible is to spend more money, regularly. Specifically, by looking at regular maintenance and tune-ups for your hot tub. These annual maintenance sessions may be a pain, but they can often help spot a problem before it becomes an expensive one, and it’ll help you save in the long-run. A $100 problem is better to spot first than having to go with a $500+ problem 6 months later, right? The other thing to remember, too, is that the simpler your hot tub is, the simpler it is to repair. Access to parts, knowledge on the system, and complexity of the job will factor into the labour pricing and cost of the parts themselves. If you are looking at investing in a new hot tub, or buying your very first one, you’ll want to be careful in choosing one that isn’t so specific that it’s going to be impossible to repair cheaply! If you find yourself in a situation where your hot tub isn’t working properly, the most likely conclusion you’ll come to is that you’re going to need to replace it. After all, any kind of repair is going to be ridiculously expensive and complicated, so it’s probably easier to just shell out the cash for a brand new damage-free hot tub, right?
Realistically speaking, the best answer to that question is going to depend on what’s wrong with your hot tub. What looks like a huge problem that is going to be expensive, could just a hypothetical $5 fix. On the other hand, what looks like a really simple problem could turn out to be one with an expensive fix. The only way to know for sure whether your hot tub is worth repairing or not, is to get a feel for what’s going on with it. Here’s what you should know about repairing your hot tub. When is your hot tub worth repairing vs replacing? There are three main factors to keep in mind when looking at repairing or replacing your hot tub. These are:
Age No matter how careful you are in taking care of your hot tub, age does play a role. One that is 25 years old is going to start showing its age sooner rather than later. In most cases, a 20-year old hot tub is going to be cheaper to replace than repair. This is mostly because you’ve gotten a great investment out of it, and als because they are made differently now, and the repairs for your old model will be expensive to source and actually fix. The repair quote When you get a technician in, they'll be able to check pretty easily to see what the problem is. Once they assess the repair needed and then estimate the cost (and labor), you’ll have the chance to see the numbers. When you get them, budget to the highest even number and then use that as your goalpost. If a new hot tub is significantly higher than that (including installation fees), it is probably worthwhile to do the repair. If they’re about even, however, a new one may be a good idea, especially when factoring in the energy efficiency of the newer options. Frequency of use The last thing to think about is how you use your hot tub. Those who use it several times a week are going to find that it is much more worthwhile to them than those who use it sporadically. This is often a personal choice and the quote can help factor into this, too, as it is still something to budget for, regardless of what choice you make. Regardless of what you decide on repairing versus replacing, the most important thing is going to be getting an experienced hot tub repair specialist into your space to see just what’s going on and how bad the damage is. From there, you can use those criteria to help you decide what the right approach is for you and your hot tub budget needs! |
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