Owning a hot tub should be all about relaxation, not a never-ending chemistry experiment or an energy bill horror story. But let’s be real—hot tub myths are everywhere, and they might be making your life harder than it needs to be.
The good news? We can bust those myths wide open!
If you want to enjoy your spa without unnecessary stress, expenses and damages, it's time to separate fact from fiction. Let’s dive into the five biggest hot tub maintenance myths out there and what you should be doing instead.
Myth 1: A Strong Chemical Smell Means the Hot Tub is Clean
You remove the cover, ready to soak in warm, soothing water—only to be overwhelmed by an intense chemical odor. You might assume this means your hot tub is properly sanitized, but the truth is quite the opposite.
A strong chemical smell is often a sign that the water chemistry is out of balance. High levels of chlorine or bromine can create chloramines, which are formed when sanitizers mix with contaminants like sweat, oils, and lotions. These chloramines are not only less effective at disinfecting your hot tub but can also cause skin and eye irritation.
The Right Approach
Instead of assuming that a strong smell equals cleanliness, use test strips regularly to check and adjust your sanitization method. Keeping the pH levels between 7.2 and 7.8 will help maintain proper water balance and prevent overuse of chemicals. To keep your hot tub water fresh and sanitary, shock the water once a week to break down chloramines and restore the effectiveness of your sanitizer.
Another essential habit? Shower before entering your hot tub. There is a reason why swimming pools and spa baths ask that guests rinse themselves off in the shower before taking a dip. Showering right before getting into the water can reduce the presence of oils, lotions, sweat, and other contaminants that interact poorly with sanitizers, leading to the buildup of chloramines. This approach will ensure odor-free, crystal-clear water without unnecessary chemicals and a more enjoyable soak. So, practice this habit at home!
Myth 2: Hot Tubs are Expensive to Operate
Many people worry that owning a hot tub will break the bank due to maintenance costs and energy bills. This just isn’t true.
While hot tubs do require some investment in cleaning supplies, these should not be putting a major dent in your bank account. If you think you’re spending too much on your hot tub, analyze your maintenance habits. You might be making common mistakes like draining the tub too frequently, overusing cleaning products, or replacing filters more often than necessary.
What about your bills? Your hot tub shouldn’t be blowing up your energy bills. Most modern hot tubs are built with strong insulation and energy-efficient settings to keep the water comfortable without consuming too much power. If you feel like your hot tub is making your energy bills higher, your hot tub cover could be the culprit behind the problem.
One of the signs your cover is costing you money is higher energy bills. If it’s an old, worn-out or low-quality cover, it won’t insulate the hot tub very well. Your hot tub will lose a lot of heat, which means it will need to use more power to function as normal.
Signs Your Cover is Costing You Money
One of the most effective ways to lower your energy bills is by using a well-insulated hot tub cover. A poor-quality or worn-out cover allows heat to escape, forcing your hot tub to work harder to maintain the right temperature—especially in colder climate zones. Investing in a high-quality cover can help you retain heat and reduce energy consumption. This should lower your monthly operating costs.
To maximize efficiency, consider adding accessories like a foam thermal blanket and a hot tub cover cap. The foam blanket will provide another layer of insulation to fight against hot tub heat loss. The hot tub cover cap will act as a strong barrier between the hot tub cover and falling snow, hail and rain. Not only do these environmental factors cool down your hot tub, but they can also deteriorate the quality of your cover over time. So, use this accessory to protect your investment and lower your energy bills at the same time.
Myth 3: You Need to Drain Your Hot Tub Frequently
Some hot tub owners believe they must drain and refill their spa every few weeks to keep the water clean. While fresh water is important, draining your hot tub too often is wasteful and unnecessary.
When properly maintained, hot tub water can stay clean and clear for several months. Constantly draining and refilling your tub not only increases water usage but also forces you to spend more on chemicals and energy to heat up fresh water each time.
The Right Approach
Instead of frequently draining your hot tub, focus on regular maintenance to extend the life of the water. Use spa enzymes and water clarifiers to break down organic contaminants and keep the water crystal-clear without unnecessary chemicals. A well-maintained hot tub only needs to be drained and refilled every 3-4 months. Sticking to an ideal schedule for draining will save you money and ensure that your hot tub is always ready for use.
The only time that you should ignore this schedule and drain your hot tub is when you go on a long winter vacation. Standing water in your spa’s plumbing system can freeze when the temperatures drop, causing expensive damage to pipes, seals, and other components. When you’re at home, you can watch over your hot tub and intervene when you notice freezing. When you’re off on a tropical beach for weeks at a time, you can’t do that.
To save yourself an expensive headache when you come back from vacation, drain your hot tub before you pack your bags.
Myth 4: Hot Tub Filters Need to Be Replaced Frequently
How often are you replacing your hot tub filter? Is it seasonally? Every few months? This is far too much. The filter in your hot tub is not like the filter for the water pitcher sitting in your refrigerator. It doesn’t last for a handful of weeks before needing a replacement. The filter in your hot tub is much sturdier than that.
Replacing your hot tub filter frequently is a huge waste of money.
The Right Approach
Hot tub filters are designed to be cleaned multiple times a year–not replaced. Regular cleaning removes debris, oils, and contaminants, ensuring your filter performs efficiently for an extended period. After cleaning, the filter can be placed back in the hot tub.
To get the most out of your hot tub filter, rinse it with water every 1-2 weeks to remove dirt and debris. Once a month, give it a deep clean using a specialized hot tub filter cleaner to dissolve trapped oils and buildup. Following this maintenance routine will extend the life of your filters.
With proper care, most filters can last up to a year before needing replacements. The average cost of a filter is about $40. So, you shouldn’t be spending well over $40 on filters by the end of the year.
Only replace your filter earlier than a year when it shows visible signs of wear, clogging, or damage. Find replacement filters for this annual maintenance task on our website.
Myth 5: You Can Use Bleach to Clean Hot Tub Components
Bleach is a strong household cleaner, so it might seem like a good option for cleaning your hot tub. However, using bleach can do more harm than good, causing damage to both the hot tub and your health.
Using the household cleaner could wreck your hot tub components, leading to some expensive and completely avoidable repairs. Bleach is highly corrosive and can weaken vinyl covers, erode rubber seals and gaskets, and damage the hot tub shell.
If bleach isn’t rinsed off hot tub components properly, it could make your next soak unsafe. Bleach can cause skin irritation, eye irritation and respiratory irritation when present in the hot tub.
The Right Approach
One of the best hot tub maintenance tips you can follow is to use cleaners that are specifically designed for hot tubs–not just any household cleaners sitting in your hallway closet. This includes that big tub of bleach.
Come to The Cover Guy for all of your hot tub cleaning needs. You’ll find chemical balancers, sanitizers, spa shock treatments, and hot tub cover cleaners. These products are formulated to effectively clean the hot tub water and components without causing lasting damage.
By using the right cleaning products, you’ll ensure that your soaks are safe and pleasant.
Ignore All of Those Maintenance Myths
Now that we've debunked these common myths, you can soak without stress and keep your spa in top shape with less hassle. Consider the best hot tub maintenance tips to keep your spa in peak condition without unnecessary costs. Armed with the right knowledge, you'll avoid unnecessary maintenance, lower energy costs and get the most out of your hot tub experience.
So, grab your towel, fire up the jets, and enjoy your perfe
