Quick Guide to Inflatable Hot Tub Set Up and Maintenance

Inflatable Hot Tub set up and maintenance can be overwhelming to begin with but once you know how, it’s a simple and easy process.

If you haven’t yet inflated and filled your hot tub, I recommend you first read our article ‘5 Steps to Setting up Your Inflatable Hot Tub‘ for tips on the initial set up of your inflatable spa.

Many first-time users find cleaning a blow-up hot tub challenging. Inflatable hot tub reviews suggest that cleaning the hot tub is one of the primary issues faced by spa owners. If you too face this issue, here is a detailed guide on cleaning your inflatable hot tub the easy way.

1. Cleaning Inflatable Hot Tub for the First Time

Inflatable hot tubs are quite low-maintenance, but you need to pay special attention the first time you use them. The product comes straight from the manufacturer, so there are a lot of small things you need to set up before it is ready to use. Follow the below steps when cleaning the inflatable hot tub before first-time use:

1. After inflating the hot tub, scrub the surface with a sponge or a soft rag. This will remove any small particles like debris that might have been present on the tub before packaging.
2. Fill the inflated hot tub with water and heat it until it reaches your desired temperature, most commonly 98°F-104°F (37°C-40°C).
3. Now, add sanitizer to the water. Adding sanitizer ensures that maximum microbes are killed in the water, making it safe to use.

Choosing Chemical Sanitizers

Chemical sanitizers play perhaps the most important role in keeping the water clean in a blow-up spa. Many people in inflatable hot tub reviews are apprehensive about using chemicals in the water. However, when used in the right amount, these chemicals actually keep you safer in the water. Let’s take a look at common chemical sanitizers to decide which one might suit you the best:

Chlorine

Chlorine is the most commonly used chemical for the treatment of water everywhere. Chlorine is a pretty cheap chemical and acts fast in the water. Chlorine dissolves completely in the water and doesn’t need to be filtered, so it is quite low-maintenance. On the downside, chlorine has a slightly higher pH and can cause irritation in sensitive skin. It also has a pungent smell.

Chlorine is commonly used as tablets or granules. Chlorine tablets can be used in a chemical floating dispenser inside the hot tub. Since the tablets dissolve slowly, they can keep the water clean for many days before the dispenser needs to be refilled.

On the other hand, chlorine granules are a powdered form of chlorine that is added directly to the water. The granules dissolve much faster in the water. This is ideal for people who only want to disinfect the water when they are using the hot tub.

Bromine

Bromine is another common chemical used for sanitizing water in inflatable hot tubs. Bromine is a good choice for people with sensitive skin, as it has a lower pH and less chance of causing an allergy. It also doesn’t have a bad odor, unlike chlorine. However, bromine is slower acting and can break down under the sun if the hot tub is kept in the open.

Like chlorine, bromine too comes as both tablets and granules. The purpose of the two also remains the same. Tablets are used with chemical dispensers to keep the water sanitized for many days. Granules are used to treat the water only before the use. However, since bromine acts slower, you might need to dissolve the granules for 3-4 hours before you can use the tub.

Mineral Sanitizer

A less common hot tub sanitizer is a mineral sanitizer. It is marketed as an eco-friendly substitute for chlorine and bromine. A mineral sanitizer uses silver and copper ions to clean the water. For people who have some kind of allergy to chlorine/bromine, or want to keep their water chemical-free, a mineral sanitizer is a good option.

However, there are some drawbacks to this method. Mineral Sanitizers are not 100% free of chemicals; they need small amounts of chlorine/bromine to work efficiently. A mineral sanitizer is also designed for rigid hot tubs, making it less ideal for inflatable hot tubs.

2. Tips to keep Inflatable Hot Tubs Clean

Regularly service the water filters

Water filters in a hot tub play a crucial role. They capture minute particulate impurities so that your water remains clean for the most part. However, there is only so much dirt these devices can hold.

Hence, it is advisable to clean the water filters every few days. Luckily, it’s easy and hassle free. Just put the filter under running water to give it a good wash. If you want to be more thorough, you can go with specialized brushes and chemicals to clean the filters more thoroughly.

It is also worth remembering that no matter how often you clean them, water filters need to be periodically replaced. The frequency of this depends on the quality and pH of water in your area, but the standard practice is to replace them every 1-2 months.

Shower Before Use

Always shower before you enter the hot tub. A quick shower helps remove dirt and natural oils from the body, which would have otherwise mixed with the water in the hot tub. A shower will also remove chemicals like deodorants and makeup that you might have used.

When children are involved, it is always prudent to ensure that they use the bathroom before entering the hot tub. Otherwise, your hot tub will meet the same fate as most swimming pools.

Regularly change the water

The greatest thing about a hot tub is the fact that you don’t need to change the water often. But how often should you really change it?

Portable spas come with great mechanisms for keeping the water clean. This ensures that you don’t have to worry about filling the tub every time you want to use it. But eventually, the water will start to accumulate dirt and grime, becoming no longer safe to use.

There are simple indicators to gauge how often you need to change the water of the hot tub. The capacity of the tub and the number of people who use it can give an estimate of how often the water must be replaced. For instance, a 200-gallon (757 litres) hot tub used by two people should ideally get the water changed every 33 days. You can lengthen this period by employing additional precautions like keeping the lid on whenever it is not in use. This will ensure that the dirt in the air does not contaminate the water.

Use chemical sanitizers

Sanitization is a key step in keeping the water clean in your portable jacuzzi. Chemical sanitizers kill the germs that develop in stale water, avoiding the risk of rashes and infections.

You must make sure that the water has been treated with chemical sanitizers before use. If you use tablets with dispensers, using them once will be enough for days. However, if you use granules, make sure you treat the water a few hours before actually using it. Chlorine and bromine are the most commonly used chemical sanitizers, but you can also look for other options. Also, look up the correct amount of chemicals to be used in the hot tub based on its individual specifications.

You can also use more chemicals for other purposes. Water softeners can be used if the water in your area has higher hardness. A saline solution eliminates the need to use chemical sanitizers if the water in your area is generally germ-free.

Check The pH Level

One of the most ignored aspects of keeping an inflatable hot tub clean is the pH level. Most people tend to not care about the pH level of the water or the huge role it can play in maintaining the quality of a hot tub.

The pH level is an indicator of the chemical composition of the water. Typically, the pH of the water is between 7.2 and 7.8. A pH level below 7.2 indicates that the water is too acidic and can corrode the metallic parts of the hot tub, like the pipes. A pH above 7.8 indicates that the water is basic and can cause mineral deposits in the hot tub. Both of these situations are quite undesirable.

You can keep a check on the pH of the water by using pH testing kits. These are quite cheap and have to be used only once every few days. To correct the pH of the water you can either replace the water entirely or use chemical granules that allow to increase or reduce the pH of the water.

Conclusion

Inflatable hot tubs are amazing, but every amazing thing needs proper care and maintenance. Knowing the proper way to clean and maintain your hot tub will not only keep you safe but also make the experience much more enjoyable.