Maintenance & Care

Hot tub ownership lives or dies on water care. Get it right and the water stays clear, the heater stays efficient, and the tub keeps doing what you bought it for. Get it wrong and you’ll spend a Saturday draining a green spa and wondering what went off.

The basics are unglamorous and not optional: regular testing of pH, alkalinity and sanitiser; water changed every four to six months and the filter hosed down at the same time. Filters themselves last a year — or replace at six months if you want the antibacterial coating active for every soak (it stays active for six months from first contact with water). Inflatable filters are smaller and replace every four to six weeks. Beyond that, seasonal habits help — autumn cover-check before the first frost, a spring deep-clean before usage ramps up. Below: practical guidance on chemistry, filter care, the spa cover (which does more for running costs than anything else), and the seasons that are actually demanding here.