Updated 3-5-26
In a week of winter weather advisories and temperatures near freezing for some, it’s hard to imagine spring being on the march and prepping your hot tub for spring!
‘Spring Ahead’ this weekend
Here in the Catskills, when the clock springs ahead an hour this Sunday, March 8th, there will be a deep chill in the air. However, other NY areas we service — Long Island/NY Metro areas — those wanting to get their hot tubs ready for spring can expect to enjoy a lovely mild 50 degrees.
But 50 degrees or not, spring is undeniably on the march (pun intended) — suggesting this is the time to thoroughly clean your hot tub. Inside and out.
“Even if you closed your hot tub down for the winter, build up in plumbing occurs because of the anti-freeze. So this is a good time for everyone to purge the system as well as clean the interior,” says Mike Hayden, co-owner of Best Hot Tubs.
“In fact, anytime you change your water for routine maintenance is a good time for a purge cleaning.”
MIKE adds that, in the case of closed down hot tubs, the spa will have to be filled with water before adding the purge.
Here are Mike’s 11 Steps for purging and cleaning your spa:
how-to-clean-a-hot-tub
- If empty, fill hot tub with water
- Remove the filters and let them float in the water.
- Put your spa jets on high
- Add a purging gel. (We recommend “Hot Tub Serum-Total WaterCare System”)
- Let the serum run through the plumbing for 30 minutes with the hot tub jets on.
A serum/purge begins with a build up of foam which is a natural part of the purge process. Note: If the foam gets too much and begins to spill over edges of the hot tub, just turn off the jets for 10-15 minutes. Then restart again until you have completed 30 minutes of the purging.
6. Drain the spa, wiping/cleaning the interior down as you drain it. This will ensure no sticky residue from purged contaminants adheres to the shell.
7. Hose off filters (or change them, if it’s time). Reinstall them.
8. Remove the JetPaks (for Bullfrog Spas), drain them, and wipe them clean.
9. Refill the spa with clean water
10. Check the cover to make sure it’s in good condition and not retaining water.
11. Add the necessary chemicals and check they are in proper balance
12. Check the spa again over the next 24 hours to be sure it’s operating properly.
Bonus Tip from Mike:
Use a clean hose to drain a hot tub
Some who have used a purging product suggest that when refilling the hot tub, it’s wise to put a filter on the hose — or at a minimum let the hose run water for a bit so as to spill off any minerals or contaminants that have built up in the hose.
“People do not realize that a hose that lies on the ground or has some water inside it will develop a biofilm and bacteria just like a hot tub,” says the owner of the hot tub serum system.“We suggest having a clean separate hose that is kept dry indoors and used only to fill the tub.”
Of course, you can always contact our showrooms. One of our certified hot tub technicians can get your spa crystal clear and running in no time.
For a new spa or spa maintenance:
Best Hot Tubs Sales/Service/Windham, NY
Route 23 & Co Road 65, Windham, NY 12496 (518) 734-9100.
Best Hot Tubs Repairs and Service/Long Island/Metro, NY
Email: Carmen@besthottubs.com | Phone: (631) 465-0175
Relaxing in a Hot Tub:After applying the Hot Tub Serum system, organic matter that has built up unseen in the pipes is purged out. You can really relax in a spa that not only has a properly maintained pH balance, but has also been purged of any build up in the hot tub’s plumbing system. Photo: Bullfrog Spas
