Hot Tub Maintenance vs. Pool Maintenance

A hot tub or spa might look like a miniature swimming pool, but when it comes to maintenance, they’re two very different animals.

The biggest difference is simple: less water and more heat.

A typical swimming pool holds thousands of gallons of water. A spa may only hold a few hundred. That means a couple of people getting into a hot tub can have a much bigger impact on the water chemistry than those same people getting into a pool.

Then add heat.

Hot water can burn through sanitizer faster and make it easier for bacteria to grow when the water isn’t properly maintained. Body oils, lotions, sweat and other contaminants are also concentrated into a much smaller amount of water.

Spa chemistry can change fast

With a swimming pool, we’re usually working with enough water volume that chemistry changes happen more gradually.

A spa doesn’t give you that luxury.

pH can move quickly. Sanitizer can disappear quickly. One heavy night of use can make water that looked great yesterday need attention today.

That’s why simply treating your spa like a small pool usually doesn’t work.

Spas also need fresh water

Pool water can often be maintained for years without completely draining the pool.

Hot tubs are different. Because contaminants and dissolved solids accumulate in such a small volume of water, spas generally need to be drained, cleaned and refilled periodically.

Smaller doesn’t mean easier

A 400-gallon spa may be much smaller than a 15,000-gallon pool, but gallon-for-gallon, it can require more attention, not less.

The key is understanding that pools and spas behave differently—and maintaining each one accordingly.

Pool Pro Florida CPO® Certified Pool & Spa Service Serving Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce, Florida