Swim spas were the natural progression of full sized swimming pools being downsized to lap pools and lap pools needing to be downsized even further. As urban areas become denser, space comes at a premium. While this once spelled bad news for the backyard swimming enthusiast, swim spas have allowed swimming to continue in ever shrinking spaces. Swim spas have the added bonus of mimicking some of the qualities of hot tubs. The reduced amount of water allows it to be heated to hot tub-like temperatures and used even in freezing temperatures. Water jet infused seating areas are a popular feature in many of today’s swim spas. For all their advantages, swim spas still require traditional cleaning and maintenance duties. If you’re curious about how to maintain a swim spa and how much effort is required to keep it clean, we’ve put together a short guide.
Water Chemistry and Cleanliness
As with swimming pools and hot tubs, one of the most important tasks involving swim spas is keeping the water clean and its chemistry balanced. Failure to do so can lead to an unpleasant swimming environment and all sorts of health problems. Therefore keeping on top of water chemistry issues should be the top priority. To ensure things don’t get too far out of whack, it’s important to test the water at least once a week. If a lot of people are using the swim spa or it’s otherwise getting a lot of use, you may want to increase the frequency of your testing. You can use paper test strips, liquid testing kits or even take a water sample down to your local dealership to have it tested professionally. The result of the tests will let you know if you need to add chemicals to rebalance the chemistry. Beyond regular testing, simple cleaning procedures such as skimming the water or vacuuming the walls and floor will help with cleanliness and balance.
Water Filter Maintenance
Anything that’s not scooped up in your skimming net or water vacuum will eventually get caught up in your filter cartridge. For this reason, it’s important to inspect and clean them regularly. Once a month is recommended. Check for any wear and tear before rinsing them off with a garden hose or spraying down with a cleaning solution. Depending on the type of filter cartridges you’re using you may need to replace them once a year.
Deep Cleaning
Again, it all depends on how much you are using your swim spa and the amount of contaminants it attracts, but you should give it a regular deep cleaning. This could be anywhere from every three months all the way up to once a year. You’ll need to empty the water completely and give the shell a proper scrub down. You might as well do the filter cartridges while you’re at it. Once you fill it back up again you will need to rebalance the water chemistry, but you can rest assured that you’re starting afresh again.
The Swim Spa Cover
The best way to reduce the amount of dirt and debris that gets in the water is to replace the cover whenever the swim spa isn’t being used. Not only will this keep the water clean, it’ll prevent water evaporation which affects the water chemistry and it’ll stop heat from escaping which will bring down your power bill. A lockable swim spa cover also plays a security role by keeping out unwanted guests such as children, animals or uninvited strangers. While a swim spa cover is generally listed as an accessory, they’re more likely a necessity.
Now that you have a better idea of how to maintain a swim spa, download a free buyer’s guide for more information.