POOLSIDE BLOG
Easy Spa Maintenance Tips
The key to looking after your spa is knowing the ins and outs of your unit. Having a reasonable understanding of its features will ensure not only that you get the most out of it, but it will also speed up the process if it needs any repairs down the track.
There aren't many things better after a long day than relaxing in your spa. Keeping your spa clean & healthy with some basic maintenance will ensure your spa is always ready for you!
The key to looking after your spa is knowing the ins and outs of your unit. Having a reasonable understanding of its features will ensure not only that you get the most out of it, but it will also speed up the process if it needs any repairs down the track.
Keep the water moving
The first tip for your spa is making sure you circulate the water every day. This is where knowing your spa’s features can come in handy, as it may have an automatic circulation feature that you can program. Flowing the water through your filter will help keep it free of contaminants. The more you circulate your water through the filter, the cleaner your water will be!
Quick Tip: Have a quick shower before you jump into your spa, the hot water in your spa extracts the oils and lotions from your skin, so a quick shower first will make things easier on your filter!
Weekly scrub
Regularly cleaning your spa is essential. A spa is prone to developing grime around the waterline, so a weekly scrub with a product like BioGuard SPA Squeaky Clean™ will remove any dirt, grease or stains and keep your surfaces bright and beautiful.
Giving your filter a clean using BioGuard SPA Filter Renew™ every month or so will increase the efficiency of your filter which in turn will reduce your overall maintenance cost.
Deep clean
On top of your weekly scrub, give your spa a deep clean every 3-4 months. Dose your spa with BioGuard SPA Swirl Away® and turn on the pump for circulation and then drain the water. This will cut through any scale and grime build up in your pipes and jets, and leave your spa sparkling. (Dosage rates differ for spa baths and outdoor spas/hot tubs so be sure to check with us for the correct dosage rates).
Healthy water
Keeping your water balanced is vital to keeping your spa healthy. This involves tracking the same elements as a pool: pH, alkalinity and sanitiser levels etc.
After a fresh fill, before you start adding any products to your spa, take a sample of your water in for a professional test and balance with us. From then on, we recommend testing your water at least once a week.
Aim for a pH level that sits between 7.2 – 7.6. Adding BioGuard Spa Comfort Up ™ to your water raises the pH and will not only keep you comfortable but also protect your surfaces and equipment. Equally, if you find your water is too alkaline, use BioGuard SPA Aquality™ to prevent cloudy water and prevent scale build-up.
Hot water is also the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, so to keep it safe for you and your family, regularly add a sanitiser such as BioGuard SPA Armour™. It’s both a sanitiser and an oxidiser, so this dual-action product will keep your water clean and crystal clear, and best of all you can add it straight into your water. No need to mess around with pre-dissolving!
It’s also a good idea to shock your water after a period of inactivity. A shock treatment with BioGuard SPA Purity™ will ensure the water is completely sanitised before you jump back in.
Let technology do all the work
If the thought of trying to remember a weekly maintenance routine leaves you feeling overwhelmed, why not use an app to take away the mental load? These days, there are a variety of apps available for your smartphone to help you keep on track. Set it up to send you a notification every time you need to attend to a task. Never again will you forget to test your water or add a dose of sanitiser.
And don’t forget that we're always here to help! We're always happy to answer any questions relating to your spa and can design a maintenance program specifically suited to your needs.
How to Winterise your pool
Now that autumn has arrived, and winter is fast approaching, your pool usage has probably declined. However, just because your pool has shut up shop for the season doesn’t mean you can forget about it… doing so might leave you with a green pool costing you much more than preventative maintenance would.
Now that autumn has arrived, and winter is fast approaching, your pool usage has probably declined. However, just because your pool has shut up shop for the season doesn’t mean you can forget about it… doing so might leave you with a green pool, costing you much more than preventative maintenance would.
SO, HOW DO YOU GET YOUR POOL READY FOR WINTER?
STEP 1. CLEAN IT
Remove all debris from the water, skimmer, pump basket and filters. If anything is left to sink to the bottom it can stain the surface and be a real pain to clean.
STEP 2. CHECK ALL EQUIPMENT
Ensure the pump is working and there is no calcium build-up on the chlorination cell. Try using BioGuard Salt Cell Cleaner to remove any calcification.
Throughout the cooler months, you’ll still need the pump, filter and chlorinator to run for at least 4 hours a day If needed, we can always service your pool equipment.
STEP 3. BACKWASH YOUR FILTER
To clean contaminants from the filter, you’ll need to backwash the filter. Follow these basic steps to backwash your filter properly:
Turn the pump OFF
Move the Multiport Valve handle to ‘BACKWASH’ & open any valves on your waste line
Turn the pump ON & run for 1-2 minutes or until the sight glass is clear.
Turn the pump OFF
Move the Multiport Valve handle to ‘RINSE’
Turn the pump ON & run for 1-2 minutes or until the sight glass is clear.
Turn the pump OFF
Move the Multiport Valve handle to ‘FILTER’
Turn the pump ON and set the timer to automatic.
STEP 4. BALANCE THE WATER
Everything in your pool becomes more efficient with properly balanced water. You’re primarily defending against algae outbreaks, but the surface and equipment will also last longer.
If you need to shock your pool, try using BioGuard’s Burn Out Extreme. It’s easy to use, is great for shocking or treating pools with chlorine demands and/or algae problems.
STEP 5. ADD A PHOSPHATE REMOVER
Although your pool might not contain algae, the addition of a phosphate remover like Pool Tonic eliminates its food source. No phosphates = no algae.
STEP 6. ADD A LONG TERM ALGAECIDE
A long-lasting algaecide like Bioguard MSA will kill algae & continue to remain active in the water for up to 3 months. This means that you won’t have to worry about any algal blooms while you’re not using the pool which could create a costly clean up when you’re ready to start swimming again.
STEP 7. USE YOUR POOL COVER
If you don’t have one, now is the time to invest. A cover protects your pool from debris, elements and evaporation. Let’s be honest, no one wants to be skimming and vacuuming when it’s freezing outside. Read our article about the benefits of pool covers here
STEP 8. CONTINUE BASIC MAINTENANCE
Continue to check the water chemistry and filter gauge every two weeks, adjusting where necessary.
Every so often, it’s a good idea to bring a water sample to us to give it the full once over.