Commonly Asked Questions
Categories & Questions Within Each

Water Chemistry

How often should I test my spa?
How often should I shock my spa?
Is Spa Defender™ important?
What does Spa Metal Gon™ do?
What can I do to prevent cloudy water?
Can my chemicals get old?
Why is my spa foaming?
My spa has odd-shaped, white chips on the bottom after I shut it off. Where is this stuff coming from?
Can my chemicals get old?
What if my water is cloudy?
Are there any chemicals I should not use within the same day?

Spa Filters

What maintenance do filters require?
How often do I need to replace the filters?
My cartridge filter is dirty, and I was told to just put it in my dishwasher to clean it. Is this the best
way?

Silver Ion & Ozone

What is silver ion sanitation?
Does ozone eliminate the need for other chemicals?

Spa Operation

How often should I drain and refill my spa?
Why do I no longer have bubbles coming up from the bottom of my spa?
The red light is flashing, what should I do?
I drained and refilled my spa. Why can't I get any heat?
Why are my jets surging?
I just refilled my spa and I'm having problems balancing my water. The pH is low and the total alkalinity
is too high. What can I do to fix it?

Warranty

What are the warranties?

If you would like to ask a question regarding spa & water maintenance please contact us.

How often should I drain and refill my spa?     (TOP)
Most spas should be drained and refilled with fresh water about every three months. Some
systems may allow you to keep the water in for up to 6 months.

How often should I test my spa?     (TOP)
Check your spa at least once a week with Leisure Time test strips.

How often should I shock my spa?     (TOP)
Shock your spa at least once a week, more frequently if your water is cloudy or hazy.

Is Spa Defender™ important?     (TOP)
Yes. It is important to your equipment to use Spa Defender™ weekly in order to prevent
calcium buildup.

What does Spa Metal Gon™ do?     (TOP)
Spa Metal Gon™ is a sequestering agent that prevents minerals in the water from staining the
surface of the spa.

What maintenance do filters require?     (TOP)
Filters should be hosed out monthly. They can also be cleaned using Spa Instant Cartridge
Clean™ or Spa Filter Clean™.

What can I do to prevent cloudy water?     (TOP)
The best way to prevent cloudy water is to monitor what goes into the spa. Try to minimize
the amount of oils and lotions introduced into the spa.

Can my chemicals get old?     (TOP)
The only product that may deteriorate are the test strips. Other products, such as chlorine
may be adversely affected by excess moisture.

What is silver ion sanitation?     (TOP)
It is a process of introducing minerals into the water in order to control bacteria.

Can I use ozone with silver ion sanitation?     (TOP)
Yes! Ozone will enhance the effectiveness of silver ions and can reduce need for other
chemicals.

Does ozone eliminate the need for other chemicals?     (TOP)
No. While ozone will enhance other products, it does not replace sanitizers, balancers, and
calcium inhibitors.

Why do I no longer have bubbles coming up from the bottom of my spa?     (TOP)
That is your ozone. Remove the filter caps. If you bubbles are back, remove and clean all of
the filters.

The red light is flashing, what should I do?     (TOP)
Remove and clean all of the filters. Shut off for 45 seconds, then turn on the spa. If the light
still flashes after this, contact your dealer for help.

I drained and refilled my spa. Why can't I get any heat?     (TOP)
Your circulating pump needs to be primed. Power down for 2 seconds and then power on for 2
seconds. Do this 5 or 6 more times. If this doesn't resolve the problem, remove the filter caps
and put a hose in the gray pipe. Then run some water in to force the air back out. Always fill
your spa by placing the hose in the filter area or gray filter stem.

Why are my jets surging?     (TOP)
The water may be low. Add water to the spa to at least the highest jet level.

Why is my spa foaming?     (TOP)
There are several reasons that a spa foams. A common cause is the rapidly moving water
combined with bathers bringing in soaps and detergents on their bodies and suits increases
foaming. Showering before entering the spa helps prevent this problem. If excess detergents
are the cause of the foam, use Foam Down™.

Another cause of foaming is soft water. This means that the calcium level in the water is low.
This can be corrected by raising the calcium to level to 200 - 300 pp by adding calcium
booster.

Organic waste build up can also cause foaming. By shocking the spa on a regular basis, the
wastes are oxidized out of the water and foaming is reduced.

I just refilled my spa and I'm having problems balancing my water. The pH is low and the total alkalinity is too high. What can I do to fix it?     (TOP)
When the pH and the total alkalinity are opposite of one another, always fix the low number
first. In this case, add a pH increaser (SPA UP™) until the pH is within a normal range
(7.4-7.6). This helps keep the sanitizer active and prevent problems with equipment damage.
Then, adjust the total alkalinity by adding a pH reducer (SPA DOWN™ mixed with water). This
will lock your pH into the proper range.

My spa has odd-shaped, white chips on the bottom after I shut it off. Where is this stuff coming from?     (TOP)
The white chips are calcium deposits (scale which forms on the heater elements) which are
knocked off when the blowers and jets are on. This can be prevented by using Spa Defender™
on a weekly basis to prevent the calcium in the water from forming deposits.

What if my water is cloudy?     (TOP)
To maintain clear water, we recommend using 2 ounces of Spa Bright & Clear™. Make sure the
ph and alkalinity are balanced.

Are there any chemicals I should not use within the same day?     (TOP)
You should not use Spa Defender™ and Spa Bright & Clear™ within the same 24 hour time
period.

How often do I need to replace the filters?     (TOP)
Filters will last approximately 5 years with proper maintenance in a Hot Spring Spa. Keep them
clean with Filter Clean™ solution and rotate them every time you clean them. If you have a spa
with only one filter, replace it every three years.

What are the warranties?     (TOP)
All Hot Spring Spas have a 7 year warranty on the spa shell and a 5 year equipment warranty.
There are no trip charges, hourly labor charges, or parts charges during the entire warranty
period. This warranty is NON-PRORATED! This means your only costs in owning your Hot Spring
Spa during warranty periods are electrical and chemicals.

My cartridge filter is dirty, and I was told to just put it in my dishwasher to clean it. Is this the best way?     (TOP)
The dishwasher will clean out the larger debris, but can also damage fabric on the filter. The
best way to clean your filter is to use a filter cleaner that contains both acids and detergents
and is designed specifically for cartridge cleaning. This will ensure that all oils, lotions, and
minerals will be removed from the filter.

If we can provide any assistance regarding spa and water maintenance, please contact us.