How to Prep Your Hot Tub for Vacation in 10 Minutes

Testing and balancing your water routinely is great, but what happens when you’re on vacation and no one is around to care for your spa? It can’t exactly fend for itself, so it’s up to you (as usual) to make sure it’s not a mess when you get back.

Here’s about 10 minutes’ worth of prep to make sure your spa doesn’t self-destruct.

Maintaining Water Quality

Draining your water is going to take more than 10 minutes and honestly, that’s the last thing you want to do as you’re rushing to get everything dialed in before leaving. Let’s focus on what you can do to keep your water clean and clear:

Bromine/Chlorine Systems

Here’s what bromine and chlorine (that’s right Cl people, you should use Br while you’re gone) users should do before leaving on vacation:

1. Test and balance your pH, Alkalinity, and Hardness level.
2. Rinse the filter thoroughly. For an extra level of cleanliness, use ecoTUB Instant Filter Spray.
3. Fill bromine feeder with bromine tablets.
4. Set feeder opening to 1 (or the smallest notch) to decrease water flow to the tablets. This will help prevent over-brominating.
5. To save money on electricity, turn down the hot tub temperature to the lowest setting or set the spa to economy/standby mode.
6. Shock water with Oxy-Spa just before leaving.

Bonus Points: Use a ThermoFloat Blanket to reduce bromine off-gassing by trapping the sanitizer in the water. This will also increase the longevity of your hot tub cover.

Nature 2 & Alternative Systems

Do you use an alternative sanitizer like Nature 2 or Frog? Your job is even quicker and easier.

1. Test and balance your water like normal.
2. Rinse the filter thoroughly. For an extra level of cleanliness, use ecoTUB Instant Filter Spray.
3. To save money on electricity, turn down the hot tub temperature to the lowest setting or set the spa to economy/standby mode.
4. Shock water with Sanitizing Granules just before leaving.

Salt Systems

Your chlorine generator is going to be your little champion while you’re gone. Do these things:

1. Test and balance your pH, Alkalinity, and Hardness level.
2. Rinse the filter thoroughly. For an extra level of cleanliness, use ecoTUB Instant Filter Spray.
3. Reduce the run time of your chlorine generator by about half. This will help to prevent over-chlorination, which could damage your heater.
4. Chlorine continuously off-gases so use a ThermoFloat Blanket if you will be away for an extended period. The blanket will trap the sanitizer in the water, helping to maintain water quality.
5. To save money on electricity, turn down the hot tub temperature to the lowest setting or set the spa to economy/standby mode.
6. Shock water with Oxy-Spa just before leaving.

Other Hot Tub Maintenance

Filter Cleaning

Most times simply hosing off the filter will be just fine, especially if you’re in a hurry. However, if your filter is looking grungy, an instant filter spray in addition to hosing it off will help revive it.

Dirty or worn-out filters will wreak havoc on your hot tub water by spreading bacteria. It’s worth spending a few extra minutes to get this part right.

No time to clean filters? Replace them! Find a quality replacement Hot Tub Filter Cartridge.

Spa Cover Maintenance

One last thing before you go…

1. Rinse cover with a garden hose to loosen dirt and debris.
2. Use ecoTUB Spa Clean and a damp rag to thoroughly wipe down the cover. Repeat as necessary until clean.
3. Treat cover with 303 Vinyl or Fabric Protectant.

Read more about How to Properly Clean your Hot Tub Cover.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Latch and lock cover straps to prevent uninvited guests and neighborhood children from entering your hot tub.

When You Get Home

You’re back so you’ll want to slide right into your hot tub care routine by testing and balancing the water before getting in the spa. If you notice any problems, here’s what to do:

Cloudy Water

This is likely due to dead organic material in the water, use Oxy Spa Oxidizing Shock.

If the problem persists, see our comprehensive guide on How to Fix Cloudy Water.

Foamy Water

Shock with Oxy Spa, wait 15 minutes and test your pH and Hardness level, adjust as necessary.

If the problem persists, see our recommendations for Getting Rid of Hot Tub Foam.

Stinky Water

Test sanitizer level and adjust according to test strip readings.

If the problem persists, follow these instructions to Decontaminate Your Hot Tub.

Drain & Refill

For water that’s been in the spa for longer than 3-4 months, do a drain and refill. It’s not worth wasting time and money trying to revive water that’s not going to come back into shape.

Old water (3-4 months) has a high level of TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) and is very difficult to sanitize and balance.

Draining and refilling when you get home also allows you to start your hot tub with cleaner, more pure water. Here’s how:

1. Use Spa System Flush before draining to remove oily buildup in the plumbing. Drain and wipe down the spa shell with a damp cloth.
2. Refill the hot tub using a Pre-Fresh pre-filter that attaches to your garden hose. This device filters out impurities like odor-causing organics, heavy metals, scale, and other contaminants.
3. Thoroughly clean and re-insert your filter cartridge.
4. Test, Sanitize, and balance your water as usual.

Bon Voyage!

Do you have an unslakable desire to learn all about hot tubs? In addition to spa supplies and parts, SpaDepot.com has a fantastic How-To section with everything you could ever need to know.

Leave your questions, comments, and thoughts below!