Do spas require much service?
They require some attention. You have a vessel full of hot water and people in it, so, good maintenance and service are important to health and safety. But because spas are smaller than swimming pools, maintaining them shouldn’t be as arduous. Assuming that two or three people are using the spa, expect to add chemicals every week.

Do I need a company or can I do it myself?
Again, many factors need to be considered here, but if it is a small portable spa with a bather load of two or three, the homeowner can likely handle it if he or she is watchful and safety-conscious.

Hot water chemistry is a little trickier than regular pool chemistry. However, most dealers will be happy to give their customers a primer in spa care. As previously mentioned, it’s up to the owner to put the information to use and do the work on a timely, regular basis.

What is the most frequently replaced mechanical item on a spa and how much does it cost?
The controllers and the heaters are two common problem areas. Controllers, however, range from electro-mechanical to air-pressure switches to digital control boards. Cost variance is enormous, ranging from less than $100 to five or six times that for digital technology. Heaters are the heart of a spa (it’s a HOT tub, after all ) and technicians can usually fix their problems — whether it’s a bad switch, thermostat or contact. Spa heaters can cost close to $1,000, but it’s rare that the entire unit must be replaced.

How often should the water in the hot tub be changed?
This depends on the size of the spa and the average daily bather load. A formula has been established to help determine when to drain the vessel:

Gallons in the spa ÷ 3 ÷ average daily bather load = number of days between draining

For example, with a 500-gallon hot tub that has a daily bather load of two, you would divide 500 by 3 and get 166.66. Then, divide 166.66 by two to get 83 days. So, this spa should be changed about every three months.

How can I prevent foaming in my spa?
First, use the Saturation Index to make sure the water is balanced correctly. If an algaecide has been used recently, check to make sure it’s of the nonfoaming variety. High levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) also can cause foaming. If this is the culprit, draining and refilling may be in order.

The most common foaming villains are soap, detergent and shampoo residuals from bathers’ skin, hair and clothes. It’s a good idea to take a shower (without soap and shampoo) to rinse it all off before getting into the hot tub. If the water still foams, there are various products that will eliminate it. However, once again, if you don’t discover the root cause of the foaming, it’s likely to keep happening until you do.