How expensive is it to maintain a spa?
It’s not very expensive. It won’t be as expensive as a pool because the service technician will spend less time sweeping and vacuuming.

If a bromine/ozone system is used, you’ll pay several hundred dollars for the ozonator, but in the long run, you will use less bromine and end up saving money. Vessel size and bather load play a role, though. The bigger the spa and the more it’s used, the more chemicals it will take to maintain it. Many spa owners maintain the vessels themselves and only call service techs if major problems arise.

But if you have a pool as well, chances are, there will be a way to have a package deal so the tech can care for both and give you a discount. Maintenance fees for pools can run anywhere from $40 to $150 per month, depending on the type and location of the pool. A fee for just hot tub maintenance likely would fall on the low end of that scale.

Is a spa difficult to maintain?
No, spa upkeep isn’t all that tough. Remember, though, that hot water chemistry is a little trickier than that of pools, and you are dealing with a much smaller vessel that leaves little margin for error. Be on the lookout, keep the pH, TA and sanitizers levels in proper range, and keep the hot tub covered when not in use.

Many spas use bromine as a sanitizer instead of chlorine. Can’t I use chlorine?
Sure, chlorine works just fine in hot tubs; however, bromine works better in a hot-water environment. Also, with chlorine, because hot tubs are small, chloramines can build up much more quickly in them and give off that “chlorine” odor everyone hates. Bromine won’t do that. Also, chlorine is susceptible to UV rays and requires a stabilizer (usually cyanuric acid). In a small vessel such as a hot tub, maintaining chemical balance is hard enough without having to add a lot of chemicals — especially acid. With bromine, that becomes a moot point.

Is there any system that will automatically dispense sanitizers into a spa to maintain its residual?
Yes. Several companies now make automated brominators that are built right into the spa.

Do you shock a hot tub in the same way you shock a swimming pool?
Yes, spas need to have excessive organic matter burned off the same ways pool do. How often will again depend on spa size, bather load and air temperature. (The hotter it is, the more frequently it will need to be shocked.) Also, heavy rainfall likely will mean shocking the spa if it doesn’t have a cover. Some veteran service techs suggest shocking every two weeks when the temperature is below 85 degrees, and shocking weekly when it climbs above that mark. Be vigilant in monitoring the spa — odors mean it’s time to shock.