Your pool or spa is a place to relax after a long day. However, you must have a professional handle the cleaning and maintenance of this luxury item.

Regular maintenance will prevent problems from arising that could be harmful to you and your guests. It will also ensure you get the best value out of your investment.

Water Testing

The water must be tested weekly using a digital pool meter or test strips. This will ensure that your pH levels don’t dip below 7.0 or above 7.4 and will allow you to manage the amount of chlorine in your spa.

Cleaner water is safer for those who use the spa, as bacteria and viruses can cause eye, skin and lung irritation. Untreated water can also result in stomach cramps and diarrhea if swallowed.

Keeping up with cleaning and water testing will reduce your time on pool service & repair. This will save you money in the long run. A well-maintained pool will have a longer lifespan than a poorly maintained one. This is because well-maintained pools require less work and fewer parts to repair.

Filter Cleaning

The filtration system is one of the most important elements of your spa’s overall health. It removes invisible contaminants, distributes freshly sanitized water, and maintains proper temperature.

It’s also important to clean your filter regularly. A dirty filter can cause chemical imbalances and damage your hot tub equipment. This can also prevent your pool from performing efficiently, leading to poor water quality and increased costs.

Skim, brush, and vacuum the water surface weekly to remove debris. You can use baking soda paste as a basic scouring cleaner that won’t scratch delicate tile or liner surfaces.

Once a month, backwash your filters to dislodge any chemicals that the usual rinses cannot remove. For best results, use a filter cleaner specifically formulated for your spa and follow the instructions on the bottle. Then soak your filters every three months in a chemical soak, following the manufacturer’s instructions on how to mix and use the product.

Cleaning the Surfaces

Keeping the water clean helps keep it safe for swimming. However, the walls, furniture, equipment and other surfaces must be cleaned regularly. Mother nature and the people using the spa services will bring in wild and wacky things, from leaves and dirt to residues from shampoos, perfumes and other hair products. These substances must be sanitized (using the right chemicals) to eradicate germs and prevent disease.

Sanitation practices work best when everyone follows them consistently. It’s one thing to hang flyers reminding clients of proper sanitation procedures, but it’s another to ensure that all your staff members are on the same page. To help your team learn how to sanitize and disinfect correctly, consider taking an online course on infection control for the beauty industry. Barbicide, the spa, salon and barbershop disinfecting product manufacturer, offers two online certification courses. Their COVID-19 Certification and Infection Control for the Beauty Industry courses cover all the basics of sanitation and hygiene to keep your team and guests safe.

Plumbing System

The plumbing system of a hot tub or pool works just like the pipes in a home, and it needs to be regularly checked for leaks. This includes checking the water level to ensure it isn’t too low and that the pump works properly.

If your pool’s chemistry is out of balance, it will promote algae growth and could harm the liner or even make people sick. Regular chemistry testing and balancing will ensure the proper chemical levels are achieved.

It’s also important to regularly clean the surfaces of your pool to prevent slippery conditions and reduce the risk of slips and falls. This will include scrubbing tiles with a brush and special cleaner, vacuuming the skimmer baskets and cleaning the filter. It would help to regularly lubricate the pump O-rings with a special swimming pool lubricant. This will keep them from getting stuck over time and causing problems with your pump or equipment.