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If you just filled your hot tub with fresh water, it will take several hours to heat up initially, depending on how many gallons of water need to be heated. Check the Owners Manual for your specific hot tub model to find out how long the it should take to get up to temperature after a water change.

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If you plan to use your hot tub during the winter months, be sure to drain and refill your hot tub when temperatures are above freezing for long enough to drain your spa, refill it and allow the heater to bring the water back up to temperature. Much of that planning depends on where you live. If you can drain and refill your hot tub as late as mid-December, the water will last through winter until mid-March.

Also keep in mind that water evaporates quickly during a dry, cold winter. Be sure to check the water level to make sure it doesn’t fall below the skimmer level. If the water stops circulating, it won’t be heated.

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Weekly Hot Tub Maintenance

Check and clean the skimmer basket. Remove leaves and any debris that may have accumulated. Keeping the basket clean will ensure proper water flow.

You should also use a test strip to test and then and adjust the water pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness and sanitizer levels at least once a week. It’s an easy process that takes only a few minutes of your time.

Monthly Hot Tub Maintenance

Clean your filter. Just use a garden hose, spray the filter and rotate while spraying to thoroughly remove any debris lodged between the filter pleats. Use a degreaser to clean filters while changing water in the spa.

Every Three To Four Months

Drain and refill the hot tub. Wipe the surface clean with a soft cloth before refilling. Instructions for refilling and initially balancing the water are available in the owner’s manual.

Remove filters and spray clean. Soak in a degreaser (see package instructions). Spray down with a garden hose and replace.

Tip: You can avoid any spa down time by owning two sets of filters. Simply switch the filters to be cleaned with your other set. Then clean and store the set you’ve removed.

Intermittent Hot Tub Maintenance

Sanitize the spa. Your interaction with the spa will vary depending on how often you use it. We highly recommend the FreshWater^® Salt System included on Utopia^® Series spas and standard on Paradise^® and Vacanza^® Series spas.

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Replace your filters sooner if the filter is brown, gray or green, or if it stays dark yellow after cleaning. You should also replace filters if you notice that the pleated part becomes flat or the fiber begins to shred or fall apart. Also replace if the top or bottom of the canister has a split or crack.

When it’s time to replace your filters, check with your local Caldera^® Spas dealer for the Watkins filters specifically designed for your spa model.

For information on filter removal and replacement steps, please see the owner’s manual specific to the hot tub model you own.

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Hot tub filters are essential to maintaining clean water and ensuring proper performance of your hot tub. Dirty, clogged or worn-out filters will fail to trap contaminants and put a strain on your spa’s jet pumps.

Your genuine Watkins^® filters are designed to last 2 to 3 years. Here’s how to take care of them.

Once a month, it’s a good idea to remove your hot tub filters and spray them with a garden hose to remove any debris that may have accumulated between the folds.

Whenever you change out the water in your hot tub, give your filters a full cleaning. Remove them from the spa and spray away any debris that has accumulated between the folds with a garden hose.

Soak the filters in a spa filter degreaser (see package instructions for the product you’re using). After soaking the filters, spray them clean and replace.

Do not use a pressure washer or dishwasher to clean your filters.

Tip: You can avoid any spa down time by owning two sets of filters. Simply switch the filters to be cleaned with your other set. Then clean and store the set you’ve removed.

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The only negative is that most lifters disrupt the attractive, clean lines of a spa and the look of a smooth flat cover. That’s why Caldera^® Spas integrates the lifter bar inside the cover. The integrated bar helps complement the spa’s design, resulting in a much cleaner look and a more attractive design aesthetic.

Read this in-depth article to learn more about hot tub cover lifters.

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Cleaning and treating your spa cover, maintaining proper water chemistry and gently removing leaves, snow and ice will help your cover last longer.

You can find out more details on hot tub cover care from this article.

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1. Every four to six months use Caldera Spa Monarch Cover Shield to clean, condition and protect your spa cover. Cover Shield forms a protective shield on your vinyl spa cover which helps resist fading, stains and dirt.
2. If you notice the exterior of your cover developing a musty smell, discoloration or mold spots, this may be a sign of improper water chemistry. Contact your local authorized Caldera Spa dealeras there is likely a simple solution.
3. Gently remove leaves, snow or ice that has accumulated on your spa cover to avoid strain and eventual breaking of the foam core.

This article outlines more details on care of the hot tub cover.

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• The vinyl cover is torn, cracked or brittle. This can affect the safety, heat retention and beauty of your cover.
• The cover is not forming a tight seal against the top edge of the hot tub, which can cause heat loss and a reduction of your spa’s efficiency.
• Straps and locks are not functioning. If they are not in good condition, it may affect the security of your hot tub.
• The cover has become heavy, is sagging or has puddles forming on top, indicating that damage to the foam core has occurred.

This article details how to care for your hot tub cover.

Use our Five-Point Cover Inspection Checklist to quickly determine if your spa cover needs to be replaced

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