Hot tub

[Chocaholic]

Long story short…Mrs. Choc and I bought a lake house (closing in 2 weeks) that has a hot tub on the patio. It’s less than a year old, so in good condition…hardly used.

I know nothing about these things. It will likely be a few months before we actually move as we prefer to get our current home sold before moving. Wondering just how much is involved in maintaining a hot tub and more importantly, can it be left for 8-10 weeks as-is?

[greglepore]

Yes. Drain it when you get there.
Water chemistry is easy, relatively. A new tub is likely to be fully functional. The only issue is stuff growing in the water, much easier than in a climate where an unattended tub freezes and does bad things. They're easy to diy maintain with a little knowledge. Drain, refill, dose with bromine or what you're going to use, and good to go.

[stevej37]

Petco has Sliders for $25 this week.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I have a jacuzzi brand we bought in 2018. I use it frequently. Modern tubs with ozone generators and clear ray tech are very easy to keep clean. I change the water every 4 months or so, once the water is balanced, just keep up on chlorine and shock. Very few issues overall.

[Chocaholic]

So, if unused for a couple of months, I should drain it and turn it off completely? I assume both of which are self explanatory? Then leave it covered or uncovered?

[Cajundaddy]

Fresh water is your friend. We always drained/cleaned the filter 4x per year and more often if the water got funky. If you drain it and leave it dry the plumbing o-ring seals may dry out causing leaks.

I typically tested the water with strips every time before entering and added 2oz di-chlor when we got out to keep it fresh.

Enjoy!

[MBAtarga]

Mike - we've had a hot tub for about 5 or 6 years. Pretty simple to maintain. If you are not planning to use it - I'd drain it until you are ready- assuming temps won't be below freezing. It's near impossible to drain 100% of the water out of the pipes though - so it might be best to just leave it running but at a lower temp then normal - 80 or whatever. I get supplies from Leslie's and they do free water testing. Most of the maintenance with our local city water is just adding shock.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Petco has Sliders for $25 this week.

I dunno. You can grow tilapia and eat them.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

So, if unused for a couple of months, I should drain it and turn it off completely? I assume both of which are self explanatory? Then leave it covered or uncovered?

Yes.

Letting your hot tub sit empty in the summer isn’t a problem provided that you have it properly secured with a cover. Having your hot tub covered is essential - in fact, one of the easiest ways that an acrylic hot tub can be damaged is by being left empty in direct sunlight. Doing so can actually void your warranty, so keep your cover on!

https://www.hydropoolhottubs.com/Learning-Centre/Blogs/Can-a-Hot-Tub-Sit-Empty

[WPOZZZ]

No energy drinks.

[greglepore]

I'd change the water on arrival only because its been sitting unattended and might be funky. Assuming you're not getting temps well below freezing you'll be fine just letting it sit. After arrival, drain, refill, adjust water chemistry (usually just add some bromine) and your good to go.
The one thing that makes the water funky quickly in use is cosmetics. They're oil based and don't degrade. There are clairifiers that bond to them but its easier just to avoid getting them in the tub.

If there are long times where you're not there, if its not going below freezing you can just turn it off and deal with it upon return. Shock it with bromine and algicide before you leave, and set the filter to run for an hour a day or not at all, temp off. Or drain. Up to you.

[Dixie]

You'll also need this.

[vash]

my friend bought a house with a hot tub.

he stared at it, and then called a dude to come service it for him, once. he stayed with the guy asking for tips and hints.

he said the guy didnt change the water, and simply treated it. dunno.

[billybek]

If there is no risk of freezing draining isn’t a bad option.
Maybe a pool service that can look at it every second week until you move in?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

I dunno. You can grow tilapia and eat them.

Yeah, but then you'd have to buy a 'salt water hot tub'.
You've never eaten turtle?

.

[Seahawk]

I took this photo at Choc's new place just before I hopped in:

[javadog]

^^^That pic reminds me of the last half of an all-night party in the cement pond/fountain on the back patio of a French restaurant around 1991, as the senior staff of the hospital I helped start had a dinner to celebrate the opening and Joint Commission accreditation we had just secured. The bar tab alone was $1700. All the waiters ended up in said pond with us. Good times. Someone deposited me on my doorstep at 5AM, I showered and back to work. Pissed off the wife, for years.

[HobieMarty]

https://youtu.be/yAJnpaFRrlw?si=-MC-inQL0smyXs26

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[911 Rod]

Make friends with the local pool store.

[SpyderMike]

I have been a hot tub owner at multiple homes over 30+ years. Here is a good forum I found that helps with related questions:

https://www.troublefreepool.com/forums/