Delivery day goes smoothly when the base, the power and the path are ready before the truck arrives. Then fill, balance and sanitize, and settle into a simple rhythm: test a few times a week, clean the filter monthly, and change the water every 3 to 4 months.
In this lesson
What to have ready for delivery day
The first fill, in the right order
The first-year care routine, and what to do about an error code
What happens on hot tub delivery day?
The crew brings the tub on its side, wheels it to its spot, stands it up and sets it down. That goes smoothly when three things are ready before the truck arrives:
The base: level, solid and built for the full weight. Hot Spring and Cal Spas both exclude damage caused by an inadequate foundation.
The power: the circuit run and ready to connect. The trade association says to have an expert set up the electrical connections.
The path: at least as wide as the tub is tall, because it travels on its side. The median tub we track is 36 in tall. If it can't get through, it's a crane, at $800 to $1,500 or more.
How do you fill and start up a new hot tub?
Fill, balance, then sanitize, in that order. Master Spas' manual lays it out.
Fill through the filter compartment, with a pre-filter on the hose.
Add a metal sequestrant and let it circulate.
Balance alkalinity first, then pH, then calcium. Wait, retest, adjust.
Add sanitizer last, once the balance holds.
Heat it with the cover on, and stay out until the chlorine is back in your manual's range.
The CDC's levels: free chlorine 3 ppm or more, pH 7.0 to 7.8. Keep the water no hotter than 104°F. In the first month, test every day: Hot Spring says that's how you learn how much sanitizer your household uses. Step by step: hot tub start-up.
What's the care routine for a hot tub's first year?
Before you soak, and three times a week: test the water and adjust it.
Every month: clean the filter (Bullfrog says every 3 to 6 weeks), clean the cover and test the GFCI.
Every 3 to 4 months: drain, clean and refill. The six manuals we read range from 1 to 6 months.
Once a year: a new filter cartridge (Master Spas' standard one lasts about a year), and a new UV lamp if your manual says so.
A few minutes, a few times a week. The whole routine is on the maintenance schedule.
What if your hot tub shows an error code?
Don't panic. A code is the control telling you why it stopped. 39 of the 178 codes we've recorded are about water flow or a dry heater, because a heater won't run without water moving past it. So check the filter, the water level and the valves first, and reset the breaker once. An overheat code means stay out and take the cover off so it cools. If a code comes back, turn off the power and call the dealer who services it. Look yours up in hot tub error codes.
You're ready
That's the course. You now know more than most buyers walk in with, and enough to hold your own with any salesperson. Take the cheat sheet to the showroom, then enjoy the first soak.
Remember this
Have the base, the power and a clear path ready before delivery day.
Fill through a pre-filter, balance the water, and add sanitizer last.
Test a few times a week, clean the filter monthly, change the water every 3 to 4 months.
For an error code: filter, water level and valves first. Overheat means stay out.
Take the cheat sheet to the showroom.
Check yourself
3 quick questions. Tap an answer.
Starting up a new tub, when does the sanitizer go in?
How often do the manuals say to clean the filter?
The panel shows an overheat code. What do you do?
Want more on this?
Each of these goes deeper. They open in the library; the course will be here when you come back.
8 more lessons: how a good tub is built, what it really costs, what to ask at the showroom and how to get the best price, then your showroom cheat sheet. It opens right away.
