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How Often Should You Change Hot Tub Water?

If you're interested in purchasing a new hot tub, you're likely researching all you can about brand reputation and spa ownership. One thing you might be most curious about is how often you'll need to change your hot tub water. Draining and refilling your spa will be an important aspect of spa ownership.

Many spas need to be drained and refilled every three to four months due to chemical build-up. But the timing really depends on the water care system you choose and your usage habits. Changing spa water is a time-consuming task, and if you're new to hot-tubbing, the thought of having to do it every few months may cause you to think twice about purchasing your first spa. But here's the good news: HotSpring® has just introduced a water care system that keeps your spa water clean and ready to use for up to a year with normal use.

The new FreshWater® Salt System* is a titanium cartridge-based system that generates chlorine from salt in precisely measured amounts. One cartridge keeps chlorine levels in your spa low while maintaining clean , soft water for up to four months. Water care is something you can easily manage yourself, and with normal use, your hot tub water will last up to 12 months before it needs to be drained and refilled. This innovative approach to hot tub water care is available on all Hot Spring Highlife® Collection and Limelight® Collection spas.

The Freshwater® Salt System Water Care simpler

Traditional water care systems can be challenging to hot tub owners because sanitizers need to be introduced to the water manually. As a result, adding proper amounts can be a guessing game. It's largely up to the owner's judgment when to add chlorine or chlorine shock to a spa to keep it sanitized. If test strips indicate that too little chlorine is in the water, more must be added. Alternatively, if too much chlorine exists, there's little choice but to wait for it to dissipate. Continuously adding chlorine causes build-up, which means more frequent water changes.

The FreshWater® Salt System is the simple way to keep spa water clean, clear and sanitized for up to a full year. With just a little salt in your spa water, the system generates chlorine automatically so you'll spend less time measuring and adding chemicals.

The spa's control panel alerts you to system needs and you have push-button control over chlorine levels. The system offers:

  • Factory integration directly into your hot tub. The FreshWater® Salt System is integrated with the spa's plumbing. So, there are no parts to install, break, or lose, like with aftermarket salt systems.
  • Cartridge-based designed.The salt that generates the chlorine is contained in a titanium cartridge, removing the need to estimate or measure the amount of chlorine needed and the possibility of over- or under-chlorinating your spa. When it is time to replace a cartridge, you'll receive a message on the control panel.
  • Push-button control over chlorine levels. When you need increase chlorine levels in your water you're alerted by the spa's control panel.

To maintain clean water, you simply replace the corrosion-resistant cartridge up to every four months directly from the spa bar top. The process takes only two minutes and there's no need for a service call.

The FreshWater® Salt System keeps hot tubs water fresh for up to a year with normal use. This not only saves time on hot tub maintenance, allowing you to enjoy daily hydrotherapy and all of the emotional wellness benefits that come with owning a Hot Spring spa, but also helps you to conserve water.

Change hot tub water less with the FreshWater® Salt System

Water life can be shortened when a spa is heavily used or when a large amount of oils are introduced to the water. This is true of any water care system, of course. So, consider the following:

  • Remove suntan lotions, cosmetics, perfumes, and soap residue from skin. A large amount of oils can create a film on hot tub water and make more frequent water change necessary.
  • Rinse off sweat before using a hot tub. It's common to crave a soak after a heavy workout, but you'll want to remove traces of perspiration before enjoying hot tub therapy.
  • Limit heavy use. The more people in your spa, the more contaminants are introduced to the water.

With the FreshWater Salt System—our best salt water system for home spas—you can use your spa daily to get all of the benefits of warm water immersion without putting a lot of effort put into water care.

The FreshWater Salt System is built for water conservation

Refilling a spa three or four times a year equates to a significant amount of water use. Plus, heating the new water to the perfect temperature each time requires power. At Hot Spring, we recognize the importance of saving water. In fact, one of the main drivers behind the design of the FreshWater® Salt System is water conservation.

Reducing the need to drain and refill your hot tub not only helps save on water use, but also helps save energy, given that you'll have to heat the water from scratch much less often. Plus, you can always reuse your spa water as gray water to irrigate plants and wash your car or example. You'll just need to stop adding chemicals and let the water sit in the spa, covered, for a few days before doing so.

Starting with hot tub water that lasts and lasts

The first step to owning a new spa is to fill it with clean water. The Clean Screen® Pre-Filter attaches directly to a garden hose and filters metals, such as copper and iron, from the water. It also keeps organic compounds and tannins from making it into your spa. Calcium in your spa water can be removed with Vanishing Act® Calcium Remover. Beginning on day one with clean, softened water means you're starting off on the right foot.

It is also important to test for phosphates in your fill water using the FreshWater Phosphate test strips. Phosphates contribute to algae growth and will reduce the effectiveness of your salt system. If phosphate levels above 300 ppb are detected, your dealer can recommend treatment products.

Whether you're a first-time hot tub shopper worried about water maintenance or a long-time hot-tubber looking to upgrade to a spa with the latest technology, a new Hot Spring spa equipped with the FreshWater® Salt System is the obvious choice for the Absolute Best Hot Tub Ownership Experience®.

To learn more about Hot Spring spas and how the FreshWater® Salt System saves time, money, and water download a brochure

*The FreshWater® Salt System cannot be used on Hot Spring hot tubs manufactured prior to 2019.

*Many factors affect the life of spa water, such as bather load and water chemistry. When these factors are accounted for and the spa is properly maintained, the FreshWater Salt System will keep water clean and clear for up to a full year.