Keep Your Hot Tub Clean When You’re Not Home

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that you can’t take your hot tub on vacation with you. As your house sits empty while you’re gone, your hot tub will be unattended at home. And in the rush of packing and rushing to leave for vacation, it’s all too easy to forget that your hot tub needs a little work before you leave. How do you perform hot tub maintenance before a vacation?

When you leave home for an extended period of time, your hot tub sits idle for days or weeks. Stagnating water provides a breeding ground for bacteria and can result in an unpleasant experience upon your return. Don’t let that happen! Learn how to handle hot tub maintenance before your vacation.

You can’t take your hot tub on vacation with you, but you can do the next best thing: keep the water clean while you’re gone. Try these strategies before you leave. #SpasUnlimited Share on X

Drain the Water & Pipes

If you plan to use your hot tub immediately after your return, make sure you come home to clean water! If your spa has held the same water for longer than 2-3 months, drain the shell and pipes completely and refill with fresh water. Balance the chemicals as needed before you leave.

If you have no plans to use your hot tub right away, and your water needs a replacement anyway, drain the hot tub thoroughly and leave it empty until you come home again. You can refill and rebalance the water once you’re less pressed for time.

Sanitize the Water & Shell

Sometimes, you won’t want to drain your hot tub before leaving. Maybe you won’t be gone long enough to justify replacing the water, or maybe you just changed the water recently and don’t want to do it again so soon. Whatever the reason, if you choose not to drain your hot tub, sanitize everything. Use sanitizing chemicals to kill any lingering bacteria in the water and clean the hot tub shell. (Your spa contractor will tell you what chemicals your particular hot tub requires.) Shock your hot tub right before you leave, and don’t forget to scrub down the cover too! Leave your hot tub as clean as possible so no bacteria start to grow while you’re gone.

When you come home, check the water for any signs of improper sanitation. If the water looks cloudy or is producing foam, there’s probably bacteria or dirt in your water. Clean the water again and replace it if necessary to stop the problem from worsening.

Pro Tip: If you’re leaving water in your hot tub while you’re away from home, turn the heat and pumps to their lowest setting. This will save you some money on electricity while ensuring your water doesn’t become stagnant.

Hire Maintenance Help

If you’ll be gone for a particularly long time or just don’t want to take the time to care for your hot tub yourself, find a local maintenance expert who can handle the job for you. They’ll know exactly what they’re doing to keep your spa as fresh as the day you first bought it. When you come home, a clean hot tub will be waiting for you!

Enjoy Your Trip!

Leave your hot tub in good shape by employing a thorough cleaning method or hiring someone to care for your spa for you temporarily. With some planning ahead of time, you can ensure that your hot tub is fresh and clean upon your return. In the meantime, have a great vacation!

Join the conversation for more ideas for hot tub maintenance while you’re on vacation.