What should I do to my hot tub every week?

Rinse the filters with a garden hose, shock the water, and test your chemical levels, adjusting as needed. That weekly rhythm covers most of what keeps a spa in good shape between deeper maintenance.

How often should I drain and refill my hot tub?

Roughly every 3 months under average use, though it depends on how many people use it and how often. If water stays hard to balance or cloudy no matter what you do, drain it regardless of where you are in that timeline.

My water won't balance no matter what I do — what now?

Drain it and start over. A full drain and refill is the ultimate reset, and it's cheaper than it feels — there's only about $10 worth of water in a typical spa. Continuing to add chemical after chemical to water that won't cooperate usually costs more than just starting fresh.

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SPA CARE GUIDE

Your Spa Care Timeline

The at-a-glance version of everything else in this library — bookmark this one.

Every soak

Test your water before getting in.

Weekly

Rinse filters with a garden hose
Shock the water
Test and adjust as needed

Every 4–6 weeks

Deep-clean filters with SpaGuard Filter Cleaner

Every ~3 months (varies with use)

Drain, clean, and refill — see Draining Your Spa

Annually

Replace filters if worn or no longer cleaning effectively (semi-annually for swim spas)

As needed

Wipe down cabinet and acrylic surface — see Cleaning Your Spa's Surfaces & Cover
Clean/condition the cover

The one rule underneath all of it: more use means more chemicals and more frequent attention; less use means less. Test first, adjust slowly, and let the water tell you what it needs.

And if none of it's working

The ultimate reset button is a drain and refill. Chemicals cost more than the water does — at most, there's about $10 worth of water in your tub. If you're standing outside dumping chemical after chemical into water that just won't cooperate, stop. Drain it and start fresh. It's not a big deal, and it's cheaper than fighting it.