What First Time Hot Tub Owners Should Know About Water Maintenance and Health

When it comes time to bring your hot tub home, you might have a few questions about what it will look like to fill it with water. By knowing how many gallons a hot tub holds, you can have a better idea of the weight of the spa, the chemicals needed, costs moving forward, etc. To figure out the specific amount of water that your hot tub holds, you will need to consider certain aspects like size, shape, model, manufacturer, etc. Here’s everything you need to know about hot tub water and maintaining its proper health.

Determining How Much Water Is Needed to Fill Your Hot Tub

Aspects such as the size, shape, make and model all play a role in figuring out this information. Generally speaking, a four-person hot tub will hold 300 plus gallons of water. Of course, the more seats and people it will hold, the more water is needed to fill it. This is why there is no one definitive answer for how many gallons you can expect your hot tub to hold, since there are various aspects that play a role in this. To calculate the exact amount of water, you can use a little equation. By measuring your hot tub’s width, length, and depth, you can then put the numbers into this equation to determine how many gallons of water it holds. If you have a round hot tub, then the width and length measurements will be the same. The depth will be found by dividing the deepest and shallowest parts of the hot tub to find its average point. Then, input the numbers you’ve found into an equation of W x L x D x 7.5. The 7.5 of the equation represents how many gallons are in one cubic foot. This quick equation will provide you with how many gallons of water your specific hot tub model can hold. 

Filling Your Hot Tub With Water

Now that you know how much water your hot tub holds, you might be wondering what the best ways to fill it would be? The easiest way to fill your spa is by using a garden hose. Although it will take some time, it’s a simple means of getting the job done. You can also refer back to your trusty hose whenever you need to top up your hot tub if you find that the water levels are looking a little bit low. 

Maintaining Clean Water in Your Hot Tub 

By knowing how much water your hot tub holds, you can also determine how many chemicals it will need. At a healthy state, hot tubs will be at a pH of 7.2 to 7.8. You want to ensure that the water remains within these levels so that it’s neither too acidic, which is 7.2 or below, or too alkaline, which is more than 7.8. When water is below 7.2, it can cause itchy or burning eyes, which means that it’s not as sanitized as it should be. This high acidity could also damage your hot tub’s parts. On the other end of the spectrum, high alkalinity can cause foamy or cloudy water and scale build-up. So, how do you maintain proper water health? 

By regularly testing your water with testing strips or kits, you can determine if and when more chemicals need to be added. Many things can cause an imbalance in water health, from rainwater, dirt and debris to deodorants or creams that are worn by those in the water. Therefore, it isn’t necessarily something you’re doing wrong if you see that your levels are off, but just ensure you’re taking action to get it back to the pH level it’s meant to be. Having chemicals readily available, such as liquid chlorine, can be great to shock your water back to where it should be in a pinch. However, if you find that you’re constantly struggling to fix the pH levels, then you can very easily drain your hot tub and fill it with fresh water and chemicals, so there’s no need to worry! And if you have any questions about hot tub chemicals, you can contact a spa dealer near you to learn more. 

Download our free hot tub buyer’s guide today to learn more about owning a hot tub.