Hot tub repairs cost between $200 and $500 on average. You can minimize those costs by maintaining your hot tub and keeping necessary supplies on hand. An elevated shelf in the garage is a great place to store your water care chemicals so that kids and pets will stay safe and you’ll always have them around. 

Your hot tub should be drained of existing water, cleaned, and refilled every three to four months at a minimum. Follow your tub manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning, and rinse thoroughly when finished to eliminate any residue from the cleaning products. This is also a good time to inspect your tub’s cover in good lighting for any leaks, tears, or other damage that might cause problems. 

Using your hot tub manufacturer’s suggested cleaners and methods, keep your hot tub filters clean to avoid a loss of water heat. This will help extend the filter’s useful life and efficiency. If the filter is more than two to three years old, replace it with a new one and buy a second filter to keep around as a spare.

If water is left inside the hot tub pump over a cold winter, it could freeze and severely damage the pump, water lines, and jets. That can cause leaks, which require very expensive repairs. Freezing or leftover water can stain and damage the hot tub shell, which leads to replacement. Even in mild climates, leaving sitting water in the tub or pipes for a long period of unuse is a bad idea, since disinfecting chemicals fade and the water can develop bacteria, algae, and other big headaches when it’s time to use the tub again.

Yes. If you test the water and the alkalinity is too low, you can raise it by adding an alkalinity increaser, which likely came with your hot tub’s chemical kit. In a pinch, you can use baking soda to raise the hot tub’s alkalinity. Raising the alkalinity will prevent the hot tub water from becoming too acidic.

Yes, air baths are good for you. They promote relaxation, improve circulation, and can even hydrate your skin. Since they’re gentler than water jets and whirlpools, they are a good choice for a wide range of homes and users, from children to adults. You can maximize the benefits by using them regularly for stress relief and by pairing the bubble effects with calming music, low lighting or chronotherapy, aromatherapy, and other relaxation techniques.