Are you planning to drain your swim spa?

Or are you starting it up for the first time?

Either way, you’re in the right place!

Follow our essential startup steps so you can swim, exercise and relax in your swim spa with clean, clear water and confidence!

New Swim Spa?

If you’re filling your new swim spa for the first time (whether it’s brand new or newly adopted, congratulations!), consider purging it first. Check out our article, “It May be Time to Purge Your Swim Spa.”

Yes, purging will take extra steps and time, but it can save you time, frustration and a lot of trial and error in the future.

Draining and Refilling?

Step 1: Clean and Rinse

Cleaning includes all swim spa surfaces. Thorough cleaning is crucial because any bacteria or tiny algae spore left behind could easily get into the water, where it will multiply and cause murky, cloudy, smelly or green water.

Clean the shell (the actual tub or the hard surfaces of your swim spa). And clean the cover inside and out. Also, clean the swim spa pillows, rails, steps, seats, inside the jets, the exterior of the swim spa … every surface, crevice and corner.

Bacteria and algae will cling to any possible surface, and the surfaces hardest to reach – underneath the curve of the rail, for example – are prime spots!

Then, rinse the surfaces thoroughly so no cleaning solution residue is left, this will prevent any unwanted foam in your swim spa later.

Expert advice: Use a nonabrasive cleaning solution with a gentle cloth or sponge to keep your shell safe from scratches!

Step 2: Filter Care – Clean or Replace

The filtration systems in swim spas help keep water clean and clear by removing debris.

Dirty, or damaged filters cannot do their job. Clean or replace filters regularly to ensure efficient water circulation. This helps maintain the quality of water in your swim spa.

Step 3: Fill it Up

Before you fill your freshly cleaned swim spa with water, it’s a great idea to take a sample of the fill water to your local retailer to check for Total Hardness (also known as Calcium Hardness). If it tests higher than 250 ppm, here are two solutions:

1. Put a hose filter on the hose you use to fill the swim spa and then fill it.

2. Fill the swim spa with water as is and then add descalers or metal-out products to help bring Total Hardness down.

Fill your swim spa so that the water level is above the jets but below the skimmer.

Be cautious not to overfill your swim spa, as the water level will rise when people get into it!

Step 4: Turn Up the Heat

Heat water to the swim spa manufacturer’s recommended temperature. For swimming and working out,  maintaining a temperature of at between 80°F – 84°F will keep you comfortable without overheating.

If you’re relaxing, most people enjoy a temperature between 87°F – 102°F.

Of course, you can always adjust temperature based on your personal preference.

Heating times vary, but it typically takes several hours to reach your desired temperature. Generally, water temperatures typically increase by  5 °F – 10°F per hour. Take note, however, that this will vary depending on several things including the size of your swim spa, whether its indoors or outdoors, and what the water’s starting temperature is.

Most swim spas won’t heat water over 104°F; at that temperature, your body will overheat quickly – numerous health issues are associated with overheating your body.

Step 5: Balance the Water

Water that’s out of balance, whether it’s pH, Total Alkalinity or Total Hardness, can not only make using the swim spa uncomfortable, but can also damage the walls, equipment and other surfaces around your swim spa.

Keeping your swim spa water balanced protects your surfaces and equipment from corrosion and scaling. Plus, your swim spa’s sanitizers work most effectively when water is balanced.

Expert Advice: Always balance swim spa water in this order:

1. Total Alkalinity

2. pH

3. Total Hardness

Stick to this order, and the process will be much smoother and easier.

Ideal Water Balance Levels

Total Alkalinity 80 – 120 ppm

• Starting with Total Alkalinity first will make it simpler to balance the pH. If your Total Alkalinity tests low, add a Total Alkalinity increaser or “TA Up.

• If your Total Alkalinity tests high, add the same product that lowers pH – it’s usually called pH Decreaser or pH Down.

pH 7.2 – 7.6

• Proceed to pH only when Total Alkalinity is between 80 – 120 ppm. pH is important to maintain clean, clear water that doesn’t affect surfaces or irritate skin.

• If your pH tests low, add a pH Increaser or a pH Up product. If your pH tests high, add a pH Decreaser or pH Down product

Total Hardness 150 – 250 ppm

• (Total Hardness is also known as Calcium Hardness or Water Hardness. In this article, we use the term Total Hardness.) Proceed to Total Hardness only when pH is between 7.2 – 7.6.

• Even though you checked your fill water’s Total Hardness earlier, it is important to check Total Hardness again to prevent corrosion of your swim spa’s surfaces. If your Total Hardness tests low, add a Calcium Increaser.

Additional Water Balancing Tips: 

• When using adjustment chemicals, add them in small increments and follow label directions carefully.

• Wait 6 hours between adjustments so your adjustment chemical has enough time to do its job.

• If balancing your swim spa takes longer than 2 days, add a chlorine shock to maintain sanitizer levels.

• Maintaining water balance is an ongoing process. You must regularly test the water and adjust the chemical levels accordingly.

• When Total Alkalinity is between 80 – 120 ppm, pH is between 7.2 – 7.6 and Total Hardness is between 150 – 250 ppm, your water is balanced and you’re ready to add your choice of sanitizer.

We recommend FROG^® @ease^® – the first and only complete swim spa sanitizer.  Designed for swim spa’s unique water volumes and temperatures, FROG @ease kills bacteria 2 ways, using FROG Sanitizing Minerals® and SmartChlor®.

Plus, it maintains a consistent low chlorine level – no more chlorine peaks and valleys.

Swim spa water stays clean and clear for weeks. Even better, you shock only once a month! Prefilled Cartridges make it easy to use, and it flips when the cartridge needs to be replaced.

With FROG @ease, water maintenance is much easier.

Step 6: Time to Enjoy, Without Worry!

It’s now time to indulge in all the relaxation and exercise you signed up for!

Want to leave all your cares and worries behind? Keep these swim spa safety tips in mind:

Swim Spa Safety Tips: 

• Keep hydrated and maintain hydration while soaking by drinking enough water throughout the day.

• Never leave children unattended in or by the swim spa.

• Keep the swim spa cover on when not in use.

• Avoid using the swim spa if you have medical conditions that could be exacerbated by heat.

The Startup Wrap-Up

That’s it for startup – now it’s time to enjoy! And thanks to this guide, you can successfully start up your swim spa and create a special space to relax, rejuvenate, exercise and make memories! Enjoy!