Maintenance & Proper Care

Congratulations on becoming the owner of a new American Whirlpool! Your hot tub is a wonderful outlet for health, relaxation, and fun. We’re here to set you up for success. Use this simple step-by-step guide for the set-up and maintenance of your hot tub.

Start-Up Weekly Schedule Ongoing Maintenance

Cloudy Water

Possible Cause (PC): Inadequate filtration or dirty filter.

Potential Solution (PS): Check that the filter is securely attached. Clean or replace the filter.

PC: Water is not balanced.

PS: Shock water with Non-Chlorine and add sanitizer of choice to get the ppm up to 1-3

PC: Unfiltered particles or chemically saturated water

PS: Use Water Clarifier to combine particles so the filter can pick it out or drain the spa (then clean filter after 24 hours), clean and refill UV Bilb must be changed annually.

Chemical Odor

PC: Buildup of chloramines/bromamines (by product sanitizer) in the water.

PS: Shock water with Non-Chlorine choick or drain and refill.

Musty Odor

PC: Not enough sanitizer in water, bacteria present in water

PS: Add spa sanitizer of choice to reach a reading of 1-3 ppm and also use Non-Chlorine shock. Re-adjust sanitizer level as necessary.

Foaming

PC: HIgh concentration of body oils, lotions, or soaps as well as excessive contiminates.

PS: Use spa defoamer and adjust pH and sanitizer levels as necessary. Or drain, clean, and refill.

PC: Low or Zero Total Hardness (Calcium) causing milky water

PS: Raise Total Hardness (Calcium) level to 150-400 ppm.

Green Water-Algae

PC: Low sanitizer level or high pH

PS: Make any needed adjustments using pH Up or Alkalinity Up or pH/Alkalinity down. Add spa sanitizer of choice as necessary.

Erratic pH Test Color

PC: Sanitizer level is too high.

PS: Test pH level again when sanitizer level is below 5 ppm. Drain half of hot tub water and refill.

Corrosion or Appearance of Rust

PC: Low pH level

PS: Adjust with pH Up or Alkalinity Up

Failure to Get Sanitizer Reading

PC: Sanitizer level is too low

PS: Add spa sanitizer of choice until sanitizer level tests in recommended range

PC: Algae present

PS: Dirty water will consume the sanitizer as soon as it is added. Add more sanitizer of choice until test stays in recommended range. Or drain, clean, and refill.

PC: If test strip remains “white” even after sanitizer is added, sanitizer level is extremely high.

PS: Refer to Too Much Sanitizer section below

Too Much Sanitizer

PC: Too much sanitizer added or dispensed into the hot tube

PS: Activate jets with air control open. Allow jets to run for 30 minutes. Test water with a test strip to see if desired level has been reached. Do not use hot tub until sanitizer level registers below 5ppm.

PS: Drain 1/2 spa and refill.

Eye and Skin Irritation

PC: Contaminants or excessive amount of chloramines/bromamines in water.

PS: Shock water with Non-Chlorine shock. Adjust sanitizer level.

PC: pH level is low

PS: Adjust pH level as needed with pH & Alkalinity Up

Overheating Water in Your Spa

Potential Cause: Summer temperatures could be making your hot tub water too hot

Potential Solutions:

Your spa is manufactured with energy-efficient components and systems that capture hear generated by the equipment, then transfer that heat back to the spa water. In warner weather, or in situations with extended run times, Thermal Creep may occur. Thermal Creep is a conditions whereby the actual water temperature is high than the set temperature.

To manage Thermal Creep you can:

• Vent your cover. Never covers have removable center seal padding. To remove this padding, open the Velcro on one side of the vinyl pouch and slide out the white padding.

• If your spa does not have removable center seal padding, you may instead place a folded cloth about 3/4” (2cm) thick under all four corners of the cover before you lock it down.

• Open the cover at night to quickly cool down the water if needed.

• FUN TIP: Fill three or four empty gallon milk jugs with water and freeze them. Place them in your hot tub a few minutes before you want to use it. This will cool it down several degrees relatively quickly. After you are done, put them back in the freezer so they are ready for your next soak.