I set out below a few ideas for a plan of routine maintenance that one might want care to use as a planning tool for maintaining your very own hot tub. Daily Routine Maintenance The maintenance of the water in the jacuzzi hot tub water is the key of the daily maintenance activities.

Three primary actions are important for maintaining the water in your Hot Tub in tip-top shape.

First, you should check the sanitizer levels by using hot tub test strips, which are relatively inexpensive and easily available but make sure you buy the right ones for the Sanitizer chemicals that you are using. Using these simple strips, you will be able to tell if you need to add any more chlorine or bromine to the water. I prefer bromine as it is a much weaker chemical than chlorine from which it is derived. Obviously one does need to use the correct strips.

Next, it is important that you check the pH balance of the water in your jacuzzi style hot tub on a regular basis. You will need the chemicals to increase or reduce the PH basically making the water have a higher alkaline or acidic level in order that you can maintain the correct balance.

The you must consider also that where a hot tub is subject to regular use it will accumulate natural body oils, perspiration, and other material that may mark the water line. Routine maintenance will include usual checking for and cleaning any water line so as to ensure that it does not become a permanent stain.

Weekly Routine Maintenance

On a weekly basis, you should consider adding an anti-foaming agent to your hot tub's water. Foaming bubbles are can very annoying while you are in the water. You should also remove and clean the Hot Tubs filter thoroughly making sure you remove any contamination. This is obviously very important for your hot tub's long-term efficiency and the water's cleanliness.

Finally, if you live in an area, which has hard water, then you will need to add an anti-scaling chemical to stop the build-up of calcium deposits on the sides and floor of your hot tub. The calcium can also build up on the sensors of the Hot Tub that regulate and deal with temperature and water flow, which can cause problems later.

Monthly Routine Maintenance

Every so often, it is a good idea to consider adding a water sparkle agent to keep your hot tub looking bright and clear. This is not very critical in the maintenance of your Hot Tub but of course, a pleasing visual appeal of clear water will considerably add to the experience.

Three Monthly Routine Maintenance

Depending on how you use the Hot Tub and the people that actually use it you should fully drain and inspect your hot tub say every three to six months. When you drain it, you should also flush some cold water through after it is empty to make sure all the stale water has been flushed away. When it is empty, you should give it a good wipe down and clean.

Also at the same time, one should clean the filter and inspect the filtration system.

Every 3-6 months (depending on frequency of use), you should of course carefully drain and inspect your hot tub. Give it a good cleaning, wipe down, and of course while it is empty, one should take apart, and clean the filter and the related filtration system at the same time.

In my view, the better-built spas in the world are made with a patented four layer strengthening process, which is called Dura-Bond ". This exclusive system combines the acknowledged beauty of Lucite-Xtra " Acrylic with a layer of ABS for shell strength and integrity. Then the maker of the better spas in the world add a layer of double strengthening material Dura-Bond ™. This high-density material is re-enforced with a fibrous chop material that adds very considerable strength to the Spa Shell. The process is completed with a thick layer of polyurethane foam.

Lucite-Xtra " cast acrylic is a non-porous material that resists stains like the build up of lotions and body oils, which can ruin non- acrylic spas. This tough, hard wearing, material keeps it shine and colour despite the use of sanitizing chemicals, high temperatures and exposure to sunlight. Its strong durable surface resists chipping, cracking and denting. Lucite-Xtra " is easily maintained with a sponge and mild soap. No additional polishing or waxing is needed to keep its lustrous appearance.

One can always check the quality of these Hot Tub Jacuzzi Shells by applying what I call the lipstick test. Because Enderol and other low cost surfaces are actually porous (a great place for bacteria to manifest itself), they are of course also much less resistant to staining which is why you would see a tile line around some of their spas. If you apply lipstick, then usually it is not very easy to remove. On high grade Acrylic, since it is non-porous, it will simply wipe right off.

When you or your friends are thinking of buying a Hot Tub Jacuzzi Spa it is always worth probing a little beneath the glitz of the packaging and presentation. Do not fall for the simle patter of a salesperson who simply repeats by rote some pre-planned presentation and very probably does not even use a Hot Tub Jacuzzi.

Make sure you buy from a long established American manufacturer and not just a cheap import from the East.