If you're a first time
hot tub owner let our easy to follow guide help you set up with success.
Hot Tub Delivery - A Word From The Team at Combined Shipping
Once your hot tub is delivered, in the desired position and the electrics have been hooked up, the next step is to set up your spa for first time use! At Combined Shipping, we offer several delivery options, including: kerbside delivery, delivery and positioning, and delivery and full set up. If you choose the latter, our team will complete the set up for you as well as offer full guidance on chemical balancing and maintenance. However, we know many of our customers are looking to save on delivery costs and therefore, opt for one of our more economical kerbside or delivery and positioning options. If this is the case, you'll need to know how to set your spa up properly without a member of our team present. That being said, we are always happy to help our customers via telephone or email, should you require any further assistance.
Please note, electric hook up will need to be installed by a fully qualified electrician.
Let's Get Started - Setting Up your Spa
Remove Packaging and inspect
At combined shipping, great care is taken to ensure our spas are transported securely and safely to minimise the risk of damage. However, its always wise to check over your spa upon delivery. Take a look at the skirt, shell and jet nozzles to ensure everything is in great condition! Report any concerns to your hot tub retailer.
Disconnect
Disconnect your hot tub from its electrical supply safely to avoid risk of shock during cleaning.
Wipe and Rinse
Although usually minimal, dust and debris may be found on your hot tub as a result of the manufacturing, packaging and transportation processes. A quick wipe down of the hot tub's shell and skirt will remove any potential contaminants and allow you to start with a clean slate. Use something gentle and non abrasive like a colour-fast microfibre cloth. Once wiped down, give the shell a quick rinse with fresh water from your hose or watering can. Do this with the drain valve open, and use paper towels or clean towels to soak up any water that may be left in the bottom of the spa (below the drain opening).
Check Filters
Every hot tub is equipped with a filter. The filter's job is to remove particles and contaminants from your spa water. Depending on the size of your spa, you may find it has two filters. Your filter can be found in the filter housing, which is usually located somewhere inside the hot tub shell. It should be easily identifiable but if you're having trouble finding it, speak to your hot tub retailer.
Once you've found your filter housing, check the filter is secured into place. Usually, the filter will be secured into place with a lid. The lid is placed on top of the filter and screws into place like a bottle cap, ensuring the filter is kept below the water.
Fill
Use your garden hose to fill your hot tub with cold fresh water. Fill to the fill line specified either in your hot tubs manual or using the 'fill line' indicator inside your hot tubs shell. The fill line ensures the water is at the required level for the filtration and pump to work properly. Filling too low may mean your water is not filtered properly or allow air into the system. Remember, if the fill line seems a little shallow, water displacement will mean the level will rise when people enter the water.
Note: some people choose to fill their hot tubs straight from their hot tap. You can do this by using a hose pipe connector. However, it is very important to ensure the water filling the tub does not exceed 40 degrees Celsius and to be mindful of your home energy costs as it may not be as economical to fill your spa this way. Your spa is designed to heat water from a cold temperature. Ultimately, the way you choose to fill your hot tub is up to you!
Turn On
Once the spa is filled, reconnect the electricity supply and turn it on. Set your desired temperature using your spa's control panel and allow time for your spa to heat up. This typically takes between 8 and 34 hrs depending on the size of your hot tub.
Run Jets
Running the jets will help circulate the water in your spa. It will also help to remove any air trapped in the system. Its best to wait until the water has heated to run the jets as doing so can hinder the heating process.
Add and Balance Chemicals
Now for the sciencey bit! Every spa requires some form of sanitiser to ensure the water is safe for bathing. whatever you choose, ensure it is safe for your spa and your skin. The most popular sanitisers on the market are chlorine and bromine. There are other types out there, such as mineral sanitisers. These are not always effective or even safe for use on your spa so always check with your manufacturer first. At Combined Shipping, all of our spas are safe for use with chlorine or bromine.
- Balance PH
The pH level of your hot tub water should ideally be between 7.2 and 7.8.Balancing water PH is important for several reasons. Do this before adding sanitisers, as it will help them to work better. Properly balanced PH will also help to reduce the risk of damage to your hot tubs components and ensure the water is gentler on your skin and eyes. To balance the PH, check the water using a hot tub test strip and add PH increaser/decreaser solution as needed.
- Shock Hot Tub
Shocking your hot tub is generally recommended before first use or after a water change. The term refers to adding a high dose of sanitiser to effectively kill bacteria and remove contaminants. Add the recommended dose of your chosen, suitable shock treatment and let it work its magic. Some shock treatments are non chlorine. These are designed for removing contaminants like oils and dirt, rather than sanitising. It's best to use this type of shock as a weekly treatment rather than after a water change or first time fill.
- Sanitise Hot Tub
Sanitising your hot tub is important to do both regularly, and upon first use. However, using a chlorine shock treatment will add a large dose of chlorine to the water, so you'll need to test the chlorine levels of your spa before adding any chlorine. Use a hot tub testing strip to check the levels of chlorine present in the water and adjust as needed. High chlorine levels will dissipate naturally with time. You'll need to wait until the chlorine has reached safe levels for bathing before entering the tub.
Test Again
Once all necessary chemicals have been added, test your spa once more to ensure everything is balanced as it should be. Adjust as needed. If your test strip shows high levels of chlorine, leave your spa for 24 hours and test again. Once your tester strip shows safe levels for bathing, it's time to take a dip and enjoy! *The information provided in this article is intended for general guidance only. Always consult your hot tub’s manufacturer manual for specific instructions and safety guidelines. Electrical work should be performed by a qualified electrician. The author and publisher are not responsible for any injuries, damages, or losses resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided. Ensure all chemicals are handled according to the manufacturer’s instructions and stored safely.
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