Hot Tub Cleaning and Servicing

Now that we have reviewed what makes a hot tub tick, including the components of water chemistry itself, we turn to the most basic aspect of water maintenance—routine cleaning and servicing. We first review the tools of the trade and then describe how to use them in a typical service procedure call and in special situations.

Hot Tub Tools

Cleaning and servicing a hot tub is not a simple task, there are many tools available for this task, here we will talk about some of these hot tub tools.

Telepole for Hot Tubs

Made of aluminum or fiberglass, the telepole (telescoping pole) is the backbone of the hot tub cleaning system. The one used most for hot tubs is 4 feet (1.2 meters) long, telescoping to 8 feet (2.4 meters) by withdrawing the inner pole out of the outer one. The two poles are locked together by twisting them in opposite directions, engaging a cam lock or compression ring nut. The end of the pole will have a handgrip or a rounded tip to prevent the hand from slipping off the pole.

At the end of the outer pole you will notice two small holes drilled through each side of the end, about 2 inches (5 centimeters) from the end and again about 6 inches (15 centimeters) higher. The diameter of the pole is designed to fit the various tools you will use; you attach them to the pole by sliding the end of the tool into the end of the pole, where it is held in place with small clips. Other tools are designed to slip over the circumference of the pole, but they also use a clip device to secure the tool to the holes at the end of the telepole.

Leaf Rake for Hot Tubs

The net itself is made from stainless steel mesh, and the frame is aluminum with a generous 16-inch-wide (40-centimeter) opening. The leaf rake shank fits into the telepole and clips in place as previously described. Be careful not to spill acid or other caustic chemicals on your leaf rake; either the metal or plastic mesh will deteriorate and holes will develop. Some leaf rakes are designed to disassemble and replace the netting as needed.