Hot Tub Cleaning and Servicing page 2

Hot Tub Wall Brush

The wall brush is designed to brush the interior surfaces of the hot tub. It is made of an aluminum frame with a shank that fits the telepole, and the nylon bristles are built on the brush either straight across or curved slightly at each end. The curved unit is useful for getting into corners and tight step areas. Wall brushes come in various sizes, the most common for hot tub use being 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 centimeters) wide. Brushes are also made with stainless steel bristles for heavy stains or algae problems. Always use a stainless steel brush if you need the added strength of metal. Common steel bristles can snap off during brushing and leave stains on the plaster or plastic when they rust.

Hot Tub Vacuum Head and Hose

There are two ways to vacuum the bottom of a hot tub. One actually sucks dirt from the water and sends it to the filter. The other uses water pressure from a garden hose to force debris into a bag which you then remove and clean (see "hot tub Vacuum" below).

The vacuum head and hose are designed to operate with the hot tub circulation equipment. The hose is attached at one end to the skimmer suction port and at the other end to the vacuum head. The vacuum head is also attached to the telepole. With the pump running, you can now glide the vacuum head over the underwater surfaces, vacuuming up the dirt directly to the filter.

Vacuum heads are made of flexible plastic, with plastic wheels or a brush that keeps the head just above the hot tub surface. The flexibility of the head allows it to contour to the curvature of hot tub corners and bottoms.

The wheel version is best on larger hot tubs and those with plaster surfaces; the brush model is best on plastic surfaces that might be scratched by wheels.

Hoses are also available in economy models (thin plastic material) through "Cadillacs" (heavy rubber plastic material with ribs to protect against wear) and in various lengths (10 to 50 feet, or 3 to 15 meters). The hose cuff is made 11/4-inch (32-millimeter) or 11/2-inch (40-millimeter) diameter, to coordinate with similar vacuum head dimensions. Cuffs are female-threaded at the end that attaches to the hose itself, so you can screw replacements onto a hose. The best cuffs allow them to swivel on the end of the hose so that when you are vacuuming, there is less tendency to coil and kink the hose.