Looking after a hot tub in the Cyprus summer

A Cyprus summer is great for using a hot tub and hard on the water. Heat, strong sun and dust all use up your sanitiser faster than in the cooler months. A few simple habits keep the water clear and comfortable.

Why summer is harder on the water

• Heat. Warm water uses up sanitiser faster, and bacteria grow more quickly when there isn’t enough of it.
• Sun. Sunlight breaks down chlorine, so an uncovered hot tub loses it quickly.
• More use. More people in the water means more sweat, sun cream and body oils for the sanitiser to deal with.
• Dust and pollen. These blow in whenever the cover is off.

Test more often

In summer, test the water two or three times a week, and after any busy weekend. You’re checking two main things:

• Sanitiser, usually chlorine or bromine, which keeps the water safe.
• pH, which should normally sit between 7.2 and 7.8. If it drifts outside that range, the sanitiser works less well and the water can irritate skin and eyes.

Always follow the instructions on the chemicals you use. We stock test strips and several types of photometer, if you want more precise readings. You can also bring a water sample into the shop and we’ll test it for free and tell you exactly what it needs.

Keep the cover on

The cover is your best friend in summer. It keeps out sun, dust and leaves, and stops chlorine breaking down in the sunlight. Put it back on as soon as you get out.

Strong sun is also hard on the cover itself, so wipe it down now and then and check it isn’t cracking or sagging. A damaged cover lets in debris and heat, and lets out chemicals.

Turn the temperature down

You probably don’t want 40°C water on a hot afternoon. Lowering the set temperature makes the hot tub more pleasant to use, saves electricity and slows down how fast the sanitiser is used up.

Look after the filters

Busy summer use means filters clog faster. Rinse them regularly with a hose, and give them a proper clean with filter cleaner every so often. Replace them when they’re worn. Clean filters keep the water clear and stop the pumps working harder than they need to.

Change the water

Even with good care, hot tub water needs changing every few months, and more often if the tub gets heavy use. Fresh water is much easier to keep balanced than old water that has had a busy summer.

Going away?

Before a holiday, balance the water, leave the cover on and locked, and set the temperature low. When you get back, test the water before anyone gets in.

Need a hand?

If the water turns cloudy, green or smells strongly of chemicals, don’t keep adding more. Bring in a sample or give us a ring, and we’ll tell you what’s going on. We also service hot tubs, so if you’d rather someone else looked after it, ask us about servicing.