After each use
- Put the cover back on and latch it. Heat loss and debris are both cover problems.
- After a heavy session or a group, add a dose of sanitizer or a small shock so the organic load is handled before it clouds the water.
- Rinse swimsuits in plain water. Detergent residue is the main cause of spa foam.
Every week (twice a week if the spa is used daily)
- Test free chlorine or bromine, pH, and total alkalinity, and adjust. Alkalinity first, then pH, then sanitizer.
- Shock or oxidize the water to clear what the sanitizer has combined with.
- Wipe the waterline where oils and scum collect.
- Check the water level and top up if it is below the skimmer or filter intake.
- Rinse the filter cartridge with a hose if the spa is heavily used.
Every two weeks to a month
- Rinse the filter cartridge thoroughly with a hose, working between the pleats.
- Vacuum or net any debris on the floor and seats.
- Wipe down the cover top and underside, and check that the straps and clips are intact.
- Run the pump and jets with the cover off and listen for anything new: a whine, a rattle, or air in the lines.
Every one to two months
- Deep clean the filter cartridge in a filter-cleaning solution overnight, then rinse. Rotate two cartridges if you have them.
- Check calcium hardness. Soft water etches; hard water scales the heater.
Every 3 to 4 months
- Purge the plumbing, drain the spa completely, clean the shell, jets, and waterline, deep clean or replace the filter, refill, and start the fresh water with startup chemicals. This is the single most important item on the list and the one most often skipped.
Twice a year
- Clean and condition the cover with a UV protectant, and check it for waterlogging. TrueBlue does this for a flat $75.
- Replace the filter cartridge if it has been a year, or sooner if it stays grey and flat after a deep clean.
- Inspect the equipment bay for drips, and the cabinet for rodent damage before winter.
- Decide whether the spa runs through winter or gets winterized before the first hard freeze.
Handing off the recurring parts
Everything in the weekly and biweekly lists is what a TrueBlue Spa Care visit does: complete water test, pH and alkalinity balancing, sanitizer adjustment, routine shock, waterline and surface cleaning, debris removal, water-level check, filter inspection and rinse, and a basic equipment check, with the routine chemicals included and a record sent after each visit. Biweekly Spa Care is $135 per visit and Weekly is $100 per visit, year-round. The quarterly drain and refill is a Spa Refresh, and the cover is a $75 add-on to any visit.