7 Best Benefits of Professional Spa & Pool Service

Owning a hot tub or pool is a great luxury for you to have and enjoy. Say you've had a long day at work, dealing with stressful coworkers, or you just didn't have a good day.

Coming home to your hot tub or pool brings another level of peace and assurance that you can count on. But, as with any luxury, there's a major part that can't be overlooked: maintenance.

Without proper maintenance, you may find that your hot tub or pool isn't operating at its best. That's when you know that you'll need a professional spa & pool service.

Don't worry, though — we'll walk through the necessary maintenance required and the benefits it can provide for you.

There are different tasks that a spa & pool technician can perform that can fix common issues and problems. Before we get into the benefits of a professional hot tub service or swimming pool service, let's dive into what type of maintenance is performed for hot tubs and pools, as well as the purpose of each one.

Hot Tub Services

• Site visits and inspections: First things first, your hot tub needs to be inspected by a professional. When it comes to hot tub inspections, the number of times you get it looked at depends on how often you use it and your hot tub model. If you use it pretty often, then naturally, you'll get it inspected more frequently. A good rule of thumb is to get your hot tub inspected annually to ensure your safety and keep it running at peak level. During an inspection, most technicians will check the breakers, heating element, pump and pump seal, jets, and any structural damage that there may be.
• Ordering parts and component repair: During the inspection, if any broken parts or areas aren't functioning correctly, the technician will either order the parts needed or repair a particular component. This is, of course, to ensure that there aren't any parts of your hot tub that are affecting the performance.
• Weekly testing, cleaning, and balancing of the water: You can't properly enjoy your hot tub without clean and fresh water. After all, you'll be relaxing and sitting in it! Every week, your water should be tested, cleaned, and balanced. Technicians will check the alkalinity, pH, and sanitizer levels of your hot tub, ensuring that your hot tub is healthy and clean. Even more, they will check the hot tub filter, which contributes to any defects in the water, such as cloudiness, smell, bacteria, and the much-dreaded algae bloom.
• Quarterly water changes: Again, clean water is everything! Every three to four months, your hot tub will need a little extra TLC. Your hot tub water will be drained and refilled to ensure that there's no chemical buildup that will cause performance issues.
• Opening, closing and winterizing: When wintertime comes around, you're probably going to want to close up your hot tub. Closing and winterizing your hot tub is no easy task and one you don't want to do by yourself. A professional will ensure that your hot tub is properly drained and cleaned before preparing it for winterization. This includes cleaning, testing the water, adding the necessary chemicals, and much more. Then, months later, it'll be in good condition for opening when spring and summer roll around.
• Correcting water issues: Having any problems with your water, such as foam or algae? No worries, technicians can fix this by shocking the water removing any contaminants and bacteria. Shocking doesn't involve electricity — those two don't mix. Shock is a large dose of oxidizer that "shocks" the water into a clean state.
• Hot tub covers: With hot tubs, evaporation is your enemy. Since the water is hot, naturally, some of it will dissipate into the air. It's essential to keep chemicals and heat in your hot tub while simultaneously protecting it from debris and damage. In addition, it helps extend the lifespan of your hot tub. Although you can pick one yourself, a technician will be able to recommend the best one for your hot tub. They'll ensure that your hot tub cover has the right level of foam density and foam thickness, along with a proper R-value, marine-grade vinyl, c-channel, vapor barrier, and safety locks. Also, they'll be able to perform a deep clean of your cover to prevent mold and other damage.

Swimming Pool Services 

• Site visits and inspections: Unlike your hot tub, you might find yourself using your pool a lot more than your hot tub. But, considering you'll only use your pool during the warmer seasons and maybe into early fall, a yearly inspection should suffice. However, it helps to have regular pool checkups to keep your pool in the best condition.
• Ordering parts and component repair: As with hot tubs, if any broken parts or areas aren't functioning correctly, the technician will either order the parts needed or repair a specific component. This is, of course, to ensure that there aren't any parts of your hot tub that are affecting the performance.
• Weekly testing, cleaning, and balancing of the water: Excellent water quality is the key to safe and healthy swimming. Each week, test the alkalinity, pH balance, and sanitizer levels of your pool water. The ideal pH range for your pool is 7.4 to 7.6. Based on these levels, you can then add the necessary chemicals to balance out the water.
• Opening, closing and winterizing: You can't just leave your pool uncovered during winter — that's a major no-no. Winterizing your pool reduces the risk of freeze damage once winter comes around. A technician will have the necessary supplies to clean and drain your pool properly before closing it, ensuring that it's ready to use in time for the warmer season.
• Correcting water issues: If your pool is experiencing any water issues, the first place a technician will check is probably the filter. The purpose of a pool filter is to clear dirt and other contaminants from your water. Without a clean filter, you're running the risk of cloudy and polluted water, which will make swimming not so fun.
• Vacuuming, skimming, and general cleaning: Vacuuming, skimming, and general cleaning are all essential to the health of your pool. First, vacuuming. Your pool should be vacuumed every other day. This doesn't have to be done by a technician, although it can be pretty labor-intensive. A good alternative is a robotic vacuum, which is an automatic vacuum that drives around the floor of your pool. Second, your pool should be skimmed daily to collect any dirt and debris on or below the water's surface. A skimmer functions similarly to a manual pool vacuum. Usually, a skimmer draws in water on the side of your pool and creates a siphon to your filter system. Lastly, your pool should be brushed twice a week to prevent dirt and algae from sticking to the walls and floor.
• Filter and skimmer basket cleaning: Filter maintenance depends on the type of filter you use — sand, cartridge, or diatomaceous earth (D.E.). Sand filters are best for large pools and are good if you're on a budget. Cartridge filters are better for smaller pools and are energy-efficient and inexpensive. D.E filters are the most expensive, maintenance-intensive option of the three. No matter which one you have, the filter should be deep cleaned one to three times a year by a technician, but light cleaning can be done monthly on your own. As far as skimmer basket cleaning, all you have to do is take the cover off the skimmer, pull the basket out, and empty whatever is in the basket. This can also be done on your own.
• Pool heater maintenance: If you notice that your pool isn't as warm as it should be, it may be time to check your pool heater or heat pump. Technicians will check if there is a tripped breaker, low water flow, clogged evaporator coil, thermostat malfunction, ice, leaks, or a freon pressure error.
• Pool safety covers: To keep out dirt and debris, you'll need a pool cover. Although you can pick one yourself, a technician will be able to recommend the best one for your pool. In addition, they'll be able to remove ice, rain, and snow, as well as patch any holes.

Benefits for Pool & Spa Owners

Now that you have a general idea of the different services that a pool and hot tub professional can perform, let's dig into the benefits that it can provide for you.

1. Peace of mind: This is a no-brainer — knowing that your pool or hot tub is properly maintained and taken care of takes the weight and pressure off your shoulders. Depending on your preferences, maintenance professionals can keep your pool or spa cleaned weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually. With a professional pool or spa cleaning service, you can rest assured that it's safe and clean at all times.
2. Timely cleanings and reduced downtime between appointments: A regular cleaning schedule ensures that your pool or tub water stays fresh and hygienic. In addition, it increases the life and quality of your pool or tub.
3. Equipment and integrity checks by a professional: This is probably one of the best benefits of a professional pool and spa service. Professionals are skilled in catching any problems before becoming big and costing you more money down the line. They're trained to detect and correct issues you may miss or overlook; therefore, you can trust their judgment and safely enjoy your pool or tub.
4. Balancing of chemicals: Without proper maintenance of chemicals in your water, you could run the risk of bacteria or algae growth, which could negatively affect your health. An improper pH balance can irritate your skin and eyes. Even more, it can affect your pool performance, as well as the quality of your pool. Although you can test your water yourself and add chemicals as needed, a professional will ensure that your chemical levels are optimal.
5. No need to store chemicals in your backyard: Ditch storing chemicals in your backyard, which can cause harmful fumes for you and your family. With a professional pool cleaner, you can leave the chemical handling in their hands, keeping you safe.
6. Save time and money: Now, you may be thinking, "I can do most of my own maintenance and save money." While that's true, there are some services that a professional can do more effectively and efficiently. As mentioned briefly above, you can overlook specific issues that can turn into something bigger later on. Therefore, when you hire a professional cleaner, you're investing in your pool or tub's overall health and quality, which saves you more money and time in the long run.
7. Ask questions and learn from the professionals: There are many things about your pool or tub that you might be unfamiliar with. The good thing about hiring a professional is that you'll get the answers you need to any problems or concerns that you have.

Schedule a Professional Spa & Pool Service Today

We hope this article inspired you to take the next step with your pool or spa. Not only can a professional maintain the upkeep of your pool or spa, but they also save you money and time while giving you the peace and time you need to enjoy it. For more articles like this and useful health and lifestyle tips for your hot tub, check out our blog and resource center.

If you're looking to schedule a maintenance appointment, look no further. Our experts at Pool Brite are just who you're looking for professional, top-quality spa and pool maintenance.

Need to find a new hot tub for your lifestyle? We're more than happy to help you browse our selection of hot tubs that'll meet your standards and work with your budget. Get in touch with us today!