Be good to your hot tub, and it will be good to you. That means taking care not to do those things that can damage your hot tub or cause it to be less efficient. Here are six important “don’t’s” to follow.

Maintaining your hot tub is a multi-step process that includes testing the water, adding the appropriate chemicals, circulating the water, cleaning the filters, and changing the water every few months. Neglecting any of these steps could compromise the quality of the water and even damage your hot tub. Be on a regular schedule of your maintenance, which can take less than 10 minutes per week, and you’ll keep your hot tub looking good and operating well.

You’ve been working in the yard all day, and you’re a bit grimy and dirty. While you think it might be easier to grab your swim attire and rinse yourself in the hot tub, think again. Bringing dirt and grime into your hot tub is a no-no. In order to keep your hot tub pristine, head to the shower first. Then enjoy the hot tub as a way to soothe your tired, achy muscles.

Bubble bath plus hot tub jets equal a foamy, frothy mess. Keep bubble suds, bath lotions, soaps, shampoos, detergents, and other foam-causing concoctions out of your hot tub. It’s also best to use a non-foaming algaecide to keep frothy conditions to a minimum.

If you have a pool as well as a hot tub, you may think it’s OK to use the same chemicals for both. Not so fast. Pool chemicals are similar to those used in a hot tub, but there are differences due to the higher water temperature and smaller amount of water used in a hot tub. Using pool chemical swill also cause the pH level in your hot tub to get dramatically out of balance. Not only can this cause damage to the hot tub, but physical problems, such as eye or skin irritations, as well.

Letting the water in your hot tub freeze can cause irreparable damage. That’s why it’s so important to be mindful of hot tub maintenance in the winter. If you keep your hot tub full of water, continue to run the power as you have done all year long. If you decide to winterize your hot tub by draining the water, make sure you do so correctly (or have a spa professional do it for you), as a poorly winterized hot tub is also subject to damage.

One last “don’t” for hot tub owners: Don’t let all your hard work go to waste. If you’ve done everything right in maintaining your hot tub year-round, don’t wait another minute before immersing yourself in the perfectly maintained and heated water.

Follow these water care and maintenance tips to keep your Jacuzzi® Hot Tub operating like new.