Elite Spas & Leisure (SW) LTD
Fermoy's Garden Centre, Totnes Rd, Newton Abbot
Ipplepen, England
TQ12 5TN
Ipplepen, England
TQ12 5TN
Maintaining Your Spa
In order to maximize the strength and beauty of your Aspen Spa, it is essential to take proper care of it. We encourage you to read through these frequently-asked hot tub maintenance questions and should you have any additional queries, feel free to visit our St. Louis showroom or call Aspen Spas today at (314) 776-5050.
Hot Tub Maintenance
- No, it’s not difficult to maintain a hot tub.
- It does require some attention, but on average it only requires approximately 10 minutes/week.
- There are times where you will want to soak and clean the filters or drain and refill the spa and they do take more time, but on average is does not require a lot of time.
- Two to three times per week you will want to oxidize/shock the water.
- Once a week you will want to check the pH and Alk, rinse the filters and condition the water with clarifier.
- Monthly, you will need to soak and clean the filters with a filter cleaner.
- Quarterly, you will want to drain and refill the spa. Condition the cover at this time.
- Annually, you will want to flush or purge the spa and the internal plumbing.
- Most of the chemicals are powders or liquids and are simply added by pouring into the spa water.
- There are copper/silver sanitizers that are installed inside the filter basket, which are good for 4 months.
- It’s best to leave the cover open when adding chemicals to the spa water to preserve the underside of the spa cover.
- Filters are easy to change.
- You simply need to pull up the filter face, remove the basket and unscrew the filter.
- It’s best to do this when the spa is not filter, which creates downward pressure on the filter and much harder to remove.
- Filters work best if they are rinsed weekly and soaked monthly in a filter cleaner.
- Before soaking in cleaner, rinse briskly, then use a 5 gallon bucket, mix up a water and filter cleaner per instructions on the bottle and soak.
- It can sit as little as an hour or you can leave overnight. Rinse well before reinstalling the filters.
- How long do filters last?
- The life of filter is approximately 1 year.
- It depends on spa use and regular maintenance.
- Filters are paper and will break down over time and not be as effective.
- In order to protect your hot tub from the elements, you need a hot tub cover.
- Of course, the hot tub cover must be maintained in order to properly protect the spa, itself -that’s why we offer a guide to keeping your spa cover in premium condition.Cover Maintenance Guide
Troubleshooting
Just as with any advanced technology, there can be a learning curve with your Aspen Spa. We’re here to answer common questions and concerns so you can get back to enjoying your hot tub.
Please see our full troubleshooting PDF for specific operating and troubleshooting instructions.
ACC Spa Packs
Your ACC Spa Pack helps you digitally and easily regulate a number of your spa’s features, including its water temperature, lights, filters and jets.
ACC Spa Packs Troubleshooting Guide
Gecko Spa Packs (in.touch and in.stream)
Gecko Spa Packs, featured in our current models, also regulate and maintain your spa, as well as allow you to control your spa from your smartphone or tablet. Its in.stream technology lets you pair your spa with a Bluetooth device.
After your spa is drained and refilled, it’s possible for an air lock to develop. Aspen Spas offers a step-by-step solution to this uncommon problem.
Every so often after a spa is drained and refilled you may experience what is
called an “air lock”. You will hear the pump running but there will be no activity
from the jets operated by this pump. This is a sign that the pump is not properly
primed.
To correct this situation, please perform the following:
- Turn off the power to the spa.
- Remove the cabinet panel in front of the equipment.
- Turn the power back on to locate the correct pump that needs attention. Typically
you hear it running, but see no water moving out of the jets. - Turn the power back off.
- Locate the drain plug on the front of the correct pump and loosen it to allow the air
to escape. DO NOT TAKE COMPLETELY OUT, SIMPLY LOOSEN IT! You may hear
some air releasing, or a small amount of water may escape. Hand tighten the plug.*** If you have pliers large enough, you may also loosen the 1.5” or 2” union on
the end of the pump to release the air lock. - Turn the power back on and activate the pump to be sure that the jets are working
at full speed and then tighten the plug to insure that it will not leak. Loosening and
tightening the plug may require small pliers. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN. PLUGS
WILL BREAK OFF. - Reinstall the cabinet panel.
To keep your spa running at optimum efficiency, you must occasionally change the filter. Both our 50 square foot and 100 square foot filters are changed the same way, the only difference is there are 2 – 50 square foot filters in the 100 square foot system.
*Note: it’s best to make sure the spa is not running, filtering or heating when changing filters. When in any of those modes, there is downward suction on the filter and it is harder to pull the filter out.
Removing the Filter
- Slide the face of the filter upwards until it come free of the track. Once out of the track move the filter face towards the inside of the spa so as not to break off the floating weir door.
- Slide the basket out towards the inside of the spa. It has a track that guides it as well.
- You can now see the filter tops and each has a small handle. Turn the filter handle counterclockwise until the threads on the bottom of the filter are free.
- Lift the filter out of the filter housing.
- If 100 square foot filter, repeat steps 3 & 4 for second filter.
- Rinse and or clean the filters.*** Make sure you do not allow any items, i.e. rags, sponges, cleaning supplies, leaves, branches, nature 2 cartridges, metal foam disc, etc. to enter in the spa water and eventually get sucked down into the filter housing. This will eventually either get caught in the plumbing lines or at the pump and will reduce flow to the pump or potentially cause damage to the pump and spa, thus resulting in a chargeable service charge and will not be covered under any warranty, parts or labor.
Reinstalling Clean Filters
- Slide the filter back into the filter housing
- Line up the threads and turn the filter clockwise to secure the filter.
- It’s best to tighten the filter, then turn the filter back counterclockwise ½ turn to ensure removal the next time.
- If 100 square foot system, repeat steps 1-3 for send filter.
- Now that both filters are installed, slide the basket back into the track for the basket. Make sure it is secure, not floating and pushed all the way in otherwise the filter face will not fit.
- Final step is to install the filter face. Start with holding the weir door perpendicular to the filter face.
- Set the filter face with the floating weir door inside the filter housing and right above the track on which the face slides down.
- Make sure the basket has not floated out slightly.
- Slide the filter face into place.*** If you don’t make sure the weir door is perpendicular, it’s very easy to break off the tabs which hold it in place. Not a warranty issue, so please pay attention and do not force it. If it doesn’t slide on easily, something is not in the proper position.
Aspen Spas built since 2014 use Custom Molded Products – CMP ProLoc Jet Systems. Most of the jets in your Aspen Spa are replaceable, whether it’s the 2”, 3”, 4” or 5” jets, they all work the same way. There are some smaller jets that are always on, nonadjustable and you cannot exchange or replace them without getting to the inside of the spa cabinet.
To change or replace a CMP ProLoc Jet, simply push in on the outer ring of the jet and twist counterclockwise. It will release. You may find it’s easier to perform this task when the spa is not full of water and your hands are not slippery. You can use a rag or something that will aid in gripping the jets. It is best not to use a wrench to help get a jet out. Not only will you damage the face of the jets, you run the risk of the wrench slipping off and scratching the spa.
There are directional, pulsating, and twin roto jets in each jet size, 2”, 3”, 4” & 5”. If you choose to move jets around, exchange a pulsator for a directional, please make sure you are changing like sizes. A 3” jet will not fit in a 4” jet body or vice versa.
Jets
Most of the Custom Molded Products (CMP) Pro-Lock Jets in your Aspen Spa are replaceable, if necessary.
Over time pillows will deteriorate due to age, chemical gas off, ozone, heat, etc, so they will need to be changed from time to time. The pillows are very easy to replace.
- Slide one side of pillow down or up.
- Now slide the other side down or up.
- DO NOT PULL OUT! You may damage the pillow or even the fitting installed in the hot tub.
- To reinstall the pillows, simply line up the pin on the back of the pillow into the receiver installed in the spa.
- Push the pillow into place. You may need to give it a harder pop to get it to go in.
- Push in the other side.
Pillows
Just as any other pillow, your spa pillow can become worn and damaged. With your Aspen Spa, it is simple to replace.
To keep it running as smoothly and efficiently as possible, your spa should be drained every 3-6 months, depending on usage and other factors. When your water seems to be unresponsive to normal chemical procedures, it’s probably time to change.
- Before draining, for best results, add Spa System Flush to spa water.
- Run pumps on high speed for multiple cycles and on low for 12-24 hours.
- Turn down the heat to a low setting.
- Turn power off at outside GFCI breaker.
- Drain water down to foot well. To prevent an air lock, we suggest that you do not drain below the intake suction fittings. Most Aspen Spas are equipped with a built in drain.
- Hook your garden hose to the black drain adaptor and lay out hose to desired drainage point.
- Remove black cap from drain located on spa base.
- Screw adaptor into drain to begin draining process.
- Wipe down surface of spa with an acrylic cleaner.
- Reinstall drain cap.
Always refill the spa BEFORE restoring power to it.
Refer to priming the pump – aka air lock if you hear a pump running but see no water moving out of some of the jets.
After the spa has been refilled, follow chemical-start up instructions.
*** DEFINITELY NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS, BUT DON’T PANIC!!!
It’s cold out, but it will take time to for the temperature drop down and damage the spa. Many times, the GFCI is tripping due to a heater failure.
- Immediately call your Aspen Spa dealer and report the issue.
- Do not drain the spa! If you do drain it, there will still be water in the spa lines, pump and pack and that little bit of water will freeze much more quickly.
- Try to reset the spa GFCI disconnect breaker and before the heater tries to start, run the heat
down. - If that works, the spa will continue to filter and run, keeping the water moving.
If that does not work and the spa will not reset.
- Do not drain the spa! If you do drain it, there will still be water in the spa lines, pump and pack
and that little bit of water will freeze much more quickly. - Remove one panel on the hot tubs, ideally the front panel with the pump(s) and spa pack.
- Install a heat lamp or light bulb inside the spa cabinet. Take precautions so it is not touching anything flammable. The heat generated from the light bulb will emit heat and help preserve the spa plumbing lines.
- Reinstall the cabinet panel, leaving the bottom screws out in one corner so it does not pinch the extension cord.
There is no guarantee the spa will not freeze, but it has the potential to help protect the spa and plumbing by buying time until a service technician can assess the problem.
*** DEFINITELY NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS, BUT DON’T PANIC!!!
It’s cold out, but it will take time to for the temperature drop down and damage the spa.
- Do not drain the spa! If you do drain it, there will still be water in the spa lines, pump and pack and that little bit of water will freeze much more quickly.
- When the power does come back on, make sure the spa is operating normally.
- If power outage or power surge damaged the spa equipment and it will not turn on,
immediately call your Aspen Spa dealer and report the issue. - Remove one panel on the hot tubs, ideally the front panel with the pump(s) and spa pack.
- Install a heat lamp or light bulb inside the spa cabinet. Take precautions so it is not touching anything flammable and safe. The heat generated from the light bulb will emit heat and help keep the spa plumbing lines from freezing.
- Reinstall the cabinet panel, leaving the bottom screws out in one corner so it does not pinch
the extension cord.
There is no guarantee the spa will not freeze, but it has the potential to help protect the spa and plumbing by buying time until a service technician can assess the problem.
Winter Care
In the colder months, it is possible for your GFCI to trip or the power to go out. There are a number of precautions you must take if either of these incidences occur.
Request Maintenance
Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch, or we will forward your request to your local dealer.
