Weekly — What You Do Yourself
Test water chemistry: Test pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and sanitizer levels at minimum once per week. In the Tri-Cities summer when evaporation is high and the spa is used frequently, test twice weekly. Adjust as needed to maintain: pH 7.4–7.6, total alkalinity 80–120 PPM, calcium hardness 150–250 PPM, free chlorine 3–5 PPM (or bromine equivalent).
Add scale inhibitor: Weekly scale inhibitor addition is essential in Tri-Cities water. This is the most important maintenance step specific to the Columbia Basin — do not skip it regardless of how good your other chemistry looks.
Check water level: Tri-Cities spas lose more water to evaporation than coastal spas — sometimes an inch or more per week in summer. Maintain water level above the minimum for the skimmer to function correctly.
Rinse the filter: A quick rinse with the garden hose weekly keeps filter flow adequate between deep cleanings. In summer with more frequent use and higher evaporation, rinse more often.
Monthly — Filter Deep Clean
Monthly filter cleaning with a chemical filter cleaner (soak the cartridge overnight in diluted filter cleaner, then rinse thoroughly) removes the oils, minerals, and debris that a water rinse doesn't dislodge. In Tri-Cities conditions, some spa owners find that monthly chemical cleaning is insufficient during heavy summer use — every 3 weeks is appropriate if the filter is showing calcium scale visible to the eye.
Most spa filters need replacement every 12–18 months regardless of cleaning frequency. A filter that's been cleaned many times develops micro-tears in the media that allow fine particles to pass through even when the filter looks clean.
Every 3–4 Months — Partial Drain and Refill
Draining 25–30% of the water and refilling controls total dissolved solids (TDS) and calcium hardness as they rise over time. This is more frequently needed in the Tri-Cities than in lower-evaporation markets because each gallon that evaporates leaves its dissolved minerals behind, concentrating TDS faster. Test TDS with a simple test strip — when it exceeds 1,500 PPM above source water TDS, it's time for a partial drain.
Annually — Full Drain, Professional Service
Annual full drain and refill is the single most effective maintenance practice in the Tri-Cities. It resets TDS, calcium hardness, and all accumulated chemical byproducts that can't be managed by chemistry adjustments. After draining, wipe down all surfaces (calcium scale deposits are much easier to remove when the spa is empty), inspect jet bodies and gaskets for wear, and clean the filter housing.
Annual professional service — what Desert Spa Repair provides — adds to the drain-and-refill: inspection of all pump components, heater element and connections, control board function, and topside control operation. We identify components showing early failure signs before they cause emergency breakdowns.