Water Care MaintenanceUpdated an hour ago
Clean filters keep your water clear day to day, but the water itself still needs looking after. Good water care means safer, more pleasant plunges and less wear on your chiller. This guide covers sanitising, how often to change your water, and how that differs across the range.
How often to change your water
| Tub / System | Change frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inflatable (Pod, Pro, Barrel) | Every 7–14 days | Sooner in warm weather or with frequent use |
| Arctic | Every 6–8 weeks | Triple-stage filtration extends water life |
| Acrylic | Every 6–8 weeks | Filtered system; sanitise regularly between changes |
| Cedar | Monthly | Sooner with two-person or high-frequency use on the Duo |
These are guides. More users, warmer conditions, and higher frequency all shorten the interval. When in doubt, if the water looks or smells off, change it.
Sanitising your water
Between full changes, a sanitiser keeps your water clean and safe.
- Use a non-toxic water treatment or a pool/spa-grade sanitiser, in minimal doses.
- Always check the product instructions to confirm it's compatible with your tub's materials.
- Add sanitiser after each fill, and top up as needed across the life of the water.
- With two-person or high-frequency use (especially the Cedar Duo), sanitise more regularly.
For sanitiser safety and material compatibility, see Water Treatment in the Safety section.
Step-by-step
After every fill
- Fill your tub to your usual level.
- Add a water sanitiser tablet or treatment per the product instructions.
- Replace the lid between sessions to keep the water clean and hold temperature.
Between sessions
- Keep the thermal-shield or insulated lid on whenever the tub isn't in use it keeps debris out and reduces how hard your chiller works.
- For tubs with a stainless steel liner (Cedar), wipe the liner with a damp cloth after each use.
- Top up sanitiser as needed, especially after heavier use.
Changing your water
- Power off the chiller at the wall before draining.
- Open the drain valve and empty the tub fully.
- Wipe down the interior before refilling.
- Refill, then add sanitiser to the fresh water.
For full draining and storage steps, see Storing Your Tub.
Signs something's off
Your water is telling you it's time for attention when you see:
- Cloudy or discoloured water — usually time for a change, or a sanitiser top-up
- A noticeable smell — change the water rather than masking it
- Slippery or filmy surfaces — a sign sanitiser levels have dropped
- Debris settling on the base — check your filter as well as the water
If the water clouds up far faster than the intervals above, the filter is often the real culprit see Filter Maintenance Full Guide.
Tips & extras
- Keeping the lid on is the single easiest habit for cleaner water and lower running costs.
- Filtered systems (Arctic, Acrylic, Ultra Max chillers) hold water far longer than inflatable setups let the filtration do the work, but don't skip sanitiser.
- Never overdose sanitiser to stretch a water change. Minimal, regular doses are safer for you and your tub's materials than one heavy hit.