A swim spa is a fantastic investment your family can enjoy for years to come. To ensure a well running and long lasting swim spa, you need to keep it maintained. If you’re planning to buy a Swim Spa, it pays to know what mistakes you should avoid in order to get the most from your pool. 

We've outlined 10 common mistakes that many new swim spa owners make so you can prevent perfectly avoidable issues and enjoy your spa pool for longer.

Read more: The Top 16 Benefits to Owning a Swim Spa

1. Not showering before swimming

It can be tempting to dive right in and relax after a long day, but you will bring along outside substances which can damage swim spas. 

All of the hair products, body lotions, make up, deodorant etc. we use every day will come off in the water, cause water quality issues and clog your filter. 

Take a quick shower before jumping in to keep your quality high and reduce cleaning requirements.

2. Not wearing a swimming cap

If you are wondering how often you need to change the water of your swim spa, then 6 months is a good time to ensure good water quality. Over time, chemicals and other contaminants can build up and make the water unsafe for swimming. 

Also, dirt and grime can also stain or scratch the spas surface, therefore replacing water regularly is essential for swim spa water quality maintenance.

3. Not covering their swim spa

If you're going to submerge your head, make sure you wear a swimming cap. 

Over time, hair can get sucked up and eventually will clog your swim spa’s filter. This will put strain on the pumps and could cause a malfunction.

We suggest wearing a swimming cap if you’re going to submerge your head for swimming practice. This will keep hair out of drains and filters so they can perform at 100% and will require less maintenance.  If you don’t use a swimming cap, you’ll most likely find you need to empty the filters more frequently than otherwise.

Of course, you don’t need to wear a cap during a romantic soak, when taking a dip with friends, or just unwinding in the warm water at the end of the day. It just pays to wear a swimming cap for exercise and swimming practice. 

Read more: How to Keep Your Spa Pool Water Cleaner for Longer

4. Using household cleaning products

Even if your swim spa is under an umbrella or in a covered area, you should keep the cover on when not in use. 

All kinds of dirt and debris can settle into the spa and cause mechanical issues. Furthermore, your spa will get very dirty very quickly. 

Not only are our covers good-looking and hard-wearing, they are also designed to capture heat to maintain the swim spa water temperature and conserve energy, which saves you money. All mySpa Sydney swim spas come with a lockable hard cover - so if you have it, make sure you use it!

5. Using cheap spa chemicals

Using household cleaners is one of the most common and most damaging mistakes new swim spa owners make. These cleaners contain harsh chemicals that are harmful to your spa and, potentially, your health.

It is incredibly important to only use dedicated cleaning products for your spa.The chemical composition of spa cleaners is designed to work with the chemicals already present in the water to keep it bacteria free. 

Many household cleaners contain chemicals which react with the acrylic lining of your swim spa, causing damage to your unit. Some react with the chemicals in the water and the results can be toxic.

6. Having the wrong temperature

It can be tempting to choose the cheaper option when it comes to spa chemicals, but this can be a very costly mistake. Grocery stores or building supply stores that try to stock all types of products, often carry the lowest quality spa products available.

The main way spa chemical manufacturers save money is to add fillers, reducing the concentration of the active chemical ingredients which cost more. With a less concentrated product, you need to use more to accomplish the same thing. This disturbs the balance of the water which can lead to all sorts of problems such as damaged seals which cause leaks. 

The few dollars you saved buying cheap chemicals could be costly when you need to replace your pump. Swim spa water maintenance is important to ensure long-lasting life of your swim spa. Purchase your chemicals through spa experts or licensed dealers. Our staff are more than happy to show you the best products to keep your spa clean and performing at 100%.

Read more: How to Counteract Chlorine in a Spa Pool

7. Having the wrong temperature

The right temperature is essential for a healthy and low-maintenance swim spa. Keeping your swim spa too cold when not in use can cause damage to the internal parts. Keeping the spa too hot on the other hand, makes your spa a breeding ground for bacteria. 

We suggest setting your swim spa to around 24-27 degrees Celsius for exercise and 28-30 degrees for family fun and relaxation. For a therapeutic soak, you might like to increase the temperature to 36-37 degrees Celsius - this is closer to the usual temperature of a standard spa pool.

At higher temperatures, you should avoid soaking for longer than 15 minutes at a time, especially if you experience any heart problems.

8. Imbibing and soaking

Contrary to what you see in movies and commercials, it's not okay to drink alcohol while soaking in your hot tub or swim spa.

Consuming alcohol can cause dizziness, impaired senses and loss of consciousness if you're not careful. Poor motor function caused by one too many drinks can also lead to slips, falls and other injuries, so for your safety, skip the alcohol when soaking in your hot tub.

9. Not watching your kids

Rule of thumb: never leave kids unattended in any body of water - swim spas included. Hot tubs are generally safe for kids to play and splash around, but as a precaution, always keep an eye on your youngsters as they are at high risk for injury and drowning. 

It’s a good idea to establish some house rules for a fun and safe experience, and the top rule should always be don’t use the swim spa without supervision.

In addition, make sure that you limit their time in the hot tub. Children, especially toddlers and preschoolers, generally don’t have the best understanding of their own limits, and they may be at risk for heat stress if they spend too long in the water. Make sure that kids younger than 5 years old limit their stay to no more than 10 minutes at a time.

Read more: Spa Pool Safety in Australia 2022- The Complete Guide

10. Taking a dip with open wounds

Got an open wound, sore or infectious skin problem? Better skip the swim spa until you're completely healed. 

Hot tubs and swim spas have the ideal temperature and moisture levels to breed microorganisms and spread infection. Not only are you making your condition worse, you're also putting the other users of your swim spa at risk. 

If you have a chronic skin issue, consult your doctor before taking a dip in a swim spa.

Find your dream swim spa at mySpa Sydney

A swim spa can be a life changing investment for you and your family, but it’s crucial you err on the side of caution to ensure the tub’s longevity.

For a high-quality, easy-to-maintain swim spa, you can’t go past the offering at mySpa Sydney. Book a test dip or get in touch with us about the right swim spa for your needs today.