The Top 5 Mistakes Spa Owners Make (and How to Avoid Them)
Owning a spa is one of life’s great luxuries — but it also comes with a few responsibilities.
To keep your water clean, balanced, and your equipment running smoothly, it’s important to avoid some of the most common mistakes new and experienced spa owners make.
At Pool & Spa Shop, we’ve helped thousands of Australians care for their spas the right way. Here are the top five mistakes we see — and how you can easily avoid them.
1️⃣ Neglecting Water Balance
Unbalanced water is one of the biggest issues we encounter.
Too much or too little pH, alkalinity, or calcium can damage your spa’s shell, heater, and pump — not to mention cause skin or eye irritation.
✅ How to fix it:
Regularly test your spa water using a reliable Water Testing Kit and adjust with balancing products like Bioguard Balance Pak and Lo’N’Slo from our Spa Chemicals Collection.
2️⃣ Using the Wrong Sanitiser or Too Little of It
Without proper sanitisation, bacteria and organic build-up can quickly take over, leaving cloudy or unsafe water.
Some owners try to “stretch” their chemicals to save money, but this can actually lead to higher costs in the long run when problems arise.
✅ How to fix it:
Use a quality sanitiser such as Bioguard Armour, which sanitises and oxidises in one step.
Find it in our Spa Chemicals Range.
3️⃣ Ignoring Filter Maintenance
Filters are the unsung heroes of your spa, keeping debris and contaminants out of your water.
When they get clogged or dirty, your water will turn cloudy and your system will struggle.
✅ How to fix it:
Remove and rinse your filters weekly, and deep clean them every month using Bioguard Filter Brite or replace them when needed.
We also stock Spa Filters to suit Fisher, Vortex & Sun & Soul Spas.
4️⃣ Not Cleaning the Spa Shell & Cabinet Regularly
Even if your water is balanced, dirt, body oils, and cosmetics can cling to the spa shell and cabinet, creating residue and stains.
✅ How to fix it:
Use our Spa Cleaning Pack for routine cleaning or the Spa Deep Cleaning Pack for a full refresh.
Both include everything you need to clean the shell, waterline, and cabinet.
5️⃣ Forgetting to Drain and Refill the Water
Over time, dissolved solids and contaminants build up in spa water — even if it looks clean.
If you’ve been struggling to maintain water balance, it might simply be time to refresh.
✅ How to fix it:
Drain and refill your spa every 3–4 months (depending on usage).
Before refilling, use one of our cleaning kits to remove any build-up and biofilm.
👉 Shop Cleaning Kits
Keep Your Spa Sparkling All Year Round
Avoiding these five simple mistakes will keep your spa clean, clear, and enjoyable.
At Pool & Spa Shop, we’re proud to be Tasmanian-owned and operated, with Australia-wide delivery on all spa chemicals, filters, and accessories.