Water care basics.
Updated October 2026 · By the Lone Star Spas team in Texas
Test your water two or three times a week, keep sanitizer in range, rinse the filter every week or two, and drain and refill every three to four months. In Texas summer heat, check sanitizer more often because warm water uses it up faster.
Target ranges
| Reading | Target |
|---|---|
| Free chlorine | 3 to 5 ppm |
| Bromine | 4 to 6 ppm |
| pH | 7.2 to 7.8 |
| Total alkalinity | 80 to 120 ppm |
| Calcium hardness | 150 to 250 ppm |
The weekly routine
- Test with a strip and adjust sanitizer first, then pH.
- Shock after heavy use or a party.
- Rinse the filter with a hose, top to bottom, every one to two weeks.
- Wipe the waterline and check the cover straps.
Every three to four months
- Drain and refill with fresh water.
- Soak filters in filter cleaner overnight, and replace them about once a year.
- Condition the cover vinyl so the Texas sun does not crack it.