How to clean spa pipes with a pipe degreaser

Keeping your spa pool spick and span is all part of good spa pool maintenance, however, looks can be deceiving. Cleaning your spa thoroughly doesn’t end with the spa shell, jets, and water but should go far deeper into the spa pool plumbing and internal pipes.

Neglecting to clean your spa pool’s plumbing can lead to a variety of issues, mainly a spa pool that never really feels fresh, or one that smells bad despite all attempts to sanitise and treat the water. Keep reading to find out how to clean spa pool plumbing properly, and all you need to know about biofilm and its dangers.

In this article, we cover:

• How To Flush & Clean Your Spa Pool Pipes
• What is biofilm in a spa or hot tub and how to prevent it
• Effects of Spa Biofilm on Equipment
• Spa biofilm removal
• Can You Clean a Spa Pool With Water In It?

How To Flush & Clean Your Spa Pool Pipes

Although spa pipes can be difficult to access, cleaning your spa pool’s plumbing is much easier than it sounds.

It is recommended that spa owners change their spa water every three months depending on bather load. One of the most important parts of changing your spa water is cleaning the internal spa surfaces. Spa plumbing, including spa jets, pumps and heaters can develop a build up.

Follow the steps below to effectively clean spa pipes and improve your water quality:

Step 1: Remove your spa pool filter: Clean or Replace

Remove your spa pool filter and assess whether it is in good condition or not. If the condition is good, simply rinse and clean it, and if it looks old or damaged, replace the filter with a new one. Leave the filter out for the following steps.

Use a filter cleaning wand to clean your filters

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Step 2: Shock your spa pool water

Add shock to the current spa pool water and allow it to circulate at full speed for at least 30 minutes.

Step 3: Flush the plumbing with a pipe cleaner

Use a quality line flush product / pipe cleaner. Pour it directly into the water and run the system with your jets on the highest setting for approximately 30 minutes. This will loosen and dissolve any biofilm and organic matter that may have built up in your spa plumbing.

Use a degreaser to clean the inner surface and pipe-work of your spa bath or spa pool is clean and free from oil and fat build-up where bacteria and microorganisms can flourish.

We recommend ‘Spa Safe’ Spa Pipe Sanitiser.

Spa Safe is a commercial product used in spa baths that do not have filtration systems and often used in public settings like hotels and lodges. In commercial hospitality settings, it is required that pipe cleaner is applied between each guest to remove body fats, soaps and other deposits that block pipes and nozzles which can become a serious hygiene problem.

Circulating water only through the pipe-work does not clean the inner surfaces of the pipes

This requires a pipe degreaser and sanitiser. It stands to reason that using what the professionals use would be best. They use Spa Safe spa pipe sanitiser.

Spa Safe is ideal to use in spa baths and spa pools. It is easy to use, acts instantly and effortlessly and it has a very gentle aroma.

How to use Spa Safe Degreaser in a Spa Bath

Fill the bath with cold water to above jet line (if using in a spa bath) Add 50mls of Spa Safe to the spa water then turn jets (pump) on Run jets for 30 minutes. Very dirty pipes will require a longer time Turn the jets off and drain the bath. Rinse the bath with cold water Using Spa Safe on a clean, damp cloth wipe bath surface and surrounding area Polish the bath with a clean, dry cloth for a sparkling shine

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How to use Spa Safe Degreaser in a Spa Pool

Pipe degreaser works best when water is still warm, as this helps to loosen substances inside your pipework.

1. Remove your filters
2. Follow the dosing instructions on your pipe degreaser and instructions on the label
3. We recommend running your spa for 15-30 minutes, so the pipe degreaser has time to work through the pipe work
4. You may also wish to change the direction of your jets so they are facing downwards and reduce any foam that could come from the pipe degreaser.

NOTE: If you have had experience with the spa foaming when using pipe degreaser, remove filters, soak in filter cartridge cleaner and hose down with water before reinstalling into the spa.

Spa Safe comes in two convenient sizes: 1 Litre, 5 Litre.

If you are not regularly using a pipe degreaser and sanitiser your spa is not as clean as it could be.

Step 4: Allow water to stand overnight

Once you have run the line flush product through the system, turn the spa pool off and allow it to stand for at least 5 hours, or overnight.

Step 5: Drain your spa pool completely

Turn the spa pool off at the power source, even removing the plug completely for extra precaution. Remove the drain plug from your pool and allow the water to drain out on its own, or use a submersible pump to pump out the water.

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Step 6: Clean your spa shell

Use a soft cloth and some diluted white vinegar or spa pool cleaner and wipe down the surface of your spa shell. Pipe degreaser can also be used to wipe down the surface before you refill your spa.

Step 7: Rinse and refill

Rinse down the surface of your spa shell to get rid of any cleaner or vinegar and put your spa filter back in place. Refill the spa with fresh water and follow the standard steps for re-balancing and sanitising your water.

Refilling your spa with fresh water without cleaning the pipes will reduce the life of your spa water and will require more chemical usage to maintain water clarity.

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What is biofilm in a spa or hot tub?

Biofilm takes the form of a slimy film that can build up inside your pipes, pumps and plumbing system. It is made up of organic matter such as body oils, residues from sunscreen, grime and skincare products and algae which can build up over time.

Preventing Biofilm in Spa Pools

Biofilm can become a serious problem and may mean you need to flush and refill your spa pool more regularly. Here are a few things you can do to prevent the build-up of biofilm in your spa pipes:

• Flush your spa pool pipes with a pipe cleaner every time you replace your spa water
• Balance your water to make sure bacteria and debris build-up is managed properly
• Keep your water clean by practicing good hygiene during spa pool use
• Reduce the number of body oils, shampoo, and other beauty products that wash off in the pool. (Do this by rinsing off before entering the spa).

Effects of Spa Biofilm on Equipment

Biofilm not only disturbs water clarity and quality but can affect your spa pool equipment as well. Unresolved biofilm in spa pool pipes can clog up the system, affecting water flow and spa jets, and quickly muck up a new filter.

If the biofilm is not kept under control by you, the build-up can become so severe that normal pipe flushing products will no longer work and you will need to call a plumber or spa pool professional to remove the blockage.

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Spa Pool Biofilm Removal

Managing the levels of biofilm in your spa pool is simple, but sometimes it can get out of hand and you need to act fast to remove the biofilm from your spa pipes.

In most cases, you can remove biofilm from your spa pipes by shocking the water while the jets run, and then flushing your plumbing with a line flush product. This product will dissolve and dislodge the biofilm from the sides of the pipes so they can be drained out of the system with the water.

Can You Clean a Spa Pool With Water In It?

If you want to clean your spa pool thoroughly, including the plumbing of the system, you will need to clean it while the water is still in it. However, once you have circulated the water and used cleaning or flushing products, you will need to turn the spa pool off and drain the water before cleaning the surface of the spa shell.