Owning a Spa Next to the Pool in Florida

A raised spa beside the pool is one of the best things about a Florida lanai. It's also the part of the setup that goes wrong first. Owners are often surprised that the pool is clear and balanced while the spa, a few feet away, is cloudy, foamy or smells off. Nothing mysterious is going on. A spa just plays by tighter rules than a pool does.

Why spa water swings faster

Size is the first reason. A typical pool holds many thousands of gallons, which gives the chemistry a lot of cushion. A spa holds a tiny fraction of that. Whatever goes into it, whether it's sweat, lotion, rainwater or chemicals, makes a big difference, and it makes it quickly. One round of heavy use or one afternoon storm can shift a spa more than it would shift a pool in a week.

Heat is the second reason. Hot water breaks down sanitizer much faster than cool water, and it's also friendlier to bacteria and algae. The warm, moving water in a spa is about as comfortable for them as it is for you. So the sanitizer level drops quickly just when the conditions favor growth.

Use is the third. A spa usually has several people packed into a small volume of water, and everything they bring in is concentrated. That load is higher per gallon than anything a pool sees.

What goes wrong when it's missed

• Cloudy or foamy water, which usually points to body oils, lotions and soaps building up.
• A sharp chemical smell or a stale smell, both signs the sanitizer isn't keeping up.
• A film or slick feeling on the spa walls or the waterline.
• A filter that's loaded with debris, which weakens the jets and slows circulation.

There's also a part you can't see: the jet lines. Warm, moving water and low sanitizer give bacteria a chance to build up inside the plumbing. That's one reason a spa that looks fine can still be doing a poor job.

Spas and Florida weather

Most Brevard spas sit on the lanai next to the pool, often inside the same screen enclosure. That keeps out leaves, which helps, but not rain or windblown debris. Summer storms are especially tough on a spa, because rainfall adds more water relative to its size and dilutes the chemistry quickly. If the spa is open to the weather, a cover helps keep debris and rain out between uses.

Some spas share a pump and filter with the pool, especially raised spa designs that spill into the pool. Others have their own equipment. Either way, the spa needs its own attention, because a clear pool doesn't guarantee a healthy spa. Test it on its own schedule, and treat a change in color, smell or foam as a reason to check right away rather than a reason to wait for the next pool visit.

What monthly spa service looks like

Native Pools of Brevard lists spa monthly service among its services. A monthly spa visit is built around the same basics that keep any body of water safe: testing the water, balancing it, and keeping the filter and surfaces clean. Ask for the exact visit list when you call, so you know what to handle yourself between visits. It also gives someone a regular chance to look at the equipment, so a heater or jet problem gets spotted before it becomes a repair.

Monthly service doesn't mean you can ignore the spa for 30 days. Between visits, the owner can rinse the filter, keep the cover on, and avoid adding anything without testing. If the spa gets heavy use or you host a lot of guests, ask whether more frequent visits would suit you. The right schedule depends on how often the spa is used.

Pool and spa on one route

There's a practical advantage to having one company handle both. The technician is already at the house, already testing the pool, and can treat the spa on the same visit. Native Pools of Brevard's free estimate covers pool and spa maintenance, and its no obligation quote is for the weekly cleaning and servicing of your pool and spa. The company serves Melbourne, Melbourne Beach, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Satellite Beach, Viera, Merritt Island, Rockledge and Palm Bay.

If your spa has been cloudy, foamy or just hard to keep right, call Native Pools of Brevard at (321) 446-6242 for a free estimate and water evaluation.