Where baking soda helps when cleaning a hot tub, and the full drain, clean, refill and rebalance routine around it.
Category Archives: Support & Maintenance
31
Jan
Jan
A tripping RCD or GFCI is doing its job. Here’s how to read the clues, use the isolation method to find the faulty part, and know when it’s a job for an electrician, for UK and US tubs.
Design / Ideas Related, Support & Maintenance
Saltwater Hot Tub Pros and Cons: How It Works, Costs and Care
30
Jan
Jan
A saltwater hot tub is still a chlorine hot tub. Here’s how salt systems work, how salty the water really is, the honest pros and cons, and what to know before retrofitting one.
29
Jan
Jan
By the end of this guide, you should have a clearer idea of why your hot tub breaker is tripping —and maybe even how to fix it.
DIY Hot Tub Building, Support & Maintenance, technology
How to Configure a Balboa Spa Pack: Setup Numbers and DIP Switches
17
Jan
Jan
A spa pack doesn’t know what you’ve plugged in until you tell it. Here’s how to pick the setup number, set the DIP switches and program a Balboa pack step by step.
Reviews & Info, Support & Maintenance
Swimming Pool Pumps: The Shocking Truth About Running Costs (2026)
30
Dec
Dec
The price of a pool pump is the smallest part of what it costs you. Here’s what pool pumps cost to run in the UK and USA, why variable speed saves so much, and what you get for your money with a premium pump.
DIY Hot Tub Building, Support & Maintenance
How to Size a Hot Tub Pump: Flow, Pipe Size and Pump Curves
20
Dec
Dec
Pump sizing is about flow and resistance, not horsepower alone. Learn the 10 GPM per jet rule, why pipe size matters and how to use a pump curve.
Design / Ideas Related, DIY Hot Tub Building, Plumbing Related, Support & Maintenance
What Is the Best Way to Heat a DIY Hot Tub? (2026 Running Cost Comparison)
12
Dec
Dec
Electric, air source heat pump, gas, heat exchangers, wood and solar compared: what each really costs per unit of heat at today’s UK and US prices, how fast they heat, and which one I’d fit to a DIY hot tub.
Reviews & Info, Support & Maintenance
How to Choose a New Pool Pump: Types, Sizing and What to Check Before You Buy
30
Nov
Nov
A practical guide to choosing a replacement or new pool pump: pump types, the US rules since 2021, sizing by turnover and head, self-priming, and matching the pump to your filter, heater and supply.
Support & Maintenance, technology
How to Identify a Balboa Circuit Board (PCB) and Find the Right Replacement
07
Nov
Nov
Most Balboa boards look alike, so buying on looks is a gamble. Here’s how to read the model, part number, software and system label to find the right replacement.