Maintaining your Chilly GOAT Cold Tub

Water Care

Chilly GOAT Cold Tubs have been designed with simplicity and ease of maintenance in mind. With a built-in water care system, including UV and filter, taking care of your cold tub has never been easier. 

The cold water temperature also means that you'll spend less time on maintenance compared to traditional hot tubs. 

In this guide, we will walk you through the initial start-up process and provide you with tips on how to maintain your cold tub effectively.

Best practices

  • Always shower before using the cold tub so detergents, lotions, and body oils do not affect water quality.
  • Maintain proper PH and sanitizer levels for safe use.
  • Always add chemicals to the water, not water to the chemicals.
  • Add chlorine and other chemicals in half-teaspoon increments.
  • Always store chemicals according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Keep chemicals out of the reach of children.

Cold tub chemicals

Your Chilly GOAT Cold Tub comes with a chemical start-up kit. In the kit, you’ll find:

  • Balance UP, to increase pH and alkalinity
  • Balance DOWN, to decrease pH and alkalinity
  • Sanitize, chlorine granules that you add directly to the water
  • Refresh, a non-chlorine oxidizer

Initial cold tub start-up

Note: Wait at least 24 hours after placing your Chilly GOAT before beginning start-up.

Filling your cold tub. Attach a pre-filter to your garden hose. This pre-filter, which is available on the Chilly GOAT website, will help remove minerals from your source water to make water care easier.

Be sure to let the water flow through the filter housing. This step will help you prevent air locks.

Install the filter. Turn the filter clockwise, mindful not overtighten. Slide on the filter housing cover.

Connect to power. Plug the unit into an electrical outlet and turn on your cold tub.

Set the water temperature. Once you set the temperature, the water will begin to move through the chiller. Once water flow has been established, you can use the provided chemical kit to balance the water.

Cold tub chemical start-up

Use the test kit and test pH level. Be sure to carefully read and follow the kit instructions for accuracy.

Based on the results of the pH test, use Cold Tub Balance Up or Cold Tub Balance Down to adjust the Ph of the water. The recommended pH range is between 7.2 – 7.6.   Use the convenient 1 teaspoon scoop to add the chemicals. 

Allow the chemicals to circulate in the water for 15 minutes, then re-test.  Continue this process until the correct pHlevel is achieved.

Once the correct pH level has been achieved, add 1 teaspoon of Cold Tub Sanitizer to clean and disinfect the water of the cold tub.

Allow the sanitizer to circulate in the water for 15 minutes. Test the water to see if the sanitizer is within range. The proper chlorine level is 1 to 3 ppm.

 If the sanitizer level is too low, add additional sanitizer a half teaspoon at a time until proper level is achieved. Be sure to wait 15 minutes before retesting the water and adding additional sanitizer.

REMEMBER: Only add chemicals a half teaspoon at a time — a little goes a long way!

Wait at least two hours before using your Michael Phelps Chilly GOAT Cold Tub by Master Spas.

Hot tub chemical start-up (for Valaris owners only)

Filling your hot tub: Attach the pre-filter, which is included with your start-up, to a garden hose. The pre-filter helps remove minerals in the water, which will make it easier to balance the chemicals. 

Add sequestering agent: After adding water, add a sequestering agent, such as Mineral Clear or Metal Protect, to the water. Always follow the instructions listed on the bottle and allow water to circulate and filter for at least 30 minutes (or per bottle recommendations) before adding any other chemicals.

Test the water: Use the test strips included in your hot tub chemical kit to test for pH, total alkalinity, and chlorine. Dip the test strip into the water and gently wave it through the water.  Compare the test strip to the bottle. 

Adjust pH and total alkalinity:  It might be necessary to add chemicals to get the proper levels in your Valaris. When balancing hot tub chemicals, always start with pH and total alkalinity. Turn on the jets and add chemicals according to the manufacturer’s directions. Wait 20 to 30 minutes and retest. It might be necessary to add additional chemicals to get to the proper levels.

Add sanitizer: Chlorine helps sanitize the water so that you can begin enjoying the benefits of contrast therapy. According to the manufacturer’s directions, add dichlor granules to the hot tub water while the jets are running. On initial start-up, you want to bring the chlorine above the recommended range (3 to 5 ppm) for proper sanitation. But it’s important not to hop into the water until the chlorine has dropped into the safe range.

Regular hot tub water care (Valaris owners only)

With each use: Monitor the water chemicals with each use, testing the chemicals and adjusting as needed.

Three times a week: Test the water using chemical test strips. Adjust sanitizer, pH and Alkalinity accordingly, following directions on the chemical manufacturer’s bottle. If free chlorine level measures less than total chlorine level, use Refresh or a non-chlorine oxidizer. 

Once a month: Clean your filters with a filter cleaner product, following the manufacturer’s directions. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with clean water. When cleaning filters, be sure to turn off power to your Valaris at the breaker.