eastgatepoolsspas.com » hot tub tips

Change Your Hot Tub’s Water

max — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:09:42 +0000

I know we’ve had some warm days and that spring is just around the corner, but if you’ve been waiting to change the water in your hot tub, do it ASAP! If you go too long between changes, total dissolved solids build up and calcium levels increase to the point where the calcium clogs filters and scale builds up on the shell. Then you have far more cleaning issues than dealing with some less than perfect weather. –Max

It Almost Here

chris — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:44:44 +0000

Don’t look at the thermometer, or the weather forecast, but check out the calender. The Groundhog says that spring 6 weeks away, and now is the time to plan for spring projects. One question that we hear quite a bit referring to spas is questions about the deck, and how strong it has to be to support a spa. Standard 2″x8″ joists set at 16″ on center is generally acceptable for most spas. Make sure to check with the salesperson that the spa you are looking at is a fully framed system. With a fully framed spa the weight is distributed evenly throughout the entire footprint of the spa, much like a waterbed frame. If however this is not the case and the spa is not fully framed there will need to be special accommodations made to carry the weight of the spa, as the bulk of the weight will be located in the footwell area of the spa. Make sure to check with a spa salesperson prior to construction of a deck, or running electric as different manufacturers have different wiring requirements. It is much better, and less expensive, to have the information in front of you prior to construction as opposed to having to undo and redo what has been done.

UGH Get Off Of Me!

chris — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:06:54 +0000

This is what your spa cover is saying after the last round of snow and ice. The beauty of a spa cover is that it is a great insulator, and like the failed McDLT sandwich it keeps the hot side hot and the cold side cold. The problem with this is that it allows snow to build up on the cover, and by the snow building the weight also builds. At my house I only got about 4 inches of snow, but also a 1/4″ of ice first. The weight of the ice and wet snow puts a tremendous strain on the spa cover, and can cause serious damage. I wish that I didn’t have to write this, but we do live in Cincinnati and volatile weather is a fact of life. Long and short is this any snowfall, especially wet snow, puts weight on a cover and can cause damage and there is only one way to prevent damage-Remove the snow as soon as you are able.

Winter Hot Tub Check

max — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:47:38 +0000

I like using my hot tub when it is cold. The colder the better! I also know that there are those out there that don’t use it when it gets real cold. If you are one of these people and you’re awaiting a warm-up before you jump back in, keep an eye on your tub. The ‘out of sight – out of mind’ philosophy is a bad practice. Every day or so, lift the cover and make sure there hasn’t been a malfunction. You don’t want a big ice cube inside. And assuming it will warm back up, keep your chemistry in line. This way you can jump back in on short notice. –Max

Re-filling Your Hottub

chris — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:59:53 +0000

Procrastinators rejoice, for those that are just like me and try to put things off until the absolute last minute, that time may be approaching. We still are getting a few days, here and there of warm weather. With that being said is it time to drain and re-fill your spa? At Eastgate Pools we recommend that this be done every 3-4 months depending on usage. If you are within or approaching this window now would be a good time to take care of this before the harsh portion of the winter. Just remember if you are draining it make sure to re-fill and re-start it immediately as to not run the risk of running into adverse weather and having to deal with frozen pipe problems.

The Insulation Bamboozle

max — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:31:05 +0000

Speaking of hot tubs…people always ask me how much insulation is needed to hold heat. There’s evidence that an R-30 factor is enough to thoroughly insulate the shell. One inch of foam gets you to about R-7 so just a little over four inches is enough in most cases. I get a kick from some spa experts that talk about ‘their spa’ having 12-20 inches of foam at some places and ‘isn’t that great!’. Personally, I’ve always wanted to ask that salesperson how they explain the 4-inch thick cover on top of their spa. Heat rises so the cover is far more important than being solidly encased with foam. How much foam is in your attic?

—Max

Worried about a Frozen Spa? Don’t Panic!!!

max — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:26:38 +0000

Recent snow and ice storms knocked out power for many of our customers and led to a boatload of calls for people wanting to know if their hot tub would freeze up and what they should do. In most cases, you will have at least 2-3 days before you have to worry about damages from freezing. Rule #1 is: LEAVE THE LID ON! Don’t keep opening and closing it. This lets heat out and hurries the freeze process. It’s kind of like your refrigerator. Leave the door closed and keep the food cold. Leave the cover on and keep the water warm. I definitely don’t recommend draining the hot tub as there will always be water left in the pipes and it will definitely freeze faster if there is no water in the vessel.

– Max