Debunking A Spa Myth
I will fully admit to not remembering everything I have said on this blog over the years, but just the other day I was faced with a spa request that is always tricky to explain. I had a customer walk in and say they wanted a small spa with lots of jets. Now, I understand that people are wanting more than just a couple of jets in a spa, but I think there is confusion out there that more jets equals better therapy and that simply is not the case. Jet count is important, but effective movement of water through those jets is even more important. All spas mix air with water and the air mixture is equal to every jet. Because of this smaller jets tend to have a higher psi and aren’t quite as effective at delivering the heat and massaging benefits of true hydrotherapy. Many manufacturers take advantage of consumers just looking for a high jet count by using a great deal of these small jets that may look impressive but fail to truly deliver the therapy they are supposed to provide. Since very few people actually wet test the spas they don’t really get a fair comparison of a spa that does things the right way and one that uses smoke and mirrors (or excessive jet counts). Hopefully that all makes good sense, if not stop in and I will be happy to show just what I mean…and I will be sure to show you exactly why the products we carry do things the right way.
Craig
Change Your Hot Tub’s Water
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
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!
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
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
Spa (Hot Tub) Winterization Tip
Don’t do it! Winter is a GREAT time for a spa. I love it when it snows and my already graying hair turns totally white. With that said, some will still close it up for the winter.
REAL IMPORTANT: If you are going to drain your spa for the winter, you must also get the ‘invisible’ water out of the tub. This is the water trapped in the plumbing lines. If you only drain the shell you will have major freeze damage to the lines and pump/motor. Call us—we can help. Don’t want to call? Then make sure you take the drain plugs out of the pump(s), disconnect all unions, and use a shop vac to suck the water from the jets AND the plumbing lines. Leave the cover on, lock it, and occasionally check and make sure water isn’t seeping into the shell. Then cross your fingers.
Hot Pools And Bacteria
I just returned from a wonderful vacation at Yellowstone National Park. While there we visited the geysers, mud pots and other thermal features. (Plus saw many buffalo and elk.) It is truely amazing watching these natural features with their colorful pools. The hot temperatures of the water reminded me of the spas we sell here at Eastgate Pools. There are warnings posted throughout these areas in Yellowstone because in addition to the high temperatures the water in some cases is very acidic or contains harmful bacteria. So, I thought I would remind all of you the get your spa water checked for correct chemical balance. (Don’t want bacteria growing in your spa at home!) We at Eastgate offer free water testing – just bring in 8 oz. from your spa and we’ll help you! And if you ever have the opportunity – visit Yellowstone. It is unbelievable!
I Just Refilled My Spa And It Won’t Work!
There’s no water moving but the motors are running! Don’t worry, it’s not broken. You are experiencing one of the most common occurrences a spa owner has. You have a simple air lock and it’s pretty easy to get rid of. First, don’t let the motor keep running without water going through it. Shut it off at the breaker. First, try taking the filter(s) out and turning it back on. Give it a few seconds and see if it primes. If it doesn’t, shut it off again and find a large set of channel locks or a pipe wrench. Don’t panic – this is easy. Remove the spa’s side panel where the motor is located. Locate the union leading into the motor. Turn the power back on and, using the tool, slightly loosen the union. (DO NOT TAKE IT COMPLETELY APART!). Once you have loosened it a little – maybe a quarter to a half turn—the air lock is generally released and your spa should operate normally. Remember to re-tighten the unions. You may have to repeat the process on other pumps if you have more than one.
Keeping Your Spa Jets Working Properly
Many spas have adjustable jets that allow you to control how much water goes through the jet. These are referred to as ‘turn-down’ jets. You simply rotate the jets open and closed. I recommend that about once a month, while using the spa, open and close each jet one at a time. If you don’t, calcium can build up and make them difficult to open or close. The once-a-month program insures that you can adjust them with ease when you really want to. I also recommend adding our Stain and Scale Remover once a month. It keeps calcium from building up inside the element or the jet nozzles. This keeps the spinning jets spinning and the pulsating jets pulsating. – Max
The Insulation Bamboozle
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!!!
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
