Hot Tub Care
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Posted: May 28, 2014How often you need to drain and change your water depends on a number of factors. A good indicator it's time to do so is when the water gets cloudy. A typical range of water change is about two to four months. There are several things you can do to maximize the amount of time between water changes. Hot tubbing when the water is dirty and cloudy isn't refreshing, and it's not very healthy. Keeping your water clean with regular maintenance will help to prevent cloudiness. 1. Encourage everyone using your spa to rinse off before they get in. This reduces the amount of residue from hair products, antiperspirants, make-up and oils in the water. An outdoor shower near your hot tub is a good way to encourage a quick rinse. 2. Change or clean your spa filter regularly. Spray your filter cartridge with a garden hose to keep water running smoothly. Replace your spa filter about every three years. Consider using higher line hot tub filters, ..Read morePublished on
May 2014
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Posted: May 21, 2014If you've already planned your next vacation, you're probably dreaming of relaxation and comfort. A common question among hot tub owners is what to do with your hot tub while you're on vacation. Temperature Turning down the heat in your hot tub makes sense. You don't need to keep it hot it if you're not going to be in it for a week or two. The challenge comes in deciding how much to turn down the heat. You want to save energy without having to spend time and more energy reheating the spa. On the other hand, you don't want to keep it hot if there's no need. Depending on how warm the weather is, you might not need to do a whole lot during the spring and summer months. You can even turn it off if it's warm outside. Your first order of business should be to make sure that the water is warm and won't freeze. Turn it down if you don't plan to use it for a few days. ..Read morePublished on
May 2014
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Posted: May 16, 2014Spa pillows will last for years if you take a little extra time and effort to care for them properly. Here are some tips to help them stay in good condition and provide extra comfort in your spa. Choose the manufacturer's specific spa pillows for your model and model year when ordering your hot tub replacement parts. They come with a wide range of fastening methods, including pins, retainers with receivers, suction cups and inserts, so they're not a universal fit. Quick Tips • Replace them about every five years or if they've been damaged. • Keep them above the waterline to prevent fading and peeling. • Remove the pillows when you're winterizing or on vacation. • Clean them when you clean your spa shell...Read morePublished on
May 2014
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Posted: April 30, 2014Hot tub covers keep the heat in your spa when it's not in use. There are several choices in features when replacing your hot tub cover. The easiest option may be to decide if you're happy with your present model and just replace it. While that's the easiest, it might not be the best option. Here are 5 things to consider when looking at new hot tub covers. Foam Thickness and Density How well a hot tub cover works often revolves around the materials in it. The interior insulation is typically foam. How dense it is dictates how well it does its job. A density of one pound is typical. The higher the number, the heavier the density. Use a higher density if your hot tub is going to brave below-freezing temperatures with some regularity in wintertime. Denser foam also makes the cover itself heavier. Keep this in mind if you'll be moving the cover manually. Spa cover lifters, like the Covermate II for example, can make ..Read morePublished on
April 2014
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Posted: March 26, 2014After a winter full of snow, ice and even rain, it's time to check on your spa cover before ramping up for the spring hot tubbing season. Over time, hot tub covers made from fabric can become worn. Sunshine, hot and cold temperatures, snow, wind and rain can cause the fabric and stitching to dry out. It's important to check on your spa cover periodically and give it some TLC before you develop problems. Cleaning You may find algae or water stains on your hot tub cover's exterior, especially if it's made of vinyl. Use a cover cleaner and conditioner to revitalize it. A sponge with a mild cleaning solution will do the job. A soft brush can help to remove any stubborn build-up or stains. Take some time to check and clean the underside of the cover too. First dry it off using old towels, and then spray it with Lysol or disinfectant wipes to kill any mold, mildew or bacteria. Let it dry thoroughly before putting ..Read morePublished on
March 2014
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Posted: March 24, 2014Relaxing in your hot tub is a great way to relax. When your water temperature is running too hot or too cold, this is usually an indication of a hot tub heater problem. Learning how to spot and troubleshoot the rare problems with the electric heater in your spa can save you time, money and frustration. Here are a few telltale signs and solutions when your hot tub's water temperature issues could be linked to your hot tub heater. A common solution to problems with your spa heater is to turn it off, letting it sit for a while, then restarting the whole system. If the problem doesn't correct itself, try some of the hot tub heater troubleshooting tips below. Water Is Too Hot • If the water is too hot to the touch, the problem may be as simple as checking the temperature setting and adjusting the thermostat. The standard recommended water temperature is 104 degrees F. ..Read morePublished on
March 2014
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Posted: March 17, 2014Keeping your spa clean is kind of like keeping your bathtub clean. You don’t empty it out as often as your bathtub, but it's important to give it a clean and shine whenever you do. A good rule of thumb is to clean your basin every time you drain and refill the water. This prevents staining of the shell and can prolong its useful life. Knowing when and how to clean your spa makes it easier to maintain. Here are some tips and tricks for cleaning your shell. Frequency How often you should drain and clean your hot tub depends on what type of hot tub chemicals and which water system you are using. For example, if you use the ACE Saltwater System, you should drain the water from your spa about every six to nine months. A standard hot tub chemical system that uses a chlorine and bromine regimen should be drained and refilled every four to six months, depending on how frequently you use your spa...Read morePublished on
March 2014
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Posted: February 28, 2014One of the biggest causes of power outages this time of year is the build-up of ice or snow in trees. The branches become heavy and can break, taking out power lines. You should have a plan in place for your hot tub if you lose power for more than a few hours. Weighing Your Options Pay attention to weather forecasts for ice and snow, then make any necessary preparations to lose power. One reason ice can be so detrimental to tree limbs is because, according to research by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Forestry, accumulation can raise the branch's weight by as much as 30 times. Weak limbs and small branches subjected to one-quarter or one-half inch of ice are likely to fall. When ice accumulates up to an inch, larger branches fall under the added weight. Power lines in the path of falling trees and branches snap, leaving areas without ..Read morePublished on
February 2014
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Posted: February 24, 2014Are there days when your hot tub smells funny and you don't feel as relaxed and refreshed as you want to after a long soak? That can happen with some water care systems; it's not your spa. There are many different types of water care systems you can choose. Most spa owners simply start with the one mentioned in their owner's manual or whatever they pick up when they buy their hot tub, which makes sense to some degree. In reality, your spa should make you feel fresh, and it doesn't have to smell like chemicals or be a burden to constantly fight with the pH balance. If the relaxation factor isn't enough for you anymore, you water system is probably the culprit and you can remedy your issues pretty quickly. Poor Water System Symptoms There are three signs that it's time to consider alternative water systems. 1. Your skin is dry and itchy after a soak, and you don't want to go hot tubbing two days in ..Read morePublished on
February 2014
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Posted: February 21, 2014Your hot tub's control panel is an important hub of activity for your unit. It helps to regulate the temperature so that it's constant. It can be a forum for troubleshooting your hot tub if it's not acting properly. Sometimes the problem is not with other parts of your unit, but with the control panel itself. Whether you have a Hot Spot, Hot Spring, Caldera or other brand spa, here's a brief guide to troubleshooting your control panel. It will help you determine which of your Hot Spring, Caldera or Hot Spot parts need to be replaced if you're having control panel problems. Non-Responsive If your spa's control panel has seized up, it may be either the control panel or your circuit board. First check the control panel to see if it's wet on the inside. If it's wet on the outside, this is a good indicator that interior may be wet also. Moisture on the panel interior is another clue. Carefully remove any moisture ..Read morePublished on
February 2014
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Posted: February 17, 2014Every now and then, you may come out to your hot tub and discover a giant blanket of foamy suds piled on top of the water. It can be an alarming sight to see. While the bubble bath won't hurt you, most people find it unpleasant. The main issues are to correct the problem and to hopefully determine the cause to prevent a repeat episode. Causes The most common cause of hot tub foaming is a foreign substance in the water. This can range from excess laundry detergent in your swimwear to a chemical reaction with lotions and hair products or using too much algaecide. Another common issue is soft water or a high pH balance. Prevention To prevent a hot tub foam outbreak, follow these tips: • Don't apply lotions to the skin within five or six hours of going hot tubbing. • ..Read morePublished on
February 2014
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Posted: February 12, 2014Hot tubs provide a convenient place to relax, unwind and ease aching muscles at the end of a long day. Many people appreciate spas the most during the winter, when the warm bubbling water offers relief from cold, wet and even snowy weather. The sensation of soaking in a hot tub when there's a wintry nip in the air is hard to resist. Proper maintenance and a few enhancements can make the experience even more enjoyable. Maintaining Proper Temperature and Water Level It takes longer for the temperature in your hot tub to reach and maintain an ideal setting in cold weather. Many modern spas have a controls included in the hot tub equipment that lets you switch the operation to a "no-freeze" mode. This control automatically engages the heating element whenever water temperatures drop below default temperature settings. If your spa has a timer-only control, experts recommend setting the timer to operate for around ..Read morePublished on
February 2014