Category Archives: Hot Tub

Once you have a hot tub installed in your home and start putting it to good use, there probably won’t be a day that you won’t want to use it. Hot tubs have so many benefits that the majority of people who get to use one often compliment on how it helps them to feel better physically and mentally.

There may be some instances where you should refrain from using your hot tub, and this is when you are dealing with health issues. If you have a cold or flu, it’s probably a good idea to wait until it passes to use the hot tub. Sometimes for various reasons people suffer from diarrhea, and even though they don’t feel generally ill, it is not wise to use your hot tub. The cause of your problem could be simply because you ate the wrong thing, or it could be bacterial. You don’t want to take a chance of transmitting germs in the hot tub.

If you are pregnant, make sure to ask your doctor about using your hot tub and follow his or her advice.

One of the benefits that comes with a hot tub that it’s a lot of fun! It is not uncommon for hot tub owners to invite guests over to spend some time relaxing together. You want to use common sense in avoiding any potential health issues. Of course, you are not going to come right out and ask your guests if they are healthy or have diarrhea, yet because you know it is not wise to allow people with these conditions into your hot tub, it can be a little perplexing to make this known. A simple solution to this is to post a small, attractive and easily readable sign concerning hot tub use near your unit.

Ideally, you or your guests should not use your hot tub if they have open sores or wounds, or any type of skin rash. Pre- hot tub showering for everyone should be a rule of use, and will help to keep your water healthy and fresh.

Finally, you should know that you should not use your hot tub after adding chemicals until the water has been properly tested. Naturally, you should be unlikely to make use of the hot tub if the water doesn’t look pristine and clear.

There are not too many reasons that can prevent you from using your hot tub, but knowing when you should not use it will ensure that your hot tub experiences are always happy ones.

In the past, one of the main things that prevented people from buying a hot tub was the problem of maintaining it. When they first came on the market, it is true that there were a fair amount of maintenance and servicing requirements and problems to be dealt with. However, with advancements in modern technology, many of these requirements and problems have been eliminated. Most problems that surface these days can be easily avoided.

Water Issues

Cloudy water or algae formation:

One of the common problems that may arise is issues with the water. Some complain that the water is cloudy, or they have to deal with algae. These are easily prevented and corrected with a little bit of maintenance and using the proper treatment chemicals.

If lack of chemical additions and water balancing doesn’t solve the problem, another area to focus on is the filter itself. Many people fail to realise that the filter itself needs regular cleaning, and comes with instructions for the specific model of hot tub.

Foaming:

Some people are surprised to see foaming in the hot tub. Some may think it was caused by their chemicals or cleaning agents, yet that may not be the case at all–especially if you have used the proper products as recommended. Foaming can be a result of the residue that comes off the skin of the users, such as body lotion. To help reduce this, have users take a quick shower first before using the hot tub. Otherwise, it could be a soft water issue for which there are anti-foam products. If you do decide to use an anti-foam agent, make sure you follow the directions, because adding too much can create the previous problem we talked about concerning cloudy water.

Slime and odor:

Nobody likes to get into a hot tub where the sides and bottom feel slimy or the water has an odor to it. Aside from not keeping up with the maintenance regime to keep the water balanced and clean, it could be the result of a water circulation problem. You want to make sure that the hot tub system is in good working order, so you may consider servicing to make sure.

The water in your hot tub is the main feature, and to continue enjoying your hot tub, it is important to prevent and correct any water problems you notice as soon as possible. Keeping up with your maintenance and having the proper chemicals on hand will allow you to address any water problems quickly and effectively.

Now that you have had your hot tub installed and you are ready to begin using it, there are a few things that you want to keep in mind. You are going to have to follow a maintenance routine and have regular servicing as suggested. You may also want to invest in a hot tub cover if your unit did not include one for several good reasons, which we explore below.

First of all, you want to have to do the least amount of maintenance as possible so that you can spend your time enjoying your new home addition! After all, the purpose of buying a hot tub is so you can fully enjoy it and not just have another thing to clean around the home. While a good quality unit requires very little care -(as many models are conveniently self-cleaning) you can help it along by keeping it free from debris and the elements, especially if it has been installed outdoors and is not being protected by any enclosures.

Keeping the hot tub clean also helps to maintain the heat of the water, which means you spend a lot less time having to adjust the temperature. Plus, you are not wasting money constantly having to bring the water up to temperature.

Not only does the cover cut down on your maintenance, but it can also ward off serious problems that require repair services. This could be because of debris damaging your filter system.

In order to get the most out of your hot tub cover, it will require a small amount of care itself. Of course, you want to make sure that it is kept clean. You may discover that all of the debris that it is preventing from getting into your water unit is now accumulating on the top of your cover. Occasionally you will want to clean your cover, and what compounds you use to do this will depend on the material that the cover is made of. It could be vinyl or wood, and most likely came with its own instructions for cleaning.

Your hot tub is going to bring you many years of wonderful pleasure, so you want to take good care of it! Having a high-quality cover will assist you in doing this.

Whenever you are going to make a major purchase for your home, the first question you usually ask yourself is: what are the benefits? Purchasing a hot tub is definitely no exception, and with all of the benefits you’ll experience, you’ll have no trouble answering that question!

Let’s talk about hot tub therapy

Yes, you can look at your hot tub as a means for some great therapy, both physically and mentally. Just the thought of being able to get away from the hassles of life and soaking in some wonderfully warm water, perhaps on a starlit night – now that’s what we’re talking about! And as enticing as this sounds, the benefits go far beyond this. Just take a look back in history and you will see that hot water served many purposes when it came to health and wellness. The father of medicine, Hippocrates himself prescribed this as a worthy treatment for various ailments. While our ancestors may not have had the convenient access in the form of the hot tubs that we have today, the benefits found way back then are still supported by modern day studies of today.

Living better and living longer

Being able to soothe aches and pains and reduce your stress aids in allowing you to live longer. It has been commonly said that “stress is a killer”. Some studies have shown that immersing yourself up to your neck in warm water is good for your cardiovascular system.

Feel better, look better

When you feel rested and rejuvenated, which is another benefit of the hot tub, you will automatically look better, too. Nobody likes to look tired or run down. Soaking in a hot tub prior to turning in for the night can also assist with providing a good night’s sleep. As an added bonus, if you have stiff joints and muscles they will become relaxed in the hot tub, so you won’t have to deal with discomfort as you are trying to drift off to sleep.

Indirect weight loss

Losing a few pounds is something a lot of us are interested in, but not many people think about how a hot tub could possibly assist with this. A study once showed that for some people who soaked in a spa for 30 minutes each day for 6 days a week were able to lose weight more easily. This particular study utilized individuals who suffered with type 2 diabetes.

While we have focused on some pretty significant benefits of the hot tub, let’s not forget about the pure pleasure of just sitting around in a wonderfully warm body of water with a few friends and enjoying some great company and conversation!

Having a hot tub doesn’t mean that you have to spend a lot of time keeping it in prime condition. So go ahead and put it to good use, and just follow these quick tips for keeping it maintained.

First, set up a plan for keeping your hot tub optimized year-round, considering daily, weekly and periodic maintenance. It may sound like a lot of work, however, if you stick to the plan you will find that maintenance goes quickly and smoothly!

On a Daily Basis

Water quality is the main priority here. Part of the enjoyment that comes with the hot tub is the clean, inviting water you see as you are about to step into it. The water should have the proper pH levels and be properly sanitized, which can both be checked easily with good quality test strips. Often, you will find that nothing needs to be done, but if there are indicators that the pH or sanitization are not up to par then you will need to treat the water accordingly. This takes just a few minutes each day, and by keeping up with this, you are going to avoid potential problems such as scale build up and unsightly water.

Once a Week

You need to follow the manufacturer’s directions when it comes to shocking your hot tub. This is normally done with your chosen sanitizer which may be chlorine or bromine. A common problem that some hot tub owners experience is foaming, but this is easily corrected with the proper amount of foam reducer. The components of the water that you use to fill your hot tub may need some adjusting as well. Some water contains higher amounts of calcium and minerals which can lead to scaling in the tub, but again there are some great products on the market to easily correct this and bring your water to the proper levels. If you don’t tend to this, you are going to run into potential problems with the pumps and hoses and even scale buildup on the tub walls.

Throughout the Year

Your specific water conditions and how often you use your hot tub will determine the periodic maintenance that is required. Even if you have had no need to provide a de-scaling treatment to your water, you may want to do this once or twice a year anyway to quickly handle small amounts of mineral residue. The main filter of the unit should be cleaned at least a few times a year. Your owner’s manual should give you specific details about cleaning the filter. You should also completely replace the water several times a year to ensure optimal water conditions.

The time it takes to perform these maintenance tasks is minimal, and by capitalizing on preventive measures, you can avoid unnecessary corrective measures and repairs.

Owning and keeping a hot tub in good shape doesn’t take a lot of time or money, but it does take a commitment on your part. Following a few simple steps can keep your maintenance to a minimum and allow you to spend more of your time enjoying what your hot tub has to offer!

Step 1: Keeping the Water Clean

(a) Preventative action is the best step toward clean water, and you can do this by making sure that it is kept free of debris and oils. Body oils can be greatly reduced by ensuring that everyone takes a shower prior to using your hot tub.

(b) Choosing the location of where you have your hot tub installed is important, as you don’t want it close to an area where dust from the roads or debris from trees and bushes will make it difficult to keep clean. This is a great reason for using a good quality hot tub cover.

(c) The filtration system is critical in assisting you with keeping your water clean from a lot of the contaminants that can affect the water but are difficult to see with the naked eye. Aside from buying a high-quality spa which should possesses a good filtration system, your responsibility will be to clean and change the filters as necessary. On a weekly basis, rinse your filter by running it under warm water. Once a month, give filters a good cleaning with appropriate filter cleaning products.

Step 2: Keeping the Water Balanced

(a) You should strive to keep the water components of your home spa perfectly balanced. You will find it much easier to keep it balanced than to bring it back to its optimized condition.

(b) Your concern is keeping the pH balanced, and with a good pH testing kit and the proper chemicals you can keep the water chemistry in good condition.

(c) When you are choosing your chemicals, most professionals prefer to use bromine rather than chlorine simply because bromine is kinder to your tub cover.

Step 3: Changing the Water

(a) You may reach a point where it is quicker and easier to completely replace the water than to try to reverse issues that have arisen, especially when the hot tub is being used frequently. This is a little more time consuming than the preventative and ongoing treatments and monitoring, but it is worth it. Some people make it a habit of changing the water every three months, whereas others will do it more frequently, if necessary.

There are many additional steps you can take to optimize your hot tub water, but if you don’t want to take on this responsibility then you can always arrange to have our experts here at The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company do the job for you. There are several options to choose from such as weekly, fortnightly, monthly and yearly. These services include additional maintenance measures outside of the water optimization.

While there is no reason why you can’t have your hot tub indoors, many people enjoy having their hot tub in an outdoor setting. There are several factors you want to consider when choosing the one that is right for you! Let’s take a look at some of the things to take into consideration.

The Starting Point

Many people wonder if they should pick the spot for the hot tub first or if they should pick the brand and model first, then find a spot for it. You may want to review the areas that you have available that will accommodate a hot tub first, while determining the largest and most appropriate space available for your hot tub. This will help you avoid the disappointment of choosing one that you cannot house properly.

How Important is Size?

Naturally, you may be thinking that if you are going to go through the time and expense of purchasing a hot tub that bigger is better. It is well worth giving this some real thought as a top quality hot tub is going to last you for many years, so you want to think of the future as well. If you have young children now, your hot tub will not be of much interest to them, but it certainly will as they get older. Also, while you are considering all of its benefits to you on a personal level, don’t forget that it is something that you can enjoy with friends and family. So, you want it to be big enough to accommodate additional people. Your choices can range from seating three people right up to ten people.

The Quality

If you are new to hot tubs, you will soon discover that it has many benefits in terms of both therapy and entertainment. You want to spend a little extra money to buy a good brand, such as a Hydropool hot tub. This is going to allow you to really discover all that hot tub has to offer, with few hassles in regards to maintenance and repairs. Good quality also means reliability when it comes to components, like the power efficiency and pump performance.

The Features

There are so many features that are available to you, which make selecting the right hot tub a fun and interesting experience. We talked about size and seating, but there are other important features to consider, like the self-cleaning feature. This feature enables you to spend less time taking care of your hot tub and more time enjoying it. Plus, it ensures that your water is providing a healthy environment. You want to rely on a reputable hot tub sales representative that can explain the benefits of the various features as well, such as the number of jets and the positioning of the jets.

Rely on Experience

When you are going to buy a hot tub or any other large item for the home, you really want to know you are making the right choice. If you have limited knowledge of hot tubs, be sure to rely on an established dealer who has experienced staff on hand to answer all of your questions, determine your needs, and offer you a good selection that you can choose from.

If you have any questions at all, contact us today or simply leave a comment below!

Everyone enjoys a holiday and, for most working people, a week or two off only comes once a year. But, a hot tub can provide a mini vacation whenever you want or need it!

When one thinks about booking time for a vacation to some wonderful far away place, it usually takes at least three days before they unwind enough to completely enjoy this relaxing time. For those that have chosen to add a hot tub to their home, they really do have an advantage.

Total Water Emersion

One of the important factors when planning a retreat is the thought of warmth. This is why most people opt for a warm climate when choosing a vacation destination. With a hot tub in your home, you never have to be concerned about your environment. You can totally immerse your body in a pool of hot water set to the perfect temperature that suits you best.

Lay Back and Enjoy

Lounging is always key to being able to let your body unwind, and good quality hot tubs will not disappoint you there. When you are ready to step into your hot tub, it should have the right ergonomics to allow you to sit and relax in total comfort.

Water Massage Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

With any vacation package, one of the real perks is having a massage, and this is not something you need to give up with your mini vacations! You will find that you have lots of options when it comes to the number of jets that you want in your hot tub, which provide you with a warm water massage and the ultimate enjoyment.

Vacation Ambiance

Your surroundings are important when you are relaxing, and hopefully you have chosen a secluded spot for your hot tub. Having built-in LED lighting on your hot tub allows you to add a little more ambience to your surroundings in the evening.

The Non-Stop Mini Vacation

By taking the time to have a mini vacation in your home hot tub, just think of the money you are saving. No flights, no hotel rooms, and no having to wait until your holiday time arrives. You can have a mini vacation whenever and for as long as you want. This is just one way of getting the most out of what a hot tub has to offer.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. We are here to help!

Once you have your hot tub installed, you will be excited about putting it to use. Once it’s up and running, it’s worth taking the time to book professional servicing to ensure that it’s well maintained for years to come!

If you live close enough to a professional hot tub service provider, you can take advantage of the many different types of service packages that are available. Ideally, when purchasing this type of unit, find out the distance that the company will travel to provide maintenance service. Maintenance requirements will depend on the hot tub you have and how often it is used.

Regular Servicing

One of the priorities of regular servicing is ensuring that the hot tub is cleaned properly. This includes cleaning of the filter, strainer baskets, spa shell and floor, as well as the water line. By keeping these items clean, the water will remain stable. You also want to ensure that your spa water is cleaned and sanitized before it is properly balanced with the right chemicals. At times, the water will need to be shocked and then followed with a water clarifier, which allows the water to be sparkling clean.

During servicing, the professionals will also check and adjust the jets as necessary, as well as take preventative actions to ensure that the hot tub is properly filtered. While it may seem like a big task, it comes easy for the pros because they do it all the time. They will also advise you on how often your hot tub should be serviced.

Extended Care

You may soon discover that regular maintenance is something that you can easily do yourself, and all of the required chemicals are easily purchased. However, there will be times where extended care is required, and this may be something you would want the hot tub service providers to handle.

Extended care typically includes full draining of the hot tub, including its hoses and pipes, as well as flushing the pipes with a commercial cleaner and checking all major components of the system. Many packages even include cleaning of the hot tub cover and accessories to ensure that the hot tub looks great!

Yearly Requirements

Once a year, you may want to give some serious thought to calling in the hot tub service experts to give your unit a top to bottom cleaning and inspection. This servicing focuses on the inspection of the pumps, lighting, filtration systems, and a review of how the jets are functioning. During this once a year servicing, each and every hydro jet should be removed and cleaned, including their housings. Once the unit is refilled with the water, it should be treated and balanced. These are typically the highlights of a yearly hot tub cleaning and inspection. You will have peace of mind knowing that your hot tub is in peak condition!

Please leave a comment below if you have any comments or questions. We are happy to answer any questions you may have!