Winterizing Your Spa
Winterizing your spa is very important!
As water freezes, it breaks the plumbing apart, cracks fittings, and can explode the pump. Even heating elements will expand to an irrepairable point if you live in a freezing area and fail to winterize your spa.
What you will need:
- Wet/Dry Vacuum (ShopVac)
- 1-3 Gal RV Antifreeze
- Channel lock pliers (16” will work best)
- Funnel or baster
- 2-3 hours of your time
*Drain your spa – often, pre-treating it beforehand is recommended so that whatever water may be left in the spa will not cause problems over the winter.
*Vacuum all the jets and injectors, until there is no water left.
*Remove your filter and vacuum at the plumbing, avoiding the O-Rings.
*If you have an air channel, turn on the power and make sure the pumps are NOT running. Turn your air blower on until water no longer comes out. Turn power off.
*Loosen the plumbing connections at your pump and at your heater. Vacuum all water.
*Reconnect the plumbing to the heater, the lower of the two connections on your pumps.
*Add RV anti-freeze to the pump using a funnel or baster. Most pumps take about 4 oz.
*Re-attach your pump unions.
*Add about 1 oz. RV anti-freeze to each jets with your funnel/baster.
*Add RV anti-freeze to plumbing attached to your filter until it runs out of the intakes at the foot of the spa.
*Add anti-freeze to the air channel/air injectors. This might be tedious, but it will be worth it!
If you get heavy snow, place ¼” plywood over your cover to help enforce it. You can also cover your spa with a tarp and strap it down. Your hot tub is an investment… don’t freeze your investment!
Be Energy Efficient With Your Hot tub
Let’s face it…
With the economy the way it is, we are forced to make sacrifices each day. Well we are here to tell you, there is no need to sacrifice the amazing wonderfulness of soaking in your tub – as long as you follow these simple tips, you will be able to save energy, as well as some dollars on your next electric bill!
Proper Cover Quality & Install:
Heat rises, so it is important that what’s on top is snug and always stays latched. If your cover is old or not installed properly, you will experience heat leaks and your cover will become waterlogged. A replacement cover will not only save energy, but it will last longer, improve water absorption, and look pretty!
Thermostat Settings:
Typically, hot tub thermostats come set at 104°F.. if you change this to 102°F or even lower, to the touch it makes a minimal difference. However, it will reduce energy consumption significantly.
Control Thermostat:
Winterize your spa
When you are on vacation or it is during warmer months, turn down your thermostat! As long as that cover is in good shape, it will maintain heat. Make sure in freezing months that the heat is maintained in order to prevent freezing, unless your spa is winterized. Also, check with your power company for reduced off-peak rates. Or if you have a timer circuit on your spa, consider programming the off-peak heating option.
Filter Cartridges & Plumbing:
Worn-out and/or clogged filters will reduce the circulation of your hot tub water, causing the heater element to perform less efficiently. Replace your filter annually for optimal performance.
Lights, Blowers, & Jets: Jets are amazing for a little massage, but as they pump air into the water, they also lower the temp of it which the heater then needs to heat, using more energy. The energy impact duing bathing is minimal, but be sure to shut off air, water, and lights when you are not enjoying your spa.
Cutting the wind around your spa reduces heat loss. A privacy panel, shrubs, fencing, an enclosure, or a coverall will save heat and also create some privacy around the hot tub.
Conserve Water:
Don’t waste the H2O! Water that is lost outside of the spa then needs to be replaced, heated, and uses more energy! Repair leaks and adjust the jets so that your spa sees all of the water, and not your deck!
Spa Filter Basics
Spa Filter Basics
Funny thing about hot tubs, we love to soak in them and play in them, but I don’t recall anyone ever saying how they just can’t wait to get home to clean it.
A spa filter is designed to collect all the unwanted hair, dead skin, body oils and anything else that might be floating around the water’s surface. By design it helps to keep the water clean and safe for your enjoyment.
Most manufacturers have taken the time to properly engineer the weir skimmer, pump size and plumbing to allow proper surface skimming and removal of all that yucky stuff from the water. It is equally important to be sure that the filter is the proper type.
There are many types of filters and often there are multiple manufacturers for your filter, but it is very important to utilize the filter specifically designed for your water flow. The paper in a spa filter is crucial for the proper removal of those ickies. Too much porosity and many of these contaminates will stay in the water for your soaking pleasure. Too little and the water can be restricted so much that consistent heating and jet pressure becomes problematic.
When cleaning your filter start off by using the high pressure of a hose nozzle to clean out the heavy debris from between the pleats in the paper element. Many companies sell a concentrated solution to break down the oils and loosen the debris that you can let the filter soak in. You will want to have a backup filter to place in the spa so that your tub does not operate without any type of filtering protection.
To increase the life of your filter, try placing it in your dishwasher for a cycle. The hot water will do a great job breaking down the oils and opening the clogged pores of your spa filter. Incidentally it will also do a great job taking the filter from dingy grey to white. You will want to make sure to cancel the drying cycle so as to not damage the filter. Just don’t do this with Grandma’s china or anything else you might be thinking about eating or drinking from!
The #1 Reason Why I Hate My Hot Tub
Recently a group of hot tub owners were asked what bothered them the most about their spa. They were asked about ease of use, maintenance and other factors pertaining to service. Consistently, the number one complaint was the difficulty of maintaining their spa. Water chemistry takes up precious time and energy.
Love them or hate them, spas need regular maintenance. This typically means checking PH levels, controlling the sanitizer levels, cleaning the filters, shocking and regularly draining and refilling.
Most people don’t want to talk about all that really goes into the water when we bathe, but every time we decide to take a soak, we leave behind more than you know. No matter how clean a person may be, sweat, dead skin and body oils wind up in the hot tub. Even if part of your hot tub regiment is to shower prior to entering, there is no escaping the “additives”. It’s simply unavoidable.
There is a simpler way. The “green” way just happens to be the simplest and easiest way to treat your water. There are many enzyme based water management systems on the market. These easy to use systems utilize enzyme technology to eliminate bacteria, body oils and sweat left in the water. The enzymes eat the contaminants and literally remove them all together. In the end, this translates to less time maintaining your spa.
These systems automatically control the PH, they will not scale and are very gentle on hot tub equipment. Some systems simply call for a bottle of enzyme sustain to be added every two months and most people report only changing the water once a year instead of once every 3 months. Even draining the spa is eco friendly. The water can go straight into the grass without damaging the lawn.
Our common goal is to spend less time working on our hot tub and more time relaxing in it. If you are not already using a chem free or all natural solution, try switching to a system that makes life easier. You’ll be glad you did!
To Lounge or Not to Lounge
When looking for a hot tub, comfort has got to take precedence. Yes, the number of spa jets and spa pumps along with sanitizing capability is important, but all in all comfort has got to be key.
Wet Test or Dry Test?
If a spa is not comfortable during a dry test, there is
very little likelihood that the spa will be comfortable when filled with water. There is however, a lot to factor in. There is the buoyancy of the water, the “lift” from the force of the spa jets and the ergonomics of the seats.
Try a dry test before considering any hot tub. If the dealer won’t let you sit in the spa, don’t bother considering a buy and if the spa is uncomfortable, don’t go any further. Move on.
Spa Lounge or No Spa Lounge?
Eighty percent of hot tub buyers looking to buy a hot tub for the second time will choose a hot tub without a lounge. This is because having all the seats pointing towards the center allows everyone in the hot tub to converse with one another.
For entertaining, there is nothing better. Typically a bucket seat will be more comfortable than a lounge because the lounge causes the occupant to “float” in the seat. This can make the occupant to feel unstable. If a lounge is the preferred way to soak, make sure the lounge provides a deep V. The deep V will keep the body in the seat and provide a comfortable tubbing experience.
Hot Tub or Spa Best Choice
The best spa is the one that is easy to maintain, costs less to run and provides the most comfort to the occupants. When looking to purchase a spa, don’t just add up the jet count or look at the spa pump, take the time out to sit in all the seats before making a purchase decision. We promise, you’ll be glad you did!
How to Clean Your Hot Tub Oil Slick
The Gulf is not the only place a huge oil slick can be found. In order to find one, you don’t have to go any further than your own backyard. Your hot tub will experience an infusion of oil into the water every time it is used.
Oil is Oil
Whether it be oil from a can or oil from the bodies of hot tubbers, its all the same. Granted the oil from a can is much more toxic, body oil can build up in the water and collect on key spa parts like the spa heater, spa jets and any other moving parts like the spa pump.
How About A Boom?
I don’t think an oil barge or boom will be necessary to remove the oil slick from your hot tub, but the oil needs to be dealt with one way or another. The spa filter is the main line of defense. The spa filter will collect about 80% of the body oil left. Most of the leftover oil will wind up as a ring of scum around the water line. The rest will remain in the water for your hot tubbing pleasure.
The Scum Ball Solution
Free Scum Balls and frequent spa filter maintenance will keep the oil slick from overwhelming your hot tub experience. The Scum Ball will absorb the oil, keeping it from building up in your spa filters and the walls of your hot tub. Hmm, less maintenance and longer filter life? It’s an easy decision.
The Gulf Oil Spill
The oil spill on our beautiful Gulf Coast is no laughing matter. It hasn’t hit our shores yet, but we are preparing ourselves to pitch in when the time comes. If you live on the Gulf Coast, take some time to find ways to help with the cleanup. It will feel good to help out and we are sure you will be glad you did!
How to Kill a Hot Tub
In a world where the economic climate has been dampened to say the least, consumers are looking at ways to save money by conserving energy and taking extra care of the things they spend their hard earned dollars on. “Disposable Income” is not so disposable anymore. Replacing a hot tub can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000.
Here are 3 absolute hot tub killers:
1. Corrosion – An improperly balance PH can cause the corrosion on key spa parts like the spa heater, the spa motor shaft and the spa pump. PH should be maintained between 7.2 and 7.8. Too low and the water is corrosive, too high and the water becomes cloudy, scaly and will often irritate the eyes and skin.
2. Poor Alkalinity – Keeping the alkalinity in check will allow the water to balance with little effort. Too high and we are back to cloudy water and scale, except now it is very difficult to balance the water; this is where too many spa chemicals are used. Too low and the PH moves up and down the ladder faster than a New York firefighter. Not to mention a very corrosive environment for your spa parts.
3. Hard Water – Too much calcium in the water causes cloudy water and build-up of scale on hard spa parts. Too little calcium and the water will draw from the copper, aluminum and iron found on the spa heater, spa pumps, spa motors, etc. This will cause corrosion and an early demise to some not so cheap spa parts. Lowering calcium cannot be achieved using chemicals. This can only come from filtering the water through a water softener or using the Aqua Clara Pre-Filter. Using AquaClara Sustain regularly is the best solution to preventing scale formation.
Test the Water
The best way to save money during hot tub ownership is to properly maintain the water chemistry. Spending a little time checking and balancing the spa water chemistry will keep a spa in service and repair free for years to come. Test the water regularly – You’ll be glad you did!
How To Fix A Hot Tub – Just Ask The Kids
How To Fix A Hot Tub
As I sat down to write this article and I began to think of ways to be informative about spa repairs, spa parts, spa motors, spa chemicals …(you get the point), I asked my 6 year old son what he thought I should write about. His response started out like this: “It should be about a guy who falls out of an airplane with a parachute and the parachute broke.” – Obviously, he has no idea what I write about.
Super Heroes Sometimes Need Help
I remember thinking as a kid that my dad could do anything or fix anything. He was approximately 10 feet tall and knew everything about everything. He was the “go to guy” for all my questions.
Later, as a teenager I realized that I was the one who knew everything there was to know about everything, but that is a whole other article.
DIY – Do It Yourself Fixing a Hot Tub
Replacing a spa motor or a spa heater is pretty easy and does not require any specialized training or tools.
Typically any spa repair can be done in less than 30-40 minutes and you will feel pretty good about saving a few hundred bucks doing it yourself. The best spa parts companies offer free diagnostics and they are always willing to help with step by step customer service support through the installation process. Being 10 feet tall does not last but a short season, a hot tub repair is an easy DIY project.
Try it out and I guarantee you’ll maintain your SuperHero status a little longer. I promise, you’ll be glad you did!
Safe Hot Tub Water Temperature Settings
Warning: No Higher Than 99 Degrees!
Hot tubs are designed to create a hot water environment. The spa heater will regulate the set temperature up to 104 degrees. Sitting in the water at such an elevated temperature is not an easy task, but just the same many hot tub enthusiasts enjoy the elevated temperature. Turn the spa pump on, sit back and relax.
What Happens
Our bodies are designed to maintain body temperature whether exposed to cold temperatures or hot. As our extremities begin to get cold, the body will act quickly to send blood to those areas in an effort to restore body temperature and at extremely low temperatures, the human body will work to protect vital organs by pumping blood to the body core.
When the body’s core temperature goes up due to excessive heat, the body forces blood to the skin in an effort to keep the core cooled down. The skin perspires and the cooling process starts. Regulating body temperature is a full time job.
The Problem
Sitting in a hot tub at an elevated temperature disables the body’s ability to cool off. The body wants to regulate the body’s temperature to 98.6 and the water has been heated to over 100 degrees. Add a little dehydration to an overheated body and the situation can become lethal.
The Warnings*
1. Children under the age of 18 should not be in the spa if the spa heater has been set above 99 degrees.
2. Anyone who has just finished a rigorous workout routine should not soak in spa water above 99 degrees.
3. Anyone with high blood pressure or any type of heart condition should not use the spa above 99 degrees.
4. Anyone who has consumed an excessive amount of alcohol should never enter a hot tub.
Keep it safe. Stay hydrated, keep the temperature down for those at risk of hyperthermia and enjoy the experience. You will be glad you did!
*Advice from a qualified physician should always be sought before using a hot tub.
Practical Solutions to Keep Your Hot Tub Crystal Clear
It Sounds Gross
Every time someone enters a hot tub for a little R&R, they leave a little something behind. It is completely unintentional, it is not planned and if be known, it is even a little embarrassing.
It Is Gross
I am talking about the sweat, exfoliated skin and body oils. Sorry, but no matter how clean a person might consider themselves to be, they will always leave their DNA behind. If the temperature is high enough, the body can sweat out about a quart an hour. -Yuck! That is a quart of pure urea for every hour of soaking by each person sitting in the spa.
Let’s do some math. Two people, 3 times a week for an hour each session. That totals 6 quarts of sweat, a full gallon and a half every week!
Reducing The Gross Factor
Here are some practical solutions to keeping your spa crystal clear while enjoying a session of hydrotherapeutic bliss.
1. Keep your sanitizer levels up
2. Clean your spa filter every week.
3. Use a Scum Ball to remove body oils and eliminate “ring around the collar”.
Spending time in your hot tub does not have to be an experiment in human hygiene care. Keep the water clean with regular maintenance and invite as many friends to join you along the way. You will be glad you did!
