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!

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!

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!

The Party’s Over – Now What?

Rinse, Treat, Repeat!

The party is over, the guests have cleared out. Even Uncle Willy has decided he has had enough and has moved on. Now it is time to clear the debris field, take out the trash  and find out where that new pungent smell is coming from. Oh, and maybe it is time to attend to the hot tub.

The hot tub was a big hit, but now it is time to pay the piper. It looks a little beat up, the water color is definitely off and the cover just plain smells. So let’s get started!

Start with the Cover

Remove the cover completely and rinse off with a hose. You may even want to scrub it down with a solution of bleach and water. This will keep any mildew from building up. One of my favorite tips on cleaning the cover is to Febreeze it after a good scrub. I just like the way it leaves my spa cover smelling so good.

Rinse Down the Cabinet

Since we already have the hose out, we might as well rinse off the cabinet. Once the cabinet had been wiped down, use a good conditioner to restore it to that “new” look. Any scratches can be removed with the use of a furniture touch up stick from any home improvement store.

Treat the Water

First thing to do is to remove the filters and run them through the dishwasher. That’s right, the dishwasher! This will break down the body oils and brighten the filter to new again. Shock the water and test for sanitizing levels. Make sure your PH and Alkalinity stay on track and once everything has been brought back to balance, use a clarifier to bring back the brilliance to your spa water.

Repeat!

No sense in wasting any time. Start planning your next backyard bash right away and be sure to invite Uncle Willie. You know you will be glad you did!

The Hot Tub Flush

As a society, we have grown very accustomed to things needing less and less maintenance.

Everything from appliances that offer self cleaning features to cars that can go 15,000 miles without an oil change; we want our ownership experience to be as effortless as possible. Spa ownership is no different.

So, How Often Should I Change The Spa Water?

The real answer lies in the bather load. This is defined by the amount of people using the hot tub, the number of times it is used and the manner in which the spa is used.

A single bather who swims once a week in a giant swim spa may never need to change the water. On the other hand, a hot tub with daily usage by 4-6 people should change the water monthly.

A general rule of thumb is to drain the spa every 1 – 3 months depending on usage.

Why Change The Spa Water At All?

Changing the water is important because it can affect the soaking experience, the amount of spa chemicals needed, and in the long run the cost of spa ownership.

Without changing the water, the water can become “heavy”. The water will lose any silkiness to it and overall create a harsh environment for your skin, leaving bathers with dry itchy skin.

“Overdosing” is a term used in the industry when an excessive amount of chemicals are used to balance the water.

Often, when the water in a spa is no longer manageable, homeowners are forced to add excessive amounts of spa chemicals to keep the water balanced. If your spa requires more than a usual amount of chemicals to reach the sweet spot, change the water. It will reduce the risk of corrosion to your spa parts and keep you from wasting expensive spa chemicals.

Another reason to change the water is because every person who enters a spa will leave behind sweat, dead skin and body oils. Aside from the gross factor, changing the spa water will keep vital spa parts from building this type of gunk.

Someone close to me once said, “It’s a great life, if you don’t weaken.” Stay ahead of the game, drain your water regularly. You will be glad you did!

Do You Have a Degree in Hot Tub Chemistry?

Everyone has their own special talent. Something they really excel at, but I can honestly tell you that water chemistry is a tough degree to attain. In an effort to understand how our customers perceive water chemistry, we decided to do a little impromptu survey. Add up your points and see how you do!

Managing your spa water shouldn’t stress you out or take up much of your time. If you find that taking care of your hot tub is just a great pain, give us a call anytime. We are here to take the stress out of hot tub ownership.

We can provide tips and pointers and you never know, you just might be glad you did!

Can I Use Bath Salts In My Hot Tub?

I recently received a letter from one of our subscribers. She asked a really good question about using Bath Salts in a hot tub.

Here is her letter below:

Dear Hot Tub and Spa Expert,

I recently found a wonderful recipe for Bath Salts that
included Epsom Salt, Sea Salt, Baking Soda and essential
oils for fragrance. Would be OK to use it in my hot tub?

Sincerely,

Stressed Mom

Dear Stressed Mom,

Epsom salts are a wonderful catalyst for healing sore muscles and achy joints. Add a little to a drawn bath of hot water and you will find a whole new level of pampering and self indulgence. It has been used for centuries to draw out toxins in the body, ease stress and to soften the skin and hair. It will even improve blood flow and help prevent the hardening of arteries and blood clots. But…

Is It Safe for My Hot Tub?

Okay, so there is a catch. You can not use Epsom salts in the hot tub. Using these salts in your hot tub is not only extremely corrosive to your spa equipment, but if mixed with chlorine or bromine, it can cause serious chemical burns to your skin. I know it seems like the perfect environment to experience the centuries old remedy, but it could lead to a trip to the hospital. Chlorine and Sodium create a flash burn when introduced to water.

Check out this video demonstration:

What Is Safe?

If you really want to pamper yourself with products that are designed for hot tubs try AquaClara Natural.

This enzyme based sanitizing system is designed to replace hot tub dependency on corrosive chemicals like chlorine or bromine while softening the water for silky smooth skin and hair. Add non-intrusive aromatherapy beads that wont change your spa waters’ chemistry and you have an all natural environment to enjoy.

Keep It In The Bath Tub!

We think Epsom salts are a great idea, just not for your hot tub. Even if you don’t use chlorine or bromine to sanitize your spa, the corrosive power of Epsom salts can still bring your spa equipment to an early demise. Keep the Epsom salts in the bath tub!

We love hearing from you. If you have a question or concern about your hot tub or spa, please leave a comment on our blog or send us and email at hottubandspaexpert@ gmail [dot] com.

You just might be glad you did!

Can You Go Blind from Bacteria in Your Hot Tub?

Hot Tub Blindness?

Go Blind?  Most likely not.  BUT…  there are definite chemistry precautions that you should know and understand to keep you and your family safe.

Creating a safe environment for you and your family is an important factor when deciding to add a hot tub to your backyard environment. Making sure that the hot tub water is free from bacteria is key to providing a safe haven of relaxation and hydrotherapy.

There are so many different types of infections like hot tub folliculitis, hot tub lung, conjunctivitis, and any number of skin infections (most of which I cannot pronounce) that make considering a hot tub purchase a little daunting. But don’t worry, with a few precautions and some common sense, hot tub ownership is a breeze.

Preventative Hot Tub Eye Care

Bromine or Chlorine is a very effective sanitizing product when used properly. It kills algae, viruses and bacteria quickly and efficiently. The only down side is its corrosive properties, the dry skin and of course the smell.  Over-chlorinated or brominated water becomes acidic, causing many health hazards including a burning sensation in the eyes.

In many cases, the over chlorinated vapor from the water’s surface can cause irritation.  Not enough sanitizer – and the risk of infection becomes prevalent.

Conjunctivitis is typically caused by bacteria and viruses, but any bather can get it just as easy from too much chlorine as they can from not enough. Conjunctivitis is an irritation and swelling of the connective tissue inside the eyelids.
I remember getting “pink eye” as a kid. I remember the itching, swelling, stinging and misery that comes with this “gift that keeps on giving.”

Here are a few tips to reduce the risk of infection:

1.    Beware of spas or pools with the strong smell of chlorine or bromine. If it burns your eyes, get out!

2.    Remove your contact lenses. Leaving contact lenses in the eye traps micro-organisms which can cause infection.

3.    After a good soak in the hot tub or pool, make a point to wash your face and rinse your body off. This will significantly reduce any risk of infection.

Hot tubbing is meant to be fun and relaxing. Be sure to maintain proper levels of sanitizer and if you find that some of the commercial bromines or chlorines are too harsh for your family, try an all natural water sanitizer solution. There are some really great alternatives without all the chemicals. You might be glad you did!

My Hot Tub Makes Me Itchy!

Have you ever settled into the spa for a dose of rest and relaxation only to find yourself completely uncomfortable in a matter of minutes?

Have you ever gotten such a bad case of the itches while trying to enjoy your hot tub that you just gave up or turned the jets off out of frustration? Well, there is a very logical reason for it.

The Healing Action of a Hot Tub

It’s all about your body’s blood flow. The healing action of a hot tub does not come from hot water, nor does it come directly from the turbulence. It comes from your body’s natural ability to heal. We just amp it up by increasing the blood flow. The turbulence from the spa jets literally vacates the blood from the areas that are in direct contact with it, forcing “new blood” to enter these areas of the skin.

During a 20 minute soak, this happens over and over again. Taking away the toxins and bringing in fresh supplies of clean blood. This is where our body’s natural ability to heal comes from. Aches and pains go away and the tight muscles begin to loosen.

So, Why Do I Itch?

Most people will assume that it is coming from the spa chemicals or that the water must be out of balance. Not so fast! The jet action from your spa literally pushes the blood away from the skin’s surface. If the jet action is too high (too much pressure), the blood never gets a chance to flow back in. Without blood to the skin, your skin will become itchy and very irritated.

What Can I Do To Avoid Getting So Itchy?

Today, most spa jet action can be adjusted a couple of ways. First, check to see if your pump has one or two speeds. The first speed will be slower and provide less pressure.

Secondly, check the jet itself. In most cases turning the jet face counter clockwise can slow the water flow and provide you the relief you seek.

If your jets provide a constant flow, try changing them out for jets that pulsate. They change out easily without any tools and doing so will give you proper blood flow and relief from the “itchies”.

If these remedies do not suffice, try a little bit of “musical chairs”. Moving around to different seats with differing jet locations might be a lot of fun and keep your skin from being irritated.

You just might be glad you did!