Ask The Expert
A lot of owners find they have questions on maintenance and water care after they purchased their hot tubs. If the answer to your question is not found below, always feel free to call any of us at 758-1857, or email your question from the Contact us Page. To download our basic instruction sheet on spa water maintenenace, go to the Download PDF page, under Water Care.
Q: I worry that using so much water for a hot tub is irresponsible. A. In reality, hot tubs conserve water. The 300 gallons or so that they use can be kept for 4 months, a great savings over taking baths and dumping the water. Also, landscaping flourishes with hot tub water. Nothing is wasted.
Q: What's the electrical bill likely to be for your typical four person hot tub? A. It depends on three things: (1) the cost per kilowatt hour of your current (2) how often you soak and (3) the energy efficiency of the hot tub. The top brands that I sell -- Hot Spring and TIver River-- average only $15-20 per month, and that's if you use them outdoors, for one half hour, 6 times a week. Compare that to the $50-75 per month you'd pay for an inferior or aging hot tub. Make any dealer show you an independent engineer's finding documenting real electrical costs. We slso have the ability to meter individual tubs in the field to verify these figures. To drain or not to drain? Q. I'm thinking of draining my hot tub for a month or two. Could this cause problems? A. Yes. Three potential problems, even in warm weather: (1) when seals and gaskets dry out, it shortens their life. (2) A shut-down motor attracts rust. (3) Remaining water in the pipes can breed some nasty gunk. That gunk will greet you when you re-fill the tub. I would just reduce the spa temperature, let it run, and ask someone to check on it once in a while. In winter, never drain a hot tub without proper winterization. We can do that for you, or adivse you how. Without winterization, hidden, frozen pipes often crack in winter, resulting in repairs of $1000 or more.
Q: I've never had a hot tub before. Do I need special plumbing? What electrical and other preparations are needed? A. It's easier than you think. The hot tub fills and drains with a garden hose- no plumbing needed. Electrically, one third of our models can simply plug into a 115V receptacle. Larger models need 220V, and we offer free consultation with your licensed electrician on exactly how to prepare it. Finally, a hot tub can be placed on a pickup load of gravel, or you can upgrade with a slab or deck. Take advantage of us- request a free home inspection to evaluate your site, without obligation.
Q. My hot tub is pretty new, and suddenly it stopped heating. What should I do first? A. Nine times out of time, the problem here is a clogged filter. A clogged filter restricts the water flow, which causes the heater to shut down. Easy test: remove the filter, then check if the tub circulates and heats. If so, take a garden hose, with a power nozzle attached, and thoroughly clean the filter. Clean it once a week, and you shouldn't have problems. Filters get clogged with body oils and minerals, even if they look pretty good. Filters don't need frequent replacement, but you can prolong their life and efficiency by using a filter cleanse product several times a year. We sell both the spray and soak varieties of filter cleanse.
This is calcium which has precipitated out of the water as it became warm. If the tub is empty, you can clean the shell by wiping it down with a sponge and white vinegar. You can also wipe it with the water in the tub using a sponge or a nylon web poof. The filter will catch it. Do it promptly-- once calcium hardens, only acid will remove it. Calcium varies in our water table, and a deposit of this magnitude may happen to you only rarely. But it is always there. Use Stain and Scale weekly to prevent deposits of minerals. on shell, equipment, and pipes. |
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