We offer spa service,
repair, parts,
accessories,
chemicals, and top
quality appliance grade
Spa Max Spas
(727) 422-1377
repair, parts,
accessories,
chemicals, and top
quality appliance grade
Spa Max Spas
(727) 422-1377
Weekly Spa Maintenance:
1) Clean filter weekly
2) Use your test strips to properly balance your sanitizer
(bromine, dichlor, etc) and Ph levels.
3) Shock your spa once a week -2 onces Non chlorine spa shock.
4) People with skin conditions should keep the PH a little on the
high side around (7.8 and 8.0) otherwise it should be 7.2 to 7.8
Never use more than 2 tablespoons of Ph+ or Ph- in day, the
chemical needs time to adjust.
5)The biggest problem is adding way too much sanitizer, always
use your test strips! You don't have to load your floater up most
spas are only a few hundred gallons of water not a 10,000 gallon
swimming pool! Use granules to better measure a weekly dose.
6) Change your water every 3 to 4 months.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Clean filter weekly
2) Use your test strips to properly balance your sanitizer
(bromine, dichlor, etc) and Ph levels.
3) Shock your spa once a week -2 onces Non chlorine spa shock.
4) People with skin conditions should keep the PH a little on the
high side around (7.8 and 8.0) otherwise it should be 7.2 to 7.8
Never use more than 2 tablespoons of Ph+ or Ph- in day, the
chemical needs time to adjust.
5)The biggest problem is adding way too much sanitizer, always
use your test strips! You don't have to load your floater up most
spas are only a few hundred gallons of water not a 10,000 gallon
swimming pool! Use granules to better measure a weekly dose.
6) Change your water every 3 to 4 months.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Spa Mechanic Inc.
Extra Info
Hot Tub Folliculitis
Recently we have been hearing a lot of questions about hot tub folliculitis. The not-so-rare break
out of what is sometimes called “hot tub rash”. If you haven’t heard of it, it is typically a breakout
of 10-100 small red bumps that are caused by poor water chemistry. Low PH levels or the lack of
sanitizer is usually to blame. Many times the break out is found on the skin beneath a swimsuit.
It starts with itchy dry skin and eventually progresses into a number of small tender boils on the
skin (if you live in the south, it’s a lot like a fire ant bite, except 50 times worse!).
Symptoms will often go away within a few days on their own, but sometimes a good antibiotic is
needed to eliminate the infection. If you find that the rash is spreading or not going away, seek
medical care.
There are several steps to take if you want to avoid this embarrassing little rash.
First and foremost, keep your spa’s PH levels between 7.2 and 7.8. Not only will this keep your
spa water properly balanced, but it will help your spa equipment to live a long and prosperous life.
Secondly, maintain proper sanitizer levels in your spa. Low bromine levels and hot water become
a fabulous breeding ground for bacterium.
Thirdly, be sure to keep your spa filters clean and change your spa water regularly. Your spa
skimmer and filter are made to absorb your sweat, body oils and pretty much anything else left
behind during a good soak. Water should be changed every 3 months or so. There is only so
much mixing and balancing of your water chemistry that your spa of 300-500 gallons can take.
Eventually, the water becomes unmanageable; unable to breakdown any more chemicals.
Pretty simple, keep your water balanced and change it regularly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recently we have been hearing a lot of questions about hot tub folliculitis. The not-so-rare break
out of what is sometimes called “hot tub rash”. If you haven’t heard of it, it is typically a breakout
of 10-100 small red bumps that are caused by poor water chemistry. Low PH levels or the lack of
sanitizer is usually to blame. Many times the break out is found on the skin beneath a swimsuit.
It starts with itchy dry skin and eventually progresses into a number of small tender boils on the
skin (if you live in the south, it’s a lot like a fire ant bite, except 50 times worse!).
Symptoms will often go away within a few days on their own, but sometimes a good antibiotic is
needed to eliminate the infection. If you find that the rash is spreading or not going away, seek
medical care.
There are several steps to take if you want to avoid this embarrassing little rash.
First and foremost, keep your spa’s PH levels between 7.2 and 7.8. Not only will this keep your
spa water properly balanced, but it will help your spa equipment to live a long and prosperous life.
Secondly, maintain proper sanitizer levels in your spa. Low bromine levels and hot water become
a fabulous breeding ground for bacterium.
Thirdly, be sure to keep your spa filters clean and change your spa water regularly. Your spa
skimmer and filter are made to absorb your sweat, body oils and pretty much anything else left
behind during a good soak. Water should be changed every 3 months or so. There is only so
much mixing and balancing of your water chemistry that your spa of 300-500 gallons can take.
Eventually, the water becomes unmanageable; unable to breakdown any more chemicals.
Pretty simple, keep your water balanced and change it regularly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2005 - 2011 All Rights reserved The Spa Mechanic Inc.
Hyperthermia Good Or Bad?
Hyperthermia is the condition that occurs when the body temperature raises beyond 98.6 degrees.
As it goes, higher body temperatures can be a good thing... to a point.
Anything above 104 degrees can be life threatening.
Benefits Of Elevated Body Temperature
At times the body will use higher body temperatures to fight off an infection. The body has an
internal thermostat designed to elevate and regulate body temperature as a way to ward off a flu
bug or virus.
Another type of elevated body temperature is hyperthermia. Hyperthermia is the condition that
occurs when the body cannot dissipate heat fast enough to maintain normal body temperature.
Hyperthermia forces the body to sweat excessively and thus can be great for removing toxins from
the body, but caution should be maintained.
Detoxification
To detox in a hot tub, it is going to be pretty important to maintain hydration. Start with a couple of
glasses of cool water before getting into the spa. During the soaking session be sure to keep your
head out of the water (beside it being really hard to breathe under water, it is very important to
keep the head cool).
The soaking session should never take place in water above 104 degrees and certainly no more
than 20 minutes. If at any point nausea is experienced, get out of the hot tub and cool off. A
healthy dose means the body will sweat profusely and detox the body.
After a good soak, a deep satisfying sleep will come fast. Be sure to drink another couple of cool
glasses of water once out of the spa to rehydrate.
The Doctor Said..
Consult a doctor before starting any detoxification regiment. Anyone with heart problems or high
blood pressure should not go in any spa over 99 degrees. If you are looking for a great way to
detox and unwind or its just time for a simple soak to rejuvenate the body, pull back the spa cover
and jump in.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hyperthermia is the condition that occurs when the body temperature raises beyond 98.6 degrees.
As it goes, higher body temperatures can be a good thing... to a point.
Anything above 104 degrees can be life threatening.
Benefits Of Elevated Body Temperature
At times the body will use higher body temperatures to fight off an infection. The body has an
internal thermostat designed to elevate and regulate body temperature as a way to ward off a flu
bug or virus.
Another type of elevated body temperature is hyperthermia. Hyperthermia is the condition that
occurs when the body cannot dissipate heat fast enough to maintain normal body temperature.
Hyperthermia forces the body to sweat excessively and thus can be great for removing toxins from
the body, but caution should be maintained.
Detoxification
To detox in a hot tub, it is going to be pretty important to maintain hydration. Start with a couple of
glasses of cool water before getting into the spa. During the soaking session be sure to keep your
head out of the water (beside it being really hard to breathe under water, it is very important to
keep the head cool).
The soaking session should never take place in water above 104 degrees and certainly no more
than 20 minutes. If at any point nausea is experienced, get out of the hot tub and cool off. A
healthy dose means the body will sweat profusely and detox the body.
After a good soak, a deep satisfying sleep will come fast. Be sure to drink another couple of cool
glasses of water once out of the spa to rehydrate.
The Doctor Said..
Consult a doctor before starting any detoxification regiment. Anyone with heart problems or high
blood pressure should not go in any spa over 99 degrees. If you are looking for a great way to
detox and unwind or its just time for a simple soak to rejuvenate the body, pull back the spa cover
and jump in.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Needless Death of a Child
In light of the recent needless death of yet another child drowning, we would like to raise
awareness to the Virginia Graeme Baker act passed through congress and signed into law by
President Bush in December of 2007. The law went into effect in December 19, 2008.
This law is the direct result of a seven year girl named Virginia Graeme Baker who drowned in a
hot tub after being sucked into the drain. This little girl who was completely capable of swimming
since the age of three was not strong enough to pull herself free from the drain suction. In horror,
her mother tried with all her strength to pull Graeme from the bottom but could not free her from
the powerful suction. It took two other men to free her from the drain.
To read the whole story: http://www.usa.safekids.org/water/pool_bakers.html
In an effort to avoid this tragedy in the future, a safer newly designed suction has been
engineered. These suctions are designed to release the vacuum when the water flow is blocked and
eliminate the suction all together.
There are no manufacturers that I know of who have deliberately ignored the mandate to use safer
suctions. What I do know is that none were available until late December from suppliers and with
the downturn in the economy there is still a lot of hot tub inventory left over from 2008. At the
onset of 2009 there were tens of thousands of spas left over from 2008 that were not built with the
newly designed suctions. Sad to say, but many of these spas are still sitting in dealers’ showrooms
and will be sold without the safety devices. If you are considering buying a hot tub please ask your
dealer to be sure the spa either has the new suctions or will be retrofitted prior to delivery.
If you purchased a spa prior to January 2009, please be sure to change your drain suctions to the
new safety suctions. It only takes a few minutes and can easily be done without much effort. You
will not have to replace any plumbing. Changing the suction face will only require a Philips head
screwdriver and a few minutes of your time.Sitting in your hot tub should not be dangerous. Please
take the time to make the changes, you will be happy you did!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ozonator Emitts Poisonous Gas
When you decided to purchase a hot tub, I am sure the salesman went out of his way to tell you all
about the great features and benefits of your spa. The power, the comfort and the ease of
maintenance were all pointed out with wonderful detail. But did the salesman tell you about the
poisonous gas your new sanitizing system creates?
Ozone is a fantastic way to sanitize your hot tub water because it is an all natural solution for water
maintenance and yet as effective as bleach. It essentially hyper-oxygenates the water, killing all
bacteria, algae and viruses.
There are two types of hot tub ozonator systems. One is basically a high output UV bulb that
creates ozone gas and the other is a CD or Corona Discharge type that uses low voltage electricity
and a discharge cartridge. Both create ozone (O3).
Ozone is Harmful to Humans
Ozone is harmful to humans. Ozone is known to damage the tissues of the respiratory tract.
Regular exposure causes irritation, inflammation and eventually it results in chest tightness,
coughing and inflammation of asthma symptoms. Long term exposure can lead to long term
damage to the lungs.
Ozonators Must Be Plumbed Properly
The spa plumbing must be properly engineered to avoid harm to the occupants. Ozone has a
lifespan of approximately 17 seconds before the molecules change into air or mix with the water to
convert back into H2O. Typically the ozonator is programmed to come on when the pump is on.
This will allow the ozone to get sucked into the plumbing and injected into the spa water for
sanitizing purposes. The length of the plumbing and the speed of the water must be perfectly timed
to keep the "live" ozone from breaking the surface of the water. In other words, the time it takes to
go through the plumbing, must be at least 17 seconds. This will keep the poisonous gas from
breaking the water's surface and keep you from breathing in harmful ozone.
How can I tell If I'm Getting an Overdose of Ozone Gas?
The best way to tell if your ozonator is plumbed properly is by using your ability to smell. The odor
is similar to the smell after a lightning storm or a good rain. If you experience this odor while
sitting in your hot tub, there is a good chance that you are getting an overdose of ozone. Another
tell-tale sign is that your spa cover, spa pillows, spa filter lid, etc. are bleached out and deteriorating
before their time.
Ozonators are a great, all natural way to reduce your hot tub's chemical dependency. If you are
experiencing a heavy dose of ozone reality every time you enter your spa, or you're not even sure
if your ozonator is working, call us for support. There are some very quick and easy solutions. You
will be happy you did!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In light of the recent needless death of yet another child drowning, we would like to raise
awareness to the Virginia Graeme Baker act passed through congress and signed into law by
President Bush in December of 2007. The law went into effect in December 19, 2008.
This law is the direct result of a seven year girl named Virginia Graeme Baker who drowned in a
hot tub after being sucked into the drain. This little girl who was completely capable of swimming
since the age of three was not strong enough to pull herself free from the drain suction. In horror,
her mother tried with all her strength to pull Graeme from the bottom but could not free her from
the powerful suction. It took two other men to free her from the drain.
To read the whole story: http://www.usa.safekids.org/water/pool_bakers.html
In an effort to avoid this tragedy in the future, a safer newly designed suction has been
engineered. These suctions are designed to release the vacuum when the water flow is blocked and
eliminate the suction all together.
There are no manufacturers that I know of who have deliberately ignored the mandate to use safer
suctions. What I do know is that none were available until late December from suppliers and with
the downturn in the economy there is still a lot of hot tub inventory left over from 2008. At the
onset of 2009 there were tens of thousands of spas left over from 2008 that were not built with the
newly designed suctions. Sad to say, but many of these spas are still sitting in dealers’ showrooms
and will be sold without the safety devices. If you are considering buying a hot tub please ask your
dealer to be sure the spa either has the new suctions or will be retrofitted prior to delivery.
If you purchased a spa prior to January 2009, please be sure to change your drain suctions to the
new safety suctions. It only takes a few minutes and can easily be done without much effort. You
will not have to replace any plumbing. Changing the suction face will only require a Philips head
screwdriver and a few minutes of your time.Sitting in your hot tub should not be dangerous. Please
take the time to make the changes, you will be happy you did!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ozonator Emitts Poisonous Gas
When you decided to purchase a hot tub, I am sure the salesman went out of his way to tell you all
about the great features and benefits of your spa. The power, the comfort and the ease of
maintenance were all pointed out with wonderful detail. But did the salesman tell you about the
poisonous gas your new sanitizing system creates?
Ozone is a fantastic way to sanitize your hot tub water because it is an all natural solution for water
maintenance and yet as effective as bleach. It essentially hyper-oxygenates the water, killing all
bacteria, algae and viruses.
There are two types of hot tub ozonator systems. One is basically a high output UV bulb that
creates ozone gas and the other is a CD or Corona Discharge type that uses low voltage electricity
and a discharge cartridge. Both create ozone (O3).
Ozone is Harmful to Humans
Ozone is harmful to humans. Ozone is known to damage the tissues of the respiratory tract.
Regular exposure causes irritation, inflammation and eventually it results in chest tightness,
coughing and inflammation of asthma symptoms. Long term exposure can lead to long term
damage to the lungs.
Ozonators Must Be Plumbed Properly
The spa plumbing must be properly engineered to avoid harm to the occupants. Ozone has a
lifespan of approximately 17 seconds before the molecules change into air or mix with the water to
convert back into H2O. Typically the ozonator is programmed to come on when the pump is on.
This will allow the ozone to get sucked into the plumbing and injected into the spa water for
sanitizing purposes. The length of the plumbing and the speed of the water must be perfectly timed
to keep the "live" ozone from breaking the surface of the water. In other words, the time it takes to
go through the plumbing, must be at least 17 seconds. This will keep the poisonous gas from
breaking the water's surface and keep you from breathing in harmful ozone.
How can I tell If I'm Getting an Overdose of Ozone Gas?
The best way to tell if your ozonator is plumbed properly is by using your ability to smell. The odor
is similar to the smell after a lightning storm or a good rain. If you experience this odor while
sitting in your hot tub, there is a good chance that you are getting an overdose of ozone. Another
tell-tale sign is that your spa cover, spa pillows, spa filter lid, etc. are bleached out and deteriorating
before their time.
Ozonators are a great, all natural way to reduce your hot tub's chemical dependency. If you are
experiencing a heavy dose of ozone reality every time you enter your spa, or you're not even sure
if your ozonator is working, call us for support. There are some very quick and easy solutions. You
will be happy you did!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mice Love Hot Tubs!
Just mention the word "Mouse" and it can have the same effect as yelling "Fire!" in a crowded
movie theatre, except instead of stampeding from the hall, you will find women and children (and
some men too!) screaming and scrambling to find high ground.
Baby, It's Cold Outside...
Cold weather has a tendency to force people indoors and the longer the winter, the longer the stay.
Well the same goes for rodents of all kinds. Mice will always prefer a nice warm spot to lay low
through the winter and the hot tub couldn't be more perfect.
Hot Tub Nest?
Yep, the hot tub is warm all winter. The spa pump gives off great heat and there is nothing more
cozy than the insulation of a hot tub. Mice tend to nest in small dark nooks where they can build
their nests and remain warm and dry. The hot tub is perfect. It is completely dry, it provides great
warmth and the insulating foam is perfect for burrowing out the perfect mouse haven.
Protect The Spa!
The first thing to do is to inspect inside the cabinet for any mouse activity. Droppings, chewed up
foam or wires or anything that looks like a nest are all good indications that there may be an
infestation. Mice can pass their entire body through any crevice the size of their head. So, if there
are any holes, cracks or crevices that look large enough that a mouse can pass through, it should
be filled with foam. Any canned insulating foam will do the trick.
If mice are actually living inside your hot tub, catching and disposing them may be a bit tricky. A
cat can do the trick nicely, but if purchasing a cat is not an option there are several humane mouse
traps on the market.
Just mention the word "Mouse" and it can have the same effect as yelling "Fire!" in a crowded
movie theatre, except instead of stampeding from the hall, you will find women and children (and
some men too!) screaming and scrambling to find high ground.
Baby, It's Cold Outside...
Cold weather has a tendency to force people indoors and the longer the winter, the longer the stay.
Well the same goes for rodents of all kinds. Mice will always prefer a nice warm spot to lay low
through the winter and the hot tub couldn't be more perfect.
Hot Tub Nest?
Yep, the hot tub is warm all winter. The spa pump gives off great heat and there is nothing more
cozy than the insulation of a hot tub. Mice tend to nest in small dark nooks where they can build
their nests and remain warm and dry. The hot tub is perfect. It is completely dry, it provides great
warmth and the insulating foam is perfect for burrowing out the perfect mouse haven.
Protect The Spa!
The first thing to do is to inspect inside the cabinet for any mouse activity. Droppings, chewed up
foam or wires or anything that looks like a nest are all good indications that there may be an
infestation. Mice can pass their entire body through any crevice the size of their head. So, if there
are any holes, cracks or crevices that look large enough that a mouse can pass through, it should
be filled with foam. Any canned insulating foam will do the trick.
If mice are actually living inside your hot tub, catching and disposing them may be a bit tricky. A
cat can do the trick nicely, but if purchasing a cat is not an option there are several humane mouse
traps on the market.
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