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Weekly Spa Maintenance:
1) Clean filter weekly
2) Use your test strips to properly balance your sanitizer and PH.
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 and PH.
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. You’ll be glad you did!
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. You’ll be glad you did!
Copyright © 2005 - 2009 All Rights reserved The Spa Mechanic Inc.
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!
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!
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 glad 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 glad you
did!
Should I Go “Au Natural” in My Spa?
Sitting in a spa, donning a freshly laundered swimsuit might seem like the modest way to go,
especially if the neighbors have a heightened interest in everything that goes on in your
backyard. But did you know that your swimsuit can potentially be the number one cause of
corrosion to your spa equipment?Hot tub equipment has come a long way over the last ten
years. The technology has gotten more efficient and wholly more reliable. Today, the number
one cause of spa equipment failure is corrosion. The water in your spa flows through the
pump seals, the heater and heater element and as the water evaporates, the topside, control
board and cover are affected. A swimsuit fresh out of the dryer has a significant amount of
soap residue left in it from the washing process. The detergent is especially concentrated if
hard water is used. Hard water will not allow the detergent to completely break down. The
soap from your swimsuit can cause a tremendous amount of bubbles in your hot tub.
Although for some it may seem appealing to have the world’s largest bubble bath in the
backyard, there is a price to pay for all the fun. The detergent will immediately change the
PH of the water and leave a hard scale on pretty much everything including your costly spa
equipment. Over time the calcified scale will corrode pump seals, cover stitching, heating
elements…you get the picture. If foaming bubbles is an issue, there are de-foaming solutions
that can eliminate the bubbles and restore the PH. Any scaling should be dealt with
immediately, even if it means draining the hot tub and cleaning it thoroughly. Use a pre-filter
for refilling the spa to soften the water and remove the metal contaminates. Going “au
natural” might avoid the issue entirely, but it will certainly give the neighbors something to
talk about. To maintain your modesty, try to thoroughly rinse out the swim suits prior to
use. In the long run, you’ll be glad you did!
Sitting in a spa, donning a freshly laundered swimsuit might seem like the modest way to go,
especially if the neighbors have a heightened interest in everything that goes on in your
backyard. But did you know that your swimsuit can potentially be the number one cause of
corrosion to your spa equipment?Hot tub equipment has come a long way over the last ten
years. The technology has gotten more efficient and wholly more reliable. Today, the number
one cause of spa equipment failure is corrosion. The water in your spa flows through the
pump seals, the heater and heater element and as the water evaporates, the topside, control
board and cover are affected. A swimsuit fresh out of the dryer has a significant amount of
soap residue left in it from the washing process. The detergent is especially concentrated if
hard water is used. Hard water will not allow the detergent to completely break down. The
soap from your swimsuit can cause a tremendous amount of bubbles in your hot tub.
Although for some it may seem appealing to have the world’s largest bubble bath in the
backyard, there is a price to pay for all the fun. The detergent will immediately change the
PH of the water and leave a hard scale on pretty much everything including your costly spa
equipment. Over time the calcified scale will corrode pump seals, cover stitching, heating
elements…you get the picture. If foaming bubbles is an issue, there are de-foaming solutions
that can eliminate the bubbles and restore the PH. Any scaling should be dealt with
immediately, even if it means draining the hot tub and cleaning it thoroughly. Use a pre-filter
for refilling the spa to soften the water and remove the metal contaminates. Going “au
natural” might avoid the issue entirely, but it will certainly give the neighbors something to
talk about. To maintain your modesty, try to thoroughly rinse out the swim suits prior to
use. In the long run, you’ll be glad you did!
Is my Spa Causing Global Warming?
Even with the exposure and sensitivity to everything “green”, you have probably never given a
minute’s thought as to whether your spa was contributing to the threat of global warming -
and for good reason. It doesn’t! But without a quality spa cover your energy bill could be
double that of the same spa with a quality spa cover.
Generally speaking when it comes to heating your spa, 90% of all heat loss occurs at the
water’s surface. For this reason alone, it is imperative that a quality spa cover be used to
keep the heat in and the cold weather out.
When looking for a replacement spa cover there are several important factors to consider:
1.High density insulating foam- this should be at least a 2lb density to ensure a solid R-Factor.
2.The cover should be tapered for water runoff.
3.Be sure to get the maximum thickness for your spa combined with high density foam.
Thicker is not better unless accompanied with higher density insulating foam.
4.The foam should be in a sealed bag so that the foam does not absorb steam or water. Kind
of like a Ziploc baggie for the foam inserts.
5.Thick marine-grade vinyl with UV inhibitors. Thicker material will last longer and the UV
inhibitors will help to keep the sun from fading your spa cover.
6.Steam stoppers, double stitching and proper skirt length will keep the heat from escaping
all around the edges and the center seam.
To conserve energy, the hot tub cover should never be left off the spa while not in use and
when finished, always return it to a proper fit. Being aware of waste and working to minimize
our global footprint is just being considerate. Reducing an electric bill and keeping more of
the money you earn in your pocket is being good to yourself. Be good to yourself, you’ll be
glad you did!
Even with the exposure and sensitivity to everything “green”, you have probably never given a
minute’s thought as to whether your spa was contributing to the threat of global warming -
and for good reason. It doesn’t! But without a quality spa cover your energy bill could be
double that of the same spa with a quality spa cover.
Generally speaking when it comes to heating your spa, 90% of all heat loss occurs at the
water’s surface. For this reason alone, it is imperative that a quality spa cover be used to
keep the heat in and the cold weather out.
When looking for a replacement spa cover there are several important factors to consider:
1.High density insulating foam- this should be at least a 2lb density to ensure a solid R-Factor.
2.The cover should be tapered for water runoff.
3.Be sure to get the maximum thickness for your spa combined with high density foam.
Thicker is not better unless accompanied with higher density insulating foam.
4.The foam should be in a sealed bag so that the foam does not absorb steam or water. Kind
of like a Ziploc baggie for the foam inserts.
5.Thick marine-grade vinyl with UV inhibitors. Thicker material will last longer and the UV
inhibitors will help to keep the sun from fading your spa cover.
6.Steam stoppers, double stitching and proper skirt length will keep the heat from escaping
all around the edges and the center seam.
To conserve energy, the hot tub cover should never be left off the spa while not in use and
when finished, always return it to a proper fit. Being aware of waste and working to minimize
our global footprint is just being considerate. Reducing an electric bill and keeping more of
the money you earn in your pocket is being good to yourself. Be good to yourself, you’ll be
glad you did!
