FAQs

FAQs

1. What do you need to prepare before installing a hot tub?

To install your hot tub, you need three things: a solid, level base to stand it on, a power outlet to provide the juice, and a hose pipe to fill it up with. If you plan to sink the spa, there will be the added consideration of access to the component door for servicing, so do bear that in mind when planning and preparing your base. Your installation instructions should include specific advice on sinking the model purchased.

2. How do you install your spa?

Most hot tubs and spas are very heavy and easily damaged, so if you intend to move one make sure you have plenty of help and good dollies/trailers to help move the spa. It is usual to put a hot tub on its side for moving, but take care not to put it on the pumps side as the door on most hot tubs is very weak (some hot tubs have to be transported flat).

Consider having a professional install it for you, if you do not want to install the spa yourself

CHECK THE OWNER'S MANUAL

To install the spa yourself, find the perfect spot for installation, gather the materials and equipment before you start. If you are installing your hot tub 50 feet or more away from your main source of water, you may not get enough water pressure your jets. The next step in the process is to extend both the electrical service and the gas service to reach the location you have chosen for your spa. You are probably going to need to have a dedicated electrical outlet in order to run the hot tub pump. Make sure to contact your gas company so that a line can be extended for heating. Now install your spa based on the instructions given by the manufacturer. After following the instructions, connect all of the plumbing features based on the schematic that has been provided by the manufacturer of the spa. Make sure that all of the pipes, fittings, and gasket are properly matched to the inventory list before you begin, and make sure as you go along that all of the connections have been made tightly. Before you add water to your finished spa you are going to want to test all of the lines, including both the plumbing lines and the gas lines to make sure that there are no leaks. Your locality may also require that you undergo an electrical inspection before you can fill your hot tub with water in order to prevent the possibility of being electrocuted in the process.

3. How long does it take a hot tub to get hot?

A hot tub in good working condition will raise the water temperature between 3-6 degrees per hour. To help your hot tub heat quicker, make sure to leave the cover on as heat can escape from the water surface. If your hot tub is located outside, the air temperature also is a factor. It can take up to 24 hours for a 500-gallon hot tub to reach the temperature of 104 degrees F.

4. Is it more efficient to keep your hot tub hot, or heat it up for each use?

If your use pattern is to use your spa most nights, then provided your spa has been made with a good cover and quality insulation, it is best to keep the spa hot. This way, your heater will cut in and out as it needs to, and in summer may hardly come on at all. If your use pattern is less often, and/or your spa is not insulated to a very high standard, then you are much better off turning it off between use. Note: In the winter, because of the risk of freeze damage if the spa is not being heated, it should be completely drained if you are switching the heat off.

5. How long should you stay in your hot tub?

There is no recommended time limit for bathing in your hot tub, however, it is best to keep yourself hydrated whilst you are in the spa and drink plenty of water. You should also take care to maintain your sanitizer level, which will deplete over a few hours of bathing.

6. Are hot tubs good for your skin?

Water is good for your skin, but hot water over a long period will cause your skin to dry out. It is important to maintain the correct pH and Sanitizer balance so as not to cause skin irritation. I would always suggest that a good moisturiser is used all over after using your hot tub.

7. Is it harmful to take a baby in to a hot tub?

Hot tubs and babies do not generally mix, however having said that if you keep the temperature down so the hot tub is only warm and you limit the amount of time baby is in the spa then it is not any different to baby having a bath. I used to enjoy time in the hot tub with my daughter when she was less than a year, but I always took time to get the temperature right, and in those days I put her in a baby float and can still remember how much fun she used to have.

8. Can you go into a hot tub if you have a pacemaker?

Owners need to avoid strenuous activity and high temperatures. Hot tubs are not normally recommended for people with heart problems.

9. Can you get sexually transmitted infections from a hot tub?

It is most unlikely, but not impossible. If a hot tub has not been sanitized correctly, then sharing a hot tub with someone who is infected could allow for the Chlamydia to grow in the hot tub water. It is so important to maintain 5ppm of Chlorine at all times and ensure all other chemical balances are correct.

10. Can hot tubs cause headaches?

It is most important to drink plenty of water if you are in your hot tub for a long time at high temperatures. If you do not keep hydrated, then you could give yourself a headache which may lead to faintness or dizziness if you aren't careful.

11. How do you drain a hot tub?

Many hot tubs have bottom drains which you connect to a hose pipe and run to a drain. However if you have not got a bottom drain then this is not a big problem as you can purchase a submersible pump and roll flat hose and can drain the spa that way just as easily.

Hot Tub Safety Notes

Always keep the hot tub covered and the cover straps secured when not in use. This will conserve energy, and prevent any person/animal or debris from falling into the tub.
If your hair is long, put it up in a ponytail so as to avoid getting it caught in the filter or drain.
Make sure that the hot tub is at the appropriate temperature, taking into consideration the people who will be using it. The hot tub is pre-set at 38 degrees centigrade (100.4 Fahrenheit) which is just above body temperature. The water temperature should never be above this as this could lead to the body overheating - especially for young children. Children under the age of 4 years old should never use the hot tub, and children under 16 years old must be supervised at all times.
Avoid drinking alcohol or using drugs in the hot tub. The hot water will amplify and speed the effects of any alcohol or drugs. Alcohol makes you drowsy, and falling asleep in hot water can be very dangerous. In addition to the risk of drowning, your body cannot regulate its temperature as well as when you are asleep, which can lead to serious overheating.
Never use electrical devices (including phones, radio, TVs or any other corded devices) in or near the hot tub.
Always shower with soap and water before entering the hot tub, in order to remove any lotions etc - people wearing fake tans must not use the hot tub - always shower after using the hot tub in order to remove chlorine etc.
Be cautious when using the hot tub during the winter. If the temperature outside the hot tub is below freezing, water splashed over the edge can quickly freeze into slippery ice. Always be careful when exiting.
Pregnant women should avoid submerging their stomachs in a hot tub, as the temperature is far too hot for the foetus.
If you have heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes you should check with your doctor before using a hot tub.
As with swimming pools, immediately exit and seek shelter if you see lightning or during any other kind of adverse weather.
THIS HOT TUB IS TREATED WITH CHEMICALS, AS A NORMAL SWIMMING POOL WOULD BE, THEREFORE IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO ANY CHLORINE, YOU SHOULD NOT USE THIS HOT TUB. THE OWNER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TEST THE WATER AT ANY TIME AND ADDRESS ANY SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE WATER QUALITY

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