Warning – Warning – Warning 

Using The Wrong Hot Tub Chemicals will damage your Hot Tub or Spa.

Every day we repair hot tubs / spas for people that have used cheap, re-branded or swimming pool chemicals, the repair costs for this are usually really expensive, on average a hot tub pumps tend to cost around £400 each, and if the damage is heavy rusted bearings on 3 pumps the bill can become very expensive very quickly.

Cheap chemicals will usually smell very strong and the damage tends to happen very quickly, if used in a brand new hot tub the damage can destroy the acrylic surface in just 1 week, so it is important to get advise on which chemicals and how to use them very quickly.

Always use quality brands

A safe bet are the major hot tub chemical brands:

Fi-Chlor – the best quality on the market but expensive

SpaGuard – Very Reliable, good on the skin, no heavy odours, and a sensible price.

Aqua Sparkle – Reasonably priced and similar to Spaguard.

~Their is a basic chemical guide you can download available here – Hot Tub Easy Water Guide

What not to buy

If its cheap theirs usually a reason why!

The chemicals to watch out for tend to be sold by many companies (including big hot tub brands) in 5 ltr containers and are usually labelled for “swimming pool and spa”, not all chemicals are bad, only the cheap chlorine granules, chlorine tablets, bromine granules and bromine tablets. Call for more advise.

*Never use liquid chlorine from any brand!

Algaecide

Never put algaecide into a hot tub, this is the worst chemical for destroying anything that is made of rubber.

Don’t Worry

If you have been using cheaper brands, don’t worry, stop using them and buy some quality  chemicals, but remember to check inside your hot tub regularly to make sure the damage doesn’t cause expensive repairs. (Small seals are cheaper to replace than electrical items)

Main types of damage

Rubber damage – o’rings, pump shaft seals, jet seals, light seals,

Surface damage – big white ring around water level.

Cosmetic damage – Handles and dials bleached, control panel overlay fluffing on edges, Stainless steel trim rusting.

Human damage – skin irritation, skin bleaching and burning, rashes, discolouration of dyed hair.

What to do if your hot tub is already damaged

If its something you can repair with hot tub parts online great!

Alternatively call a hot tub repair specialist to repair the hot tub for you.

……………..

Hot Tub Chemical Warning from Hot Tub Repair Man.

Spaform Spa Covers and Repair

If you have a Spaform Hot Tub, we can help you!

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Don’t forget we also offer a profesional repair service if you want us to come and fix your hot tub \ spa for you. Click the image of Hot Tub repair Man below:

Hot Tub Pump Issues

The days when all the pumping that a hot tub needed was done by a single water pump are gone. Modern hot tubs or rather spas typically have two or three, while some might boast of five pumps. What do all these pumps do?

The basic function of the water tub is to keep heated water in the tub. The water pump, when it is operating, keeps the water circulating over a heater so that it is sufficiently warm. Water can get cold when it is being used.

The pump also pushes the water through the filtration system so that debris and harmful stuff in the water is removed. Without the force provided by the pumping, water might not get filtered adequately.

Other functions performed by the pumps in a hot tub include:

• Providing the therapeutic massage of desired force. It is the pumps that expel the water through the jets in the hot tub with sufficient strength to deliver the massaging experience.
• Mixing air and water to provide misted water to provide an enhanced massaging experience. An air blower is a dedicated pump that pumps air through the air pipes, while modern spas might have the functionality to mix air and water in the jets without an air blower.
• Circulating ozone throughout the water where you have an ozone generator installed. Ozone is highly effective in removing harmful organisms from the water and maintaining it in crystal clear condition. Ozone also reduces the costs of standard chlorine / bromine sanitation.

Pumps are mechanical devices with moving parts and are among the first devices in the hot tub to cause problems. The problems usually occur because of:

• Wear and tear of constantly moving parts resulting in some part failing and affecting the efficiency of the pumping function if not stopping it fully.
• The acidity and other properties of the water affecting the ceramic seal separating the dry (motor) and wet (water) ends of the pump, creating cracks that causes water leaks. If the leak is not detected and the seal replaced early enough, water can leak into the motor and repairing the motor can cost far more than the cost of replacing the seal.

You can minimize hot tub servicing costs by keeping the water at the recommended pH levels through regular testing and treatment. Additionally, check the tub for any signs of leak; the earlier you detect a leaking pump, the less will be your hot tub servicing costs.

If you require help with your hot tub pump please don’t hesitate to call or email 

Hot Tub Repair Man

Hot Tub Components

The modern hot tub is a complex assembly of various components, very different from a barrel-like wooden hot tub in the garden with a separate wood-fired stove heating the water. Present day hot tubs, more appropriately known as spas, provide a much richer experience than just a warm soak. In fact, the expensive models of today tend to be complete entertainment systems designed to please several senses.

In this article, we look at the major essential components that go into a modern hot tub.

The Shell: The shell holds the water, seating and the bathers. It is typically made of acrylic in attractive colors.

The Understructure: Made of ABS, fiberglass, etc the understructure provides rigidity and strength to the shell. It is also given a coating that has insulating properties.

The Cabinet: The outer covering serves as an attractive exterior and as a cover for the unseemly assembly of pumps, motors, plumbing and other components that serve different functions in the modern hot tub.

Pumps and Motors: The modern hot tub will typically have several hot tub pumps and associated motors. Circulation pumps keep the water flowing through the heater so that users get water of desired warmth throughout their stay in the hot tub. Jet pumps provide the massage experience of desired force. Air blowers and jets provide aerated water that enhances the experience.

Plumbing: Modern spas have a complex plumbing system consisting of pipes, manifolds, unions, joints, suctions, drains and more to keep the water flowing and also mix air with it where needed.

Filtration: Body oils, dead skin, cosmetics and other stuff can quickly make the water in the hot tub quite unpleasant. It is different types of filters that catch much of the debris and maintain the water in tolerable condition.

Control Systems: As would be evident, the modern hot tub is a complicated assembly and electronic controls are typically used to keep things under control. Temperature control is extremely important to avoid danger to users while entertainment systems need to be under the users’ control to ensure that they can get what they want.

The different components of the modern hot tub work together to provide you a great and relaxing experience that the traditional soak in a wooden hot tub could not have provided.

Hot Tub Repair Man – Hot Tub Repair and Services

Hot Tub DIY – Hot Tub Pumps, Chemicals and plumbing

Hot Tub Issues

As a user of hot tub, what should you look for? An overview of the key issues can make you a better hot tub buyer and user.

The Hot Tub

The modern hot tub has an outer face that determines it look and feel. If you search around you can find just the color and texture that you prefer. The surface also determines how prone to wear and tear, the environment and the water chemicals your spa is. Expensive models of modern spas might even come with coatings that make them stain-resistant and impart to them anti-bacterial properties.

The under-structure behind the surface provides structural strength. This structure has to support the weight of the large volume of water that a typical spa will be holding, and the weight of the bathers.

The modern hot tub is not just a pool of water kept warm. Instead, it circulates and filters the water to provide a pleasant experience that is also healthy. It is the plumbing and water pump that delivers this essential functionality.

The plumbing and pumping also determine the quality of massage experience that you receive. There are hot tubs with hundreds of water jets and their efficient functioning depends on the plumbing quality.

The whole structure might be covered with a cabinet that matches the setting of the spa.

Energy Efficiency

Keeping hundreds of gallons of water warm requires a lot of energy. Any measures that reduces energy consumption is desirable from the viewpoints of both the environment (energy generation consumes resources and can even pollute the environment) and your personal finances.

Good insulation can keep the warm water from losing its warmth for a longer period thus reducing energy consumption. Foam is used inside the cabinet to provide insulation and manufacturers typically claim better energy efficiency for the insulation solutions they provide. Take a look at this important issue if you are buying a new hot tub, or renovating an existing one.

One thing you can do to reduce energy consumption is to use spa covers that limit heat losses through evaporation. It has been claimed that using covers when the hot tub is not in use can save large amounts of energy.

We will look at health issues related to hot tubs in a separate article.

Thank you for reading this article written by Hot Tub Repair Man

remember if you require parts to repair and service your hot tub check out our store: www.hottubdiy.co.uk

 

 

Hot Tub Water Maintenance

The warm water in your hot tub and the sprays and bubbles they generate provide the wonderfully pleasing experience that you get. However, a lot of work goes into sustaining this great experience. You have to keep the water circulating as otherwise the stagnant water can turn out to be the breeding ground for all kinds of harmful organisms.

Keeping the water circulating is not the only task you need to do. Even well-circulated water can carry debris around and you need to filter the water during each round. And filters can get clogged and that means you have to clean the filters periodically to maintain their functionality.

Even filters cannot kill off all the harmful organisms. You need chemicals like Chlorine or Bromine to do that. These chemicals are available in tablet and granule forms for easy and measured application.

The hot tub water can get cloudy with stuff like dead skin and other micro-sized materials that the filter might not be able to catch. Oxidizing chemicals can oxidize such stuff and keep the water clear. Use shock oxidizers to do this task.

The water can become too acidic or too alkaline in the course of regular use and chemical treatments. Acidic water irritates the skin and can also corrode the tub and its components. Alkaline water causes stains and deposits on the tub.

The right balance between acidity and alkalinity (pH balance) is maintained using additives that that increase or decrease it. Whether an increase or decrease is needed is determined by using test strips that tell you visually what to do. The recommended pH balance is in the range of 7.2 and 7.8.

We mentioned earlier about the cloudiness of water. Such cloudiness can be caused by calcium deposits from “hard” water. In some regions, water tends to be hard and in these places, you need chemicals to control the calcium levels in your water.

The water can also contain other metals and minerals and these can lead to such side effects as stains and increased requirement of the other chemicals mentioned above. By using special chemicals that reduce the levels of such metals and minerals, you will save on these standard chemicals.

Once you have become familiar with the routines outlined above, maintaining your hot tub water in great condition will become an automated task requiring little effort. Till then, however, you will have to take some pains to learn what needs to be done and do it correctly.

Remember! Hot Tub DIY is one of the UK’s leading providers of:

• Hot Tub Chemicals
• Spa replacement and upgrade parts
• Hot Tub Pumps
• Spa Covers
• Hot Tub Jets and spa filters

For more information or questions on hot tub parts please contact us through our Hot Tub DIY

If you require service or repair please go to Hot Tub Repair Man for more assistance.

 

Whirlpool Jets Need special Care

If your hot tub has whirlpool jets, you need to take extra care to ensure that the jets are kept clean. The whirling pools enhance the foaming action of bubble baths and soaps and the residue created by the excessive foam can stick to the dark corners of the jets. If the jets are not cleaned regularly, you could find unpleasant water flowing from them instead of pleasing jets.

Soaps, lotions and shampoos all can leave residues. So can the oils from your own body and dirt particles from everywhere. These residues can stick to the plumbing and make your hot tub experience suffer in different ways, including damaging the pump and affecting the flow of water through the system.

To clean the system, fill the hot tub with hot water add low foaming (repeat, low foaming) disinfectant. Now run the water jets for, say a quarter hour. Don’t forget to turn off the air induction during this process.

Drain the tub and fill with cold water and run the water jets again for about the same time. Drain again.

Where the jets are removable, it is a good idea to take them out and clean the insides.

Draining and refilling the tub as above can prove tiresome. You can use certain chemicals (or far better, an ozonator) to break up and eliminate the residue products. Ozone is particularly helpful as it breaks down all kinds of stuff and leaves the water fresh and clear.

Even when chemicals are used, you will need to drain and clean the hot tub once in a few months (instead of every month if they are not used). Ozonator can reportedly help reduce the frequency to even once a year. That would save a great deal of time and effort.

Hot Tub Repair Man

Hot Tub Service and Repair Specialists

A Brief Look At How To Clean A Hot Tub Cover

Regarding how to clean a hot tub cover, it is a very easy process. The general gist of it, as with anything, is maintenance. The actual washing of it, using soap, only has to be done once or twice a month; however, the upkeep of it is even more essential.

To follow are directions for cleaning the top of a jacuzzi. One only needs to take a fresh towel, wipe and wipe the cover, wiping off the moisture that has built up over the course of the day and use of the hot tub. This should be done as often as possible.

Starting out with a towel or cloth, one should wipe off the jacuzzi cover using a mild soap, or chlorine, solution. It’s a good idea to not use detergent for this task, as it is too abrasive. Secondly, keep in mind that the unit’s chemistry is very important in its maintenance; it has to be kept at the proper chemistry. If not, chemicals build up on the lid, chemicals which are corrosive and will corrode the lid and damage it in the process

Wiping off any chemical moisture as it appears is good upkeep of the tub. It will prevent any chemical buildup; just as one is supposed to brush one’s teeth several times a day the same principal applies here.It’s preventative.

Plaque and tartar can build up on the teeth and chemical residue will collect on the lid, especially when it’s closed, and that is when the chemical residue will begin to eat at the tub’s lid. Wiping it daily will avoid the accumulation of corrosive chemical build up, and is so important in maintaining the life of the tub’s lid and of the hot tub itself.

One thing to bear in mind regarding a hot tub lid is that the corrosive chemicals which result from every day use will eat at the tub cover until it becomes porous. That is a good thing to prevent because if and when that happens, moisture is going to seep into the EPS core. So, daily upkeep is just as important as cleaning with soap, once or twice monthly.

The next step is to wash inside the unit’s zipper area. That is a very important step in the prevention of mildew growth. Mildew aggravates allergies, so it is wise for an allergy-sufferer to perform this step. Doing so several times a year will be adequate.

Those are instructions on cleaning a hot tub cover. In today’s hustle and bustle and post-recession economy, it is essential to maintain one’s possessions, because it’s so necessary to save money. Keeping the tub cover clean is tremendously important in extending the life of a jacuzzi and thus, delaying having to buy a new one. In addition, the water in the jacuzzi will stay cleaner which is a health benefit. Thus, it becomes not just a savings on the hot tub, but in allergy medication and treatment costs, as well. Then, one can enjoy a hot soak for years to come. The health benefits of a hot tub are many, such that even chiropractic and other medical expenses are no longer necessary.

A Brief Look At How To Clean A Hot Tub Cover

Hot Tub Repair Man – Hot Tub DIY

Hot Tub Servicing in Nottingham, Leicester, Sheffield, Coventry, Doncaster, Lincoln, Derby, Northants, Grantham

Hot Tubs and Ozonators

Ozone protects our earth from harmful UV rays if it stays high up in the stratosphere, but causes harm to living systems closer to our atmosphere. This strange unstable substance, formed by exposing oxygen to corona discharges, can also be used to destroy harmful microorganisms in air and water.

Ozone is a powerful sanitizer. By injecting ozone gas into Hot Tub water, it can be disinfected more effectively than with chlorine and bromine. Ozone also breaks down body oils and cosmetics in the water and keeps it clear and fresh for longer periods.

Ozonators are equipment that can be installed in your hot tub. With ozonators and incidental supplies you can inject ozone into your hot tub water. Ozonized water requires low levels of chlorine and bromine, and less clarifier and de-foaming chemicals. The costs saved on these supplies can pay back the initial cost of the ozonator installation.

Less chlorine, bromine and other chemicals mean not only savings in costs but also a more pleasing experience relaxing in the hot tub. The chemicals impart a “chemical odor” to the water and can also irritate your skin and eyes. Ozonators can reduce the volume of chemicals substantially.

By operating the ozonator for about three hours during every 12-hour period, ozone can be made to do most of the water purification and only low quantities of chlorine and bromine need to be added. The number of water changes can also be reduced to almost once a year instead of the usual once in three months without an ozonator. Considering the effort and disruption involved in each water change, this is a major advantage.

Modern ozonators use an electronic chip to make ozone using the corona discharge process. These chips are more long-lasting and reliable than the UV light bulbs used in older models.

Hot Tub DIY

Hot Tub Parts

 

Hot Tub Water Jets and Joint Pains

Joint pains are caused by different factors. Sprains are temporary pains caused when joints gets stretched beyond their maximum capacity. On the other hand, factors like arthritis have deep-rooted causes that affect more than joints.

Even in cases where the underlying cause is beyond the reach of superficial measures such as massages, they can provide significant relief. Hydrotherapy using water jets in hot tubs is one great option for massaging painful limbs. Hot tub jets can administer the massage without the intervention of a third party, i.e. you can administer them yourself.

The gentle or powerful massage by warm water on the aching joints can relax muscles and relieve spasms, providing relief from the pressure on joints and consequent pains. The buoyancy of water and consequent ease of moving the limbs also make it possible to do simple exercises that increase blood circulation to the painful joints.

Arthritis sufferers typically experience stiff joints and increased pains when they rise from bed in the mornings. It is a good idea to take a hot tub bath to relieve the stiffness and pains first thing in the morning where possible. The bath can provide greater freedom of movement.

In the evening, you can again relax in the hot tub, allowing the water jets to massage all body parts. This can be a great relaxing experience that helps you sleep better.

Whereas the original hot tubs had just one water jet, modern tubs come with a hundred or more jets, providing a varied range of experiences through sprays, swirls, pulses and more. The whirlpool jet, for example, provides a powerful and concentrated massage to the body part exposed to it.

And do you know about the pillow jet and shoulder jets? The warm water from these jets can massage two key body parts that are often vulnerable to pain, the neck and shoulders.

Hot tubs are great, provided you select yours right.

Hot Tub Repair Man | Hot Tub DIY