Hot Tubs

When Should I Replace My Spa Cover?

Your spa cover is more than an attractive accessory. It’s also has the very important job of holding in heat when your spa is not in use, helping to reduce energy consumption and keep energy costs low. The cover also prevents excess evaporation, helping you conserve water, and it prevents debris and objects that could clog your filters from falling into the spa. Maintaining the cover in good condition is one of the easiest things you can do to keep your spa operating at its very best. Signs your cover is ready for replacement Spa covers are designed to last for a long time. But like any object exposed to sunlight and weather over time, your cover will eventually show signs of wear. Inspect your spa cover monthly for warning signs. It’s time to replace your cover if: You see breaks, cracks, tears, fading or sagging. Deteriorating condition and changes in shape could cause the cover to let heat and water vapor out, and dust and debris in. Look for dry or brittle texture in addition to holes and other visible signs of breakage. Your cover is waterlogged. When the vapor barrier fails the inner foam absorbs water, creating a perfect environment for bacteria and mildew to grow. Not only is a waterlogged cover a health hazard, it could lead to accelerated deterioration of the other parts of your spa. Maintenance tips to extend the life of your cover Regular cleaning To keep your spa cover looking great and doing its job, periodically clean it. To clean the cover, remove it from the spa and lightly spray the outside surface with a garden hose. Then use a very mild soap solution (1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap to 2 gallons of water) or baking soda and a large sponge to gently scrub the cover using a circular motion. Work in sections and rinse each area before the soap dries on the vinyl. Then condition the cover with a thin film of Hot Spring Cover Shield™. On the inside surface, use water only and wipe it clean with a dry towel. Let the spa breathe When you treat or clean the spa itself or the water in it, leave the cover off for about half an hour immediately afterwards. Water purification agents need air to mix properly. Covering the spa immediately after adding chemicals can trap vapors inside that work against the longevity of the vinyl. Your spa cover is not a table. Don’t put objects or people on the cover. Anything with weight could cause the cover to stretch and sag, speeding premature deterioration. Remember to remove snow in the winter. If ice accumulates on your cover, loosen it with warm water before removing. Prying or chipping it off could tear the vinyl. Lastly, be kind to your cover. Spa covers are heavy and large and can be difficult to remove and replace alone. Don’t drag it, even on grass. Get a friend to help, or install one of our cover lifters.

DIYer’s love this simple home improvement project!

Spring has sprung and summer is right around the corner. This is the time where many folks start thinking about home improvements and makeovers.  We’ve compiled a few ideas that will enhance your backyard and possibly your quality of life too! Our favorite affordable home improvement is one that brings the entire family together for fun, relaxation, conversation, plus mental and physical therapy.  It can be set up in a matter of hours, and doesn’t require any hard manual labor on your part. That’s right, all you have to do is: Set it in place Fill it up with a garden hose, and Plug it into the closest outlet What are we talking about here?  Portable hot tubs!!!  An above ground hot tub can drastically improve the usability of your backyard and instantly increase the hang out potential of your space. Plus hot tubbing is also really good for your health, so that’s an added bonus! To artfully incorporate a portable hot tub into your existing backyard, simply surround it with a few potted plants and maybe a bamboo screen for privacy if you have nosy neighbors. By pulling up a few out door chairs, and maybe a portable fire pit for the evenings, you’ve now got an amazing retreat right in your own backyard. And if you have a nearby fence, you can install a few hooks for suits and towels. But probably the greatest part about these portable hot tubs is their price.  Depending on what’s available from your local hot tub shop, you can get one starting at just $49* per month! Crazy, huh? If you want to check out specific pricing, click here. Other fun ideas to quickly spruce up your backyard: Serenity gardens have become a very popular home trend the past few years. Having a place to sit and relax and enjoy the great outdoors is a great solution to the fast paced high stress world we live in today.  It is important to have a place to break away, read a book, enjoy a beverage or just share your thoughts and dreams with loved ones.  Consider fragrant flowers or climbing vines and comfortable seating to make the area a pleasure to visit.  Combining elements such as a water feature, rocks, wood, flowers and greenery will add visual interest to the area. Organic fruits and veggies are also a very popular and emerging trend.  Have you considered growing your own food?  It is very rewarding and satisfying to be able to pick from your own garden and prepare fresh, organic food for your family and friends.  While the idea sounds daunting to some, it is actually quite easy if your plan properly.  A quick online search will provide everything you need to get started, from constructing raised beds with organic soil to installing a water wise drip irrigation system.  If pests are a concern, there are many natural and inexpensive ways to ward off critters and enjoy the “fruits” of your labor (pun intended).  So get out there and give it a try. If portable hot tubbing still sounds a lot easier, and more fun than some of your other options, give us a call or click below and we’ll send you a price to get you started on the portable hot tub of your dreams!

How to Choose Your Hot Tub Foundation

Thinking about getting a hot tub, but not sure where to put it?  There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing the perfect place for your hot tub that will enhance your enjoyment. If you live in an area that’s gets snow, or other bad weather, we highly suggest placing your hot tub RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR. If you put your hot tub on the other side of the yard where the view is great, but have to walk across 30 feet of ice and snow just to get there, you probably won’t end up using your hot tub as much as you could if it was placed right outside the back door, kitchen door, garage door, etc. If you live in an area where weather is not a concern, then consider the following factors when placing your new spa: Usage  – Will you be using your hot tub for socialization and mingling with friends or is it intended to be more of a solitary place to relax and enjoy the hydrotherapy benefits? Socialization  – If entertaining is more your thing, look for an open area to place your spa. This will allow people in the spa to converse with those outside the hot tub and will allow the spa to be part of the party. Relaxation –  If hydrotherapy or quiet relaxation is your goal, then consider finding a private or secluded part of the yard. If no such space exists, consider putting a few tall potted plants around your spa or erecting a privacy screen. Access to Service Compartment –  Considering building your spa into a deck or placing it up against a wall? Remember to rotate the spa so the service compartment door faces out. This will save you time and hassle should you ever need to get into the service compartment. Path of the Sun  – You may find that you really enjoying hot tubbing during the mornings or afternoons. In order to be comfortable during all times of the day, consider the path of the sun and the spa’s orientation. You may be able to rotate or move the spa a bit to make sure the sun isn’t in your eyes, or beating down on you. Hop-in-ability  – This is an extremely technical hot tub term we use within the industry. Bare with me while I try to explain it in layman\’s terms.  Hop-in-ability refers to the level at which one is able to easily get into their hot tub.  Regardless of weather, backyard landscaping or the prying eyes of neighbors, hop-in-ability is super duper important when it comes to actually using your spa. If your spa is easy to get into, you will use and enjoy it more than if it becomes a chore to get to every time you want to use it. So consider placing it if not directly outside a door, then relatively close to the house with a clear pathway from your door to the spa. And Don’t Forget… Always put your spa on a structurally sound, level (within ½” per 10\’) surface. A filled spa can weigh a great deal. Make certain that the location you choose can support the weight of your filled spa. Locate your equipment compartment, which houses all of the electrical components, in a place where water will drain away from it. Allowing water into the equipment compartment can damage the electronics, or may result in tripping your house’s circuit breaker. Leave yourself easy access to the circuit breakers in the subpanel (230 volt converted models), or to the GFCI on the end of the power cord (110 volt models). Never let water get into the subpanel (230 volt converted models), or into the GFCI (110 volt models), or into the electrical outlet that your spa is plugged into. Leave access to the equipment compartment for periodic spa care and maintenance. Have you thought of a perfect spot for your new hot tub? Get in touch today and we can get you set up with pricing on the spa of your dreams!

What’s the difference between 110v and 220v hot tubs?

110V One of the nicest things about 110v or “plug and play” hot tubs is that once it’s sitting in your backyard, all you have to do to enjoy it is fill it up and plug it in. You don’t need to hire an electrician and hard wire anything. Because it only draws 11 amps, it can be plugged into a regular outdoor outlet. Additional benefits of 110v hot tubs: Simple, fast set up. All you have to do is plug it in. You can finally own a hot tub even if you’re renting your home, since you don’t have to alter any electrical wiring. Because they can be plugged in anywhere, can easily rearrange your backyard or take your spa with you if you move. 220V Now let’s talk about converting a plug-n-play spa to 220 volts. A misconception that we hear all the time is that converting a spa to 220 volts will increase the jet power. That is completely false. Converting a hot tub from 110v to 220v has absolutely no effect whatsoever on jet performance. You will however see a difference in the heating time and pump power. When the hot tub is converted to 220v, the heater gets more power. With Freeflow spas, the heater goes from 1.5 horse power to 3.5 horse power. Because of the added power of the heater, the spa is able to heat the water faster. This is really only a benefit when you are heating the water for the first time. Both 110v and 220v spas will keep the water hot around the clock. 220v spas can heat the water while the jets are on high or low. 110v spas can only heat the water while the jets are on low. All Freeflow Spas come standard as a 110v plug-n-play hot tub, but can easily be converted to 220 volts by a licensed electrician. And regardless of your chosen voltage, all Freeflow Spas come fully insulated for maximum heat retention so your spa is always hot and ready, whenever you are. Contact us when you’re ready to get pricing on a Freeflow Spa!