St. Louis Spa Warehouse

Valley Park, MO

314-322-SPAS

Email Us

Map to Us

Hours: Call for Appointment

Education

What's the difference between a Hot Tub and a Spa?

The term "Hot Tub" originally referred to the wooden, barrel-shaped tubs, which became popular in the late 1960s. Early hot tubs were fairly simple devices, which basically held hot water and had enough room for one or two bathers at a time. When the industry began building tubs of molded fiberglass or with thermoplastic shells, they were given the tag "spa" to differentiate them from their wooden cousins.

The wooden hot tub has evolved over time to include such amenities as seating, jets, filters, and most of the features associated with a spa. In fact, the phrase "hot tubbing" can be taken to mean soaking in either type of vessel.

How often should I drain my spa?

Depending on usage and type of sanitizing system, a spa or hot tub with well-maintained water, which is treated with non-chlorine shock, should be drained and refilled every two to four months. This is necessary because of the amount of total dissolved solids becomes excessive, making it difficult to maintain sanitizer effectiveness and water balance.

What should I use to clean my spa?

It is very important that you use a cleaner designed for spas and hot tubs. While household cleaners are great for cleaning jobs around the home, they can cause foaming and alter the pH of your water. Quality spa surface cleaners are safe for all materials, contain no abrasives, are non-toxic and will not cause water foaming.

How often should I clean my filter cartridge?

Depending upon bather load, it is generally a good practice to rinse your filter cartridge every other week with fresh water from a garden hose to dislodge hair and other foreign matter. Every 3 to 4 months, and with each water change, your filter cartridge should be soaked in a filter-cleaning compound designed for this purpose. We recommend the rotation method: have two filters on hand, one in the spa and a clean, dry spare. Remove the dirty filter and rinse thoroughly, being careful to spray between the pleats. Soak the filter in a 5-gallon bucket of cleaning solution, overnight or according to the instructions on the package. You can now install your clean spare while the dirty one is soaking. After soaking, rinse again and set aside to dry completely. With this method, your filters will last much longer, and you will never have to wait to use your spa.

When should hot tub filters be replaced?

Filters are generally good for about a full year of usage. After that, they become less efficient in trapping foreign matter because of deterioration of the media. With the filter rotation method described in "How often..." (above), this means you would replace a pair of cartridges every 2 years.  

Is it OK to use car wax on my spa shell?

No. Automotive waxes are designed for car finishes, and will not generally hold up in hot water conditions. Use a product designed specifically for acrylic or thermoplastic spas.

Should I treat the wooden skirt on my spa?

This is partly a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer the natural graying of unfinished wood. Wood that is treated with a good water repellant sealer will generally last longer, be more resistant to cracking, and retain much of the original coloration.

Can we use our outdoor spa year 'round? Our winters get very cold.

Winter operation of your spa in cold climates is fine, if you take reasonable precautions to prevent freeze-damage to your equipment. During very low temperatures, you should either run your spa continually, or set the thermostat to run the pump(s) at a safe temperature. Check your owner's manual. In extreme low temperatures, 24-hour operation is the safest bet. It is important to check your water level daily, because if it gets too low, the pump could air lock. Remember to keep your filters clean. A clogged filter could cause the flow (pressure) switch to shut down your pump, and this could result in frozen equipment. Keep a clean, dry, spare filter on hand at all times, especially in the winter. To save energy, make sure your air jets are closed when not using the tub. Keep your cover securely strapped to prevent heat loss. If your cover is in poor condition, consider replacing it. A waterlogged cover has very little insulating value, and will cost you a lot in energy waste.

Is there a difference between the various brands of spa chemicals?

No the chemicals are identical from one brand to the next. Products that raise or lower pH or total alkalinity are usually the very same compounds. Look for the best buys on these. 

What is the best sanitizer to use?

Bromine (in the form of tablets) is the sanitizer preferred by most hot tub spa owners because it is less irritating, less likely to cause "red eye" and does not have the strong odor of chlorine. The pool-type chlorine (found in chlorine tablets) is not suitable for hot tubs. Bromine disinfects as well as chlorine and has the advantage of evaporating more slowly in hot water. 

What is the importance of pH?

Maintaining proper pH level is essential for proper operation of a hot tub spa, regardless of the sanitizing method used. If the pH falls too low, resulting in water that is too acidic, the sanitizer will dissipate rapidly, pipes and motor seals will corrode, and bathers will notice eye discomfort. If the pH rises too high, resulting in water that is too basic or alkaline, damaging scale may form, water may become

How is pH measured?

We recommend using test strips to measure pH.

What is the importance of total alkalinity?

Maintaining the proper range of total alkalinity will prevent wild fluctuations in pH, will reduce the tendency toward corrosion of pipes and fixtures, and will reduce the scale forming potential of the spa water.

Is there a way to prevent algae formation?

Yes. Regular shock treatment and maintaining sanitizer to proper levels will help greatly. If algae persists, add a spa algaecide.  Keep you spa at normal operating temperature at all times to minimize the possibility of algae formation, as it does not thrive as well in hot water.

What is the cause of cloudy water?

Cloudy water can be caused by pH that is too high, but the most common cause is excessive contaminants in the water. Make sure your filter is clean and in good condition. Add a water-clarifying agent.

Which water clarifier is best?

There are two basic types of clarifiers recommended: flocculants that actually coagulate foreign matter so it can be more easily trapped by the filter media, and enzyme scum digesters which break-down oils and lotion residues which can cloud hot tub spa water.

What causes the musty odor I detect when I open my spa cover?

A common cause is mold or mildew growth on the inside of the spa cover itself. These organisms grow here because they don't come in contact with the sanitizer. Condensation forms on the inside ceiling of the cover, then rains back down into the spa water, contaminating it as well. The remedy is simple: clean the inside of your cover at least once a month to help prevent re-growth of mold.

We use our spa in the summer (at reduced temperature) to cool-off.  Will that adversely affect the water chemistry?

Lot's of tubbers do the same, and it's perfectly OK to enjoy your soak at a lower temperature.  Keep your water in balance, and it should be fine. If you have kids, remember, a hot tub is not a small swimming pool.  If they use it as a play pool, with frequent trips in and out (as most kids will do) you will have to change your water

My water immediately turned green.  What is going on?