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Frequently Asked Questions
(Click on the links below to get your answer)

Questions

What is your procedure for installation? How is it delivered to our home? Where should I put my spa? I want to put my spa indoors, what do I do? What electrical set up do I need? How much will my hot tub cost to operate? How long will it take to get hot? At what temperature should my spa be kept? How long can I stay in my spa? Will a spa cure my arthritis? I have high blood pressure, can I use a hot tub? I am pregnant; can I use a hot tub? Can I drink alcohol in a spa? Can I use my spa in the winter? I have a smell coming from cover, what do I do? Does it matter when you fill it up with water for the first time that our house water is hard water? In other words does our water have to be filtered first? Does my Hydro Spa need to be filled up and drained once to "clear out" any "stuff" in the pipes before it can be used? Do you recommend treating the spa cover with any spray to prevent damage from the UV rays of the sun to help it last longer? How much space do you need with the cover lifter to store the cover next to the spa? How easy is the spa to drain? Could you tell us about the filtration system? What side of the spa should have the most access? Do you recommend building the spa into the deck? What size plumbing do you use? What type of plumbing system do you use? Some of the spa literature says to check and be sure the motors are on rubber pads to help with the noise.  How is the noise level with your spas?

Answers

Q.  What is your procedure for installation? How is it delivered to our home? Drop Ship A. A common carrier trucking company will send a tractor trailer to your property and the driver will operate the lift gate and lower your spa onto the ground. You are responsible for the completion of your hot tub delivery from that point. You property must be tractor trailer accessible in order to use this delivery option.  Backyard Deliveries When you order your Hydro Spa through HRI Spas the Hydro Spa usually comes on a small trailer. If possible this small trailer is driven close to the deck or slab and the spa is shifted from the trailer to the deck or slab. If you do not have drive in access then most hot tubs are delivered on a mover’s dolly on their side. They typically weigh 400 to 1000 pounds and take anywhere from two to six professionals to properly and safely deliver. It is important that the path to the slab or deck be free from obstructions and that all of the places that the spa has to pass through are measured (including headroom) so that you know the spa will fit in advance. It would be very inconvenient to learn that the spa does not fit on the day that it is being delivered so, if you have any doubts please call your salesmen to make arrangements for a site survey.  Crane Deliveries A site survey must be done in order for a crane delivery to take place. Overhead clearance and at least some sort of level ground must be nearby in order for a crane delivery to take place.  We hire a licensed electrician to hard wire your Spa.The electrician does most of the work.  Then we fill the tub up then press"on."

Q.  Where should I put my spa? A. Most hot tubs are placed outdoors (over 80%) and it is simply fantastic to look up at the stars at night while luxuriating in your own personal Hydro Spa. Think about the location and sit in chairs where you plan to put your spa and observe what is going on in that area before you build a slab or reinforce your deck. You will be glad that you took the time to plan properly while you sit in the perfect spot on your property.  A.  For a spa located indoors (perhaps a sunroom or screened in porch) be certain to supply ventilation with fans and windows.  B. For an outdoor spa a level concrete slab or wood deck is appropriate. This surface should be able to withstand a minimum load of 100 pounds per square foot. Pavers and or stone is not recommended because these products have a tendency to shift over time.  Should this be tied into the above answer? (A. Your spa should be on a concrete pad at least 4" thick and have footers on  the edge below the frost line. The "standard" size for a concrete pad is 8'  x 8'.   We do have a portable slab that will replace the  concrete. You must still level the ground and compact the soil where the pad  is going to be.  Putting the spa on your deck is also recommended.  You do not need a slab if you are putting your hot tub on a deck.)

Q.  I want to put my spa indoors, what do I do? A. First, make sure that the spa will fit into the room and that the path to the room is possible not only for the size but the fact that a dolly and humans need to physically need to move the spa into position. A. The best case scenario for any spa in a room is a tiled floor with a floor drain. We also recommend a dehumidifier to get all of the moisture out of the room (set it up so that it drains to the outside so you never have to empty the pail). If that is not possible, then all of the flooring should be outdoor water friendly materials. You will get water on the floor through splashing around in the tub and every time you exit the spa. You can use a wet vacuum to get the puddles up or with a floor drain you can squeegee the water into the drain. Always check the load characteristics of your floor the structure must be able to withstand a constant load of 100 pounds per square foot. If you have doubts or want a professional opinion contact a structural engineer in your area.

Q.  What electrical set up do I need? A.   Typically all of our spas are 220V - 50Amp with at G.F.C. I. breaker.  A licensed electrician will be provided in order to properly bring power to the unit.

Q.  How much will my hot tub cost to operate? A.  It will depend on the usage and size of your unit. On average, people spend about a dollar a day to operate their spa. Your useage, climate and cost per Kw hour will all contribute to operating cost. All Hydro Spas come with economy modes of operation and feature Arctic Heat insulation to reduce energy consumption and make using your Hydro Spa all year round more comfortable.

Q.  How long will it take to get hot? A. Initially, your hot tub will take 5 to 14 hours to warm to a suitable bathing temperature. This will depend on your starting water temperature and the ambiant air temperature. The defaults on most units are standard mode and 100 degree farenheit. Leave your unit to standard mode and it will remain warm perpetually. It is best to warm your spa with the cover on and leave the cover securely locked on the spa when you are not using it.

Q.  At what temperature should my spa be kept? A. In the beginning you should start your spa at 98-100 degrees. Once you are accustomed to this temperature you can adjust up or down to get to the temperature that is perfect for you. This is mainly personal preference although you should not stay in the hot tub for longer than 10—15 minutes at 104 degrees. If you are pregnant you should limit your time in the spa and reduce the temperature. Check with your health care professional before you get into the spa. If you ever feel dizzy leave the spa immediately and holding onto the grab rail or edge of coping to safely get yourself out of the spa.

Q.  How long can I stay in my spa? A.  Again, this is personal preference, the higher the temperature the shorter the duration for safe hot tubbing. Fifteen minutes is the average rule at 100 degree water. Always bathe with others and don’t over do it.

Q.  Will a spa cure my arthritis? A.  A spa will not cure any disease or ailment but does provide temporary relief of muscle pain and joint pain and control arthritis pain.  Hot tub therapy also can help reduce stress and help induce weight loss.

Q.  I have high blood pressure, can I use a hot tub? A.  Please check with your doctor.

Q.  Can I drink alcohol in a spa? A.  You really shouldn’t.  The effect of alcohol is multiplied at least 4 times at 104 degrees.

Q.  Can I use my spa in the winter? A.  Your hot tub is a 4-season product.  Use your hot tub anytime of the year and anytime of the day! Most hot tub enthusiasts will agree that the winter time is the best time to be in a Hydro Spa. The cold winter air will not affect you when you are in the swirling warm waters of your Hydro Spa. You may think that you will not use it in the winter time, you will find that is not the case once you experience the therapeutic benefits of a soak in frigid cold weather. Did I mention that its cool to have snow accumulate on your head while the rest of you is toasty warm in the spa?

Q.  I have a smell coming from cover, what do I do? A.  If you have a smell coming from the cover chances are there is a bacteria problem in the cover.   The remedy is to take out the inserts and spray them down with a bathroom spray cleaner. Then scrub them and hose them down to remove the cleaner. After they are dry put them back into the sleeves and reinstall onto the tub.

Q. Does it matter when you fill it up with water for the first time that our house water is hard water? In other words does our water have to be filtered first? A. No.  It's ok. Just feed the water in through the filter housing of the spa and it will trap any impurities in the water.

Q. Does my Hydro Spa need to be filled up and drained once to "clear out" any "stuff" in the pipes before it can be used? A. The Spas are wet tested at the factory.  The "stuff" is already "mostly cleared out." Sometimes you may get some glue residue or foreign matter (plastic shavings) in the spa when it is first fired up but these items can be scooped out or pulled out with a spa vacuum.

Q. Do you recommend treating the spa cover with any spray to prevent damage from the UV rays of the sun to help it last longer? A. Weuse a UV inhibitor.  The brand we like is called "303 Aerospace protectant."

Q. How much space do you need with the cover lifter to store the cover next to the spa? A. 24 inches is preferable in the back and at least six inches on each side that the pivot bar is on.

Q.  How easy is the spa to drain? A.  All Hydro Spas come with drain valves that are located in the base of the spa. Simply remove the service panel and attach a garden hose to the valve and turn it to flow to release the water from the spa.

Q. Could you tell us about the filtration system? A. Hydro Spa does not insult you with complex filtration systems that are meant to add dealer markup as an annuity. A filter is simply used to take out contaminants, hair, skin cells and contaminants that have been burned up by the sanitizer in the water.  Filters have nothing to do with sanitizing your water. You will notice that many manufacturers over compensate in filtration and have up to five filters in their spas. Filters need to be replaced annually and this cost (up to $50.00 per filter) should be accounted for when you figure out the total operating cost of your spa.

Q. What side of the spa should have the most access? A. Our Hydro Spas look fantastic and are easiest to service when access is available from all side of the spa when the spa is sitting above grade. If you feel that you must sink the spa in a deck or limit the access to the spa you may incur costly repair bills and inconvenience when attempting to gain access to spa components. For limited access situations we recommend the side with the spa pack in it inside the cabinet. SInce we make such a variety of spas it is always best to check with your Hydro Spa consultant before you decide on a restrictive location or paint yourself into a corner. Call us, we will be glad to help you find the right model that suits your location needs.

Q. Do you recommend building the spa into the deck? A. We really don’t.  It’s better you have at least a crawl space or a “crouching” space so you can service your spa.  The side you will most likely have to look at is the electronic pack.  The electronic pack is located underneath the top side controller.

Q. What size plumbing do you use? A.Typically, a two inch wet end, one inch manifold to jet connections, no blue glue, clamp connections. All of our spas utilize sweep 90 degree turns to minimize the drag that you get in standard 90’s. The majority of our plumbing is accessible from all sides of the cabinet and therefore Hydro Spas are very easy to service and maintain. Beware of full foam hot tubs they are almost impossible to repair and leak detection and service is very expensive.

Q.  What type of plumbing system do you use? A.  Our spas use a manifold plumbing system.  Hydro Spas have 56 frame motors with a two inch wet end with plastic impellers. The pumps are bolted to spa base making them vibration free. Since our spa has no vent hole (s) to expel hot air generated from the pump we do not allow the noise created from the pump to escape. The larger size of our motor allow our pumps to run at a lighter duty cycle making our pumps last longer .

Q.  Some of the spa literature says to check and be sure the motors are on rubber pads to help with the noise.  How is the noise level with your spas? A.  All of our pumps are mounted on motor mounts that are bolted onto our base making your spa completely vibration free. All pumps have unions, making replacement a snap. All of our spa panels come off all of the way around the spa so you can see every part - there is no foam to get in the way of servicing the jets or the mainfolds.

Please call, email, or use or the contact form if you have any questions. 
 
 

1-800-428-8372 Ext. 276