BaquaSpa 101: Troubleshooting

Over the years we've collected the most common problems BaquaSpa users have had.  See if any of these problems sound familiar and take a look at our "fixes"

• Throat irritation or coughing:
  This is most likely caused by an overdose of sanitizer (step #3).  Remember that you TEST for step #3 weekly but only add it when it's low.  Many people forget this and add it weekly!  The sanitizer is a very stable product that probably will only need to be added every 3-4 weeks! 
  To fix an overdose problem: use the spa and don't add more- the sanitizer will burn off eventually. Or you can drain the spa.
  
  Another cause of irritation could be from soft water (or low calcium hardness) With harder water, there is less iritation because is less "tension" in the water (aka less foam or bubbles to pop and irritate your throat!) 
  Try adding twice the amount of waterline control (step #1) to add a shield against irritation. Waterline control coats the surface of the spa and makes the bubbles burst at the surface instead of the air and at your face
  
  
• Cloudy Water:
  The first fix for cloudy water is to make sure your water is in balance. If it is, cloudy water could be caused by a waterline control overdose (Step #1) If you are religious with our chemicals (and that's a good thing!) step #1 can make your water cloudy.  
  Try NOT adding step #1 for 2 weeks and that should fix the problem!
  
  
• Excessive Foam:
  Foam is caused by foreign oils or soaps being introduced into the water. It comes from the soaps or lotions from your skin or the laundry detergeant from your bathing sui Obviously some of what comes from your skin is unavoidable, but try to avoid getting these foreign oils into your spa.  
  To correct excessive foam try adding foam disperser- but watch how much you add. It is possible that after a certain point, foam disperser can just make the problem worse! If the problem does not go away, try draining part or all of the water from your spa.
  
  
• Clean the underside of your cover:
  We've said it before and we'll say it again because it's so important! BaquaSpa does not bleach out the smell of bacteria trapped in your cover like chlorine does.  Clean the underside with cover cleaner or else you'll get a really musty odor from the trapped bacteria. Read our blog on Helpful Tips for more information!
  
  
• Low-Usage of the spa:
  We've mentioned before that you need to add chemicals weekly, even when you haven't used the spa, because bacteria can still grow.  If you rarely use your spa, try using 1/2 of the required amount of step #1.  If a scumline appears along the waterline, start using the required amount again!

Decker Cleaning

You may be the type of person who wants NOTHING to do with draining & cleaning a hot tub. If so, you're in luck! We've partnered with David Decker (a former employee) to offer our customers a great deal on "Drain & Cleans" for your hot tub. If you have David come out to your home, he will:

• Completely drain the hot tub water
  
• Clean & sanitize the entire hot tub shell
  
• Clean and treat the cabinet
• Clean and condition the spa cover
• Refill the spa
• Start up & balance the chemicals

Plus, David will pick up and deliver any chemicals or filters you need at no extra cost! Make sure to mention you are a Spring Dance customer when you call him to get a quote for your spa!

Phone #: 267-421-4371
OR
E-mail him at: DeckerCleaning@gmail.com

Let David do the work to get your hot tub
in top condition for the chilly months ahead!

Preparing for the Cold

Tips to Prepare for the Cold!   Make sure your spa is working! This might sound obvious, but if you've had your spa empty or unused since the hot summer, you'll want to fill it up and make sure everything is working! You wouldn't want to have accidental freeze damange from a malfunctioning heater! Fill your spa if you're not planning on having it winterized (see below for more info. on winterization!). Try to do this for the last time in November- so you're not stuck doing it during below freezing temperatures! Check your cover for cracks or abnormalities where water might be able to get in (and then freeze and make your cover weigh a TON during the winter months!) If you find anything unusual, you might want to think about ordering a new cover (maybe during our customer appreciation night on the 23rd in Jamison?) Adjust your cover straps to make sure they're tight. This will also help conserve energy by minimizing heat loss! Protect your cover with 303. It’s not only effective against UV rays but also against drying out and cracking through the colder months.  Soak or replace those filters! Nobody wants to be soaking filters in buckets of ice come January Treat the synthetic cabinet with 303 as well! Keep your temperature at the desired usage setting! Don’t drop your temp and raise it again before using the tub, it will cost a lot more money in electric that way.   Top off your water before putting your hose away for the winter, nothing like having to drag the hose out a day after putting it away! Don’t forget to brush snow off of your cover- they aren’t designed to bear weight and will warp or crack under snow load! USE your tub! Best tip ever- Get in it! There’s no better time! Be warm, relaxed and rejuvenated during the cold and bland winter days! Spice up the whole season by getting in your tub at least once per day!

BaquaSpa 101: Helpful Tips part 2

Continuing in our conversation of helpful BaquaSpa tips... (don't worry if you feel like you're experiencing deja vu- we've discussed a few of these before. But we think they're really important!)

• Make sure to put chemicals in your spa weekly regardless of whether you've used it or not. This will help to maintain clarity and kill bacteria. Hot tubs will grow bacteria even if no one has been in it.  However, your water balance shouldn't change- that is effected by people and the environment!
• Clean your cover! Covers can get musty and trap bacteria in the underside. BaquaSpa does not bleach out the smell like chlorine/bromine systems do. Therefore, it is very important to treat the underside of your cover with a cover cleaning product!
• If you have a hot tub that has a blower system (like the 880 series Sundance Spas) make sure the blower isn't on when you put the baqua chemicals in.  The Sanitizer (step #3) attaches to bacteria and immediately turns it into a thick scum and attaches that scum to the waterline of the spa (which, by the way, is why you need waterline control- Step #1!). The blower doesn't move the sanitizer-coated bacteria to the edges of the spa and ultimately into the filter.  So turn off your blower bubbles and turn on the jets!
• After the first week of ownership, hose off your filter REALLY WELL!
• Remember the 2 by 2 rule: every 2 weeks, hose off the filter. Every 2 months, soak your filter(s) in the BaquaSpa filter cleaning solution. 
• Be exact! BaquaSpa works best when you're as exact with the measurements as you can be! (Try our measuring cup!)

Okay that's it- you're an expert now! GO RELAX AND ENJOY your spa!

To Winterize or Not To Winterize

To winterize or not winterize...is a GREAT question!

Whether or not to close your hot tub for the winter and have it "winterized" is really up to you. 

What we recommend:

We recommend that you leave your tub running during the winter unless you will be away for an extended period of time and no one will be around to check your hot tub on a daily basis. 

Doesn't it save energy to have it winterized?

Some hot tub owners feel it is more cost effective to winterize their tub for the cold season, but in actuality, the savings on the elctric usage is less than the cost of having a professional winterization done.  You could actually end up spending more than you're saving!

I still want to do it. Can you tell me how?

Due to our climate and the freezing conditions we get in the winter, we recommend having your tub professionally winterized if needed. You must remember that, depending on the model of hot tub, you may have up to 3 jet-pump systems within the tub, and each one must be drained of all water to prevent freeze damage. 

What happens if I get freeze damage?

Freeze damage can be very expensive to repair and would not be covered by the manufacturer, even if your tub is still within the warranty period. 

If you need more information please contact our service department for additional information at (215) 491-7446 Option 2, then Option 3!