Archive for June, 2010

It Sounds Gross

06.10.10

Every time someone enters a hot tub for a little R&R, they leave a little something behind. It is completely unintentional, it is not planned and if be known, it is even a little embarrassing.
 
It Is Gross
 
I am talking about the sweat, exfoliated skin and body oils. Sorry, but no matter how clean a person might consider themselves to be, they will always leave their DNA behind. If the temperature is high enough, the body can sweat out about a quart an hour. -Yuck! That is a quart of pure urea for every hour of soaking by each person sitting in the spa.
 
Let?s do some math. Two people, 3 times a week for an hour each session. That totals 6 quarts of sweat, a full gallon and a half every week!
 
Reducing The Gross Factor
 
Here are some practical solutions to keeping your spa crystal clear while enjoying a session of hydrotherapeutic bliss.
 
1. Keep your sanitizer levels up
2. Clean your spa filter every week.
3. Use a Scum Ball to remove body oils and eliminate ?ring around the collar?.
 
Spending time in your hot tub does not have to be an experiment in human hygiene care. Keep the water clean with regular maintenance and invite as many friends to join you along the way. You will be glad you did!

What to Do When…

06.10.10

They say the only thing certain is death and taxes, well I would have to disagree. In our line of work hot tubs break down. It is a certainty. Granted some more than others, but eventually service will be required.
 
Be Prepared
 
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing hot tub service, repair, or spa parts, there are a couple of things you will want to have readily available.
 
1.      Your Spa Make – It is always a good idea to know who made your spa.
2.      Your Spa Model – Most models vary vastly.
3.      Phone Number – The phone number of your support team is important for getting your spa up and running fast. Besides, most technical support companies don?t charge a fee for troubleshooting.
 
Save Time and Money With Orchard
 
Hot tubs are so easy to fix. I know, I know. One look ?under the hood? and you are sure to see tubes, wires and electronics that seem to be all over the place, but rest assured the tools required to remove and replace any of the components equate to a philips head screw driver, a flat head screw driver, and an adjustable wrench (great technical support doesn?t hurt either). Seriously! There isn?t anything that can?t be fixed or replaced in a matter of minutes.
 
The next time you need help whether it?s to get a handle on your spa water chemistry, to replace a spa pump or to find out why your spa is making so much noise, just reach out and touch someone. It is free, friendly and fast. You just might be glad you did!

The Party’s Over…now what?

06.01.10

Now What?

The party is over, the guests have cleared out. Even Uncle Willy has decided he has had enough and has moved on. Now it is time to clear the debris field, take out the trash  and find out where that new pungent smell is coming from. Oh, and maybe it is time to attend to the hot tub.

The hot tub was a big hit, but now it is time to pay the piper. It looks a little beat up, the water color is definitely off and the cover just plain smells. So let?s get started!

Start with the Cover

Remove the cover completely and rinse off with a hose. You may even want to scrub it down with a solution of bleach and water. This will keep any mildew from building up. One of my favorite tips on cleaning the cover is to Febreeze it after a good scrub. I just like the way it leaves my spa cover smelling so good.

Rinse Down the Cabinet

Since we already have the hose out, we might as well rinse off the cabinet. Once the cabinet had been wiped down, use a good conditioner to restore it to that ?new? look. Any scratches can be removed with the use of a furniture touch up stick from any home improvement store.

Treat the Water

First thing to do is to remove the filters and run them through the dishwasher. That?s right, the dishwasher! This will break down the body oils and brighten the filter to new again. Shock the water and test for sanitizing levels. Make sure your PH and Alkalinity stay on track and once everything has been brought back to balance, use a clarifier to bring back the brilliance to your spa water.

Repeat!

No sense in wasting any time. Start planning your next backyard bash right away and be sure to invite Uncle Willie. You know you will be glad you did!