I like to set the temp at 99 and soak for extended periods of time.
You can tell by my previous post that I thoroughly enjoy the Bradford Spa that I got set-up at my father's house, and the installation is great.
At my home I purchased a Maax Elite 7500 after a significant amount of research.
It was slightly over budget, but well worth it.
The purchase process can be found in this post:
Comparing Hot Tub Options $4-6k - Springfield, MA
While it may not have the elegant setup of the Bradford, I do have it in a position of ultimate year round convenience!
A couple wet shots with my Nikon Coolpix AW110
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| No Flash - Gamma modified to bring out the trees in the background. |
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| Steam with Flash |
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| Picture taken straight up from underwater of falling snow, with Flash. |
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| Underwater with Flash |
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| Underwater - No Flash |
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| Blue Lights - No Flash |
rinaic's hot tub / spa maintenance tips:
Chemicals:
Nature2 + MPS
My favorite approach is to use a Nature2 cartridge in conjunction with MPS shock. Minimal chlorine levels are typically required. I've used this combo for many years with great success.
My Maax spa didn't seem to take to the Nature2 routine so I had to go with a more traditional levels of chlorine in addition to still keeping the Nature2 in place. Even with chlorine I had trouble with balancing the water until I added some Borax which stabilized the system very well. Personally I have found Chlorine Bleach to be the least expensive and easiest to use method to keep my levels correct. I have had better success than using dedicated pool or hot tub chlorinating granules.
Cleaning:
Routine cleaning helps with the tub, I prefer to use a standard plastic scrub brush to go over all the surfaces occasionally when I use the tub.
I will also give it a good scrubbing with a brush on the end of a plastic brook handle when I do a system flush.
Typically I will flush the system 3-4 times a year. First I will add Sea Klear and run at full heat and all features wide open and on high for at least 30 minutes, or leave it overnight.
With the Sea Klear in the system scrub the whole interior of the tub.
Drain, use a hose to send fresh water into all the jets. Drain and use the wet/dry Shop Vac to get all the water out of the lines.
Refill with fresh water, I use the hot water connection from my washing machine, or could come right off the boiler. By the time it's done filing I'm typically around 90 degrees already, and I've used my natural gas to do the bulk of the heating rather than the tub's electric heater.
Covers:
Your cover is your best friend. It saves you money, keeps stuff out, and bars entry.
The cover is not a place to skimp out or go on a budget. A high quality well insulated cover is well worth it.
I like 303 Aerospace Protectant used on top of the cover and also on the outside of the outer shell.
A Floating Thermal Blanket is a wise investment. It will save money by adding extra insulation, enhancing your cover performance. It will also protect the inside of your hot tub cover from chemical fumes which eventually cause failure from the inside out.
To clean the inside of the cover I typically wipe it down White Vinegar and rinse off.
Jets / Diverter Valves / Venturi / Waterfall:
To keep jets working well it's good to turn them on and off weekly. They should be left on when you are not in the tub. Same goes with diverter valves, they should be in the open or shared position. Waterfalls too, leave them in the on position at all times, even if it's a trickle. This will help prevent any unwanted growth in there.
The venturis should remain closed except when in use. Leaving these open helps cool the temperature and increases your energy useage.
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