Calling in the Hot Tub Cavalry

By Ferry Suwantoro

At least if we’re smart. To avoid these harsh penalties, smart men know their limits, and know when to call in the experts. Here is a brief guide to finding a good, reliable professional to handle your hot tub repair problems.

The Easiest Step

The first and easiest option (and also the safest) is if your hot tub was sold to you with either a warranty and/or a service clause. In either of these cases, the people who sold you the hot tub will have specialists on their staff who HAVE to fix the tub or replace it if it’s faulty, depending on your coverage.

Don’t settle for just calling the people you bought it from if the warranty has bit the dust; their staff might not be competent, or they might charge you an arm and a leg. Start shopping around for a cheap yet reliable repair man.

Okay, so What’s Busted?

If the water isn’t coming in properly, this may be a result of clogged pipes or a problem with the water pump. If the damage is directly to the shell of the hot tub, this is fairly easy to spot. Check the places where the pipes connect to the tub to see if the problem lies there instead. If one type of water (hot or cold) isn’t coming in properly, it’s often a pipe problem, BUT may also be damage to your water heater itself or to the electric wiring of the heater or tub.

Who yah Gonna Call?

Once you find the problem, (or think you have!) there are four general hot tub specialists who can help you with your various problems. The most common one that most people call on is the plumber. If the problem is with your pipes, you definitely want a plumber to do the work for you.

On the other hand, another type of specialist to call is someone who remodels hot tub shells. Call this type of specialist if the damage is due to a leak in the actual shell of the tub. Repairing a ceramic tub shell is beyond either the skills or the equipment of most DIY handy men. If you’ve determined the damage is to the water pump or heater, the first instinct of most people is to call a plumber.

Not every plumber is trained to deal with a mechanical problem – their specialty is in pipe related problems.

Lastly, if the problem is electrical in nature like a busted power outlet that runs your water pump, call an electrician.

How can you be sure you’re not getting ripped off?

The only real way to keep yourself protected in this case is to rely on your own experiences as a Do It Yourself handyman. Keep close to the repair man as he goes over the problem, and ask frequent questions and clarifications as to the nature of the problem and how he’s going to fix it.

Cleaning Tools for Your Hot Tub

By Ferry Suwantoro

Enjoying in your hot tub is fun, but still you have responsibility to clean your hot tub as often as possible for hygienic purposes.

Here are some of the commonly used hot tub cleaning tools.

1. Telepoles

This is the main cleaning instrument you need. The end has a rounded tip or a handgrip in order for your hand to not slip when you’re cleaning your pool or your hot tub.

2. Wall and Floor Brush

These are used in order to remove the stains, dirt and materials that stick on the surface. The wall is there to brush off the spa and tub interior surfaces. Don’t use wire brushes that aren’t made of stainless steel because the bristles snap while you are brushing.

3. Vacuum Head and Hose

Vacuums are specially made to suck in the dirt in the spa or hot tub. Vacuum heads are usually made of plastic that keeps the head above the surface as it does the cleaning. A flexible head lets the contour go in accordance with the curves of the hot tub and the spa.

4. Tile Brush and Tile Soap

These are used to clean the tiles. Tile brushes don’t bend too much in order to allow more cleaning. Tile soaps are often mixed of muriatic acids. These cut the stubborn oils and stains. Don’t use other kinds of soap aside from one that is made specifically for cleaning the hot tub or spa.

5. Pumice Stones

These are used in order to remove the scales from the hot tub tiles. It also removes the stains or other deposits from the surfaces. By using these, the surface isn’t excessively scratched.

Pumice stones disintegrate so we suggest that you do the scrubbing before you do the vacuuming. Another alternative for pumice stones are plastic foams or Styrofoam because these do not scratch the fiberglass.

Brushing is the Best

The best way to clean your pool is through manual brushing. This removes the debris and the stains. You can also direct how clean you want your tub to be depending on how rigorous you brush.

Pool is the same as Spa and Hot Tub

The steps for cleaning the pool also work for spas and hot tubs.

1. Spas are often made of fiberglass so be very mindful whenever you vacuum in order to not scratch the surface.

2. You have to evaluate the water before you do the cleaning. Cleaning also invests a great amount of time but its worth it.