Hot Tubs Blog by Canadian Spa Co.

Finding a replacement for your hot tub’s 1.5kW heater (UK)

Troy — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:13:15 +0000

Our older Canadian Spa Company (UK) spa line contained some hot tubs that ran off of a 1.5kW heater (Ottawa 909SE, Toronto 848 and previous Niagara models) and after a number of years may need to be replaced. Luckily the newer spa heaters we provide can be used to replace these older 1.5kW heaters and are much more efficient at heating your spa. Contact us if you would like a quote on a new heater for your spa and be sure to ask about our installation service. Please note our Canadian Spa Company Haliburton 1.5kW heater is not compatible with these older spa models.

The Toronto 848 model originally used a 1.5kW heater

What is a ‘Plug and Play’ spa? (UK)

Troy — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:53:27 +0000

A Canadian Spa Company Plug and Play Hot Tub means that there is no additional electrical installation required to setup your spa. These tubs plug into a normal wall socket to offer a no hassle solution to install them easily and without the need of an electrician. Attached to the plug is an included RCD to protect the spa and the electrical circuit from unforeseen circumstances. Be sure that the spa is the only load on the circuit when plugged in.

The RCD built into the plug

Jet compatibility

Troy — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:03:49 +0000

If you need to replace a jet from your Canadian Spa Company hot tub be sure that you find the correct one for your hot tub. There are many different designs used for hot tub jets and many require a unique installation. One example is the latest WW jets which have a threaded backing instead of the normal pressure clip.

The threaded backing on the left jet won't work with our tubs, the highlighted jet on the right is correct

Even though these jets will look similar on the outside, the backing is different and therefore won’t be compatible with our hot tubs. Please give us a call if you are looking to replace your jets and we can help ensure that you receive the correct one for your spa.

Product Spotlight – Spa Safety Hand Rail

Troy — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:56:48 +0000

A hot tub can sometimes be difficult to enter as they are fairly high off the ground. The acrylic can also be very slippery when wet and this may lead to unwanted accidents or injury. To prevent this occurrence each one of our hot tubs comes with a set of spa steps to elevate you higher off the ground and into the hot tub. We also offer an optional spa safety hand rail that can be bolted to the cabinet of the spa for easy access in and out of tub. This rail is a great preventative measure for any injury possibilities and helps to provide you with peace of mind when enjoying your hot tub.

Hot Tub Myth #101 – Salt water tubs are less expensive in the long running

Troy — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:31:08 +0000

One common misconception with a salt water hot tub is that they will save you money when compared to a traditional style hot tub. The idea is that by removing the need for chemical treatment, you won’t have to spend as much money on the maintenance.

A salt water system is generally much more expensive to purchase then a typical hot tub at the start, and the salt water system is usually bundled into the cost of the unit which can inflate the price. These systems also require regular service (whether professional or customer), and because these parts are expensive the service calls can be costly. The cell inside these systems must be cleaned once every three months, and this can result in a lot of time and money. The warranty on these units can also be quite short (ie: 1 year), which can lead to an expensive service bill if needed.

Next time you are looking at a new hot tub, be sure to calculate the actual long-term savings that you will accumulate and perform some research.

Hot tub chemicals: Tablets vs Granules

Troy — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:55:10 +0000

There are two common methods of adding chlorine to your spa, whether it is through the use of tablets or the addition of granules. Each one can be used effectively and will achieve the same outcome. The various advantages between the two types are outlined below.

Chlorine tablets vs granules

	Chlorine Tablets	Chlorine Granules
Adding to hot tub	Place tablets inside a floating dispenser	Add capfuls
Absorption method	Variably controlled by dispenser	Granules are absorbed quicker as more surface area is exposed
Quantity measurement	Difficult to measure as tab will slowly dissolve at inconsistent rate	Easily measured by the capful
Convenience	Much easier as floating dispenser takes care of the work	Requires a consistent schedule to add chlorine to spa
Cost	Initial cost for floating dispenser, otherwise same	Same as tablets

Overall we would recommend that you regularly monitor the maintenance of your spa, and keep track of the amount of chlorine that you use.

Ordering a custom colour spa

Troy — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:32:55 +0000

Our selection of hot tubs can provide you with a variety of models for different circumstances and occasions, but are very similar in design (see why here). By ordering directly through us, we can provide you with a customized spa based on your preferences. Both the shell colour and the cabinet colour can be selected for any of the spa models that we offer. Please allow approximately 4 – 6 weeks to receive your spa as we will need to ensure that it meets all of our standards. Contact us for more information regarding the order of a custom spa.

Shell colours - 1

Shell colours - 2

Cabinet colours

Filling up your tub

Troy — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:05:49 +0000

Once you have installed your spa, your next step is to fill it up with water for heating. We recommend that you use a garden hose placed inside the filter housing to fill the water up with cold water instead of hot water, as this could cause the temperature sensors to malfunction. On our newer models, the tub should be filled up to the bottom of the headrests, and on some older models there should be a water line gauge on the skimmer basket.

A 2012 Toronto Aurora tub filled up with water

Hot Tub Myth #102 – A raised-floor hot tub base doesn’t require a flat surface

Troy — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:02:17 +0000

A common question asked by customers is “do I need a base for my spa to rest on”? Many competitors advertise that their unique base doesn’t require a flat surface for the spa to lie down on, and that its “raised-floor” is sufficient enough for the spa. Our recommendation at the Canadian Spa Company is to use a flat, level surface 3”-5” thick below the spa to keep it level during operation (see our spa base construction here). A level spa is crucial for correct functionality because a spa depends on proper circulation to operate correctly. If the spa is tilted at all, the pressure sensors inside will have a hard time reading the circulation, and this can cause problems in the future as the equipment can malfunction. Be sure to always use a flat, level surface for positioning your spa to keep it running for its complete life cycle.

What’s included with your hot tub purchase?

Troy — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:39:22 +0000

When ordering your hot tub from our website, you will receive your hot tub along with some additional items to add to the experience. These items come at no additional cost to you and come with every model we have available.

Spa steps

Depending on the colour of your cabinet panels (coffee or charcoal) you will receive a set of spa steps that match your cabinet panels. These steps are very simple to assemble and provide you with easy access into the tub.

Hot tub filter

A filter for your spa is included within the package as well, and can be inserted into the filter compartment immediately so that you can enjoy your spa after it has been filled up.

Instruction manual

This last item will explain everything you need to know for operating and installing your spa, along with any precautions and recommendations needed. Be sure to read through this manual before operation to keep your hot tub under warranty.