Spa gallery, integrated spa, remote spa, owning a spa, health benefits, filtration, treatment, Vision Pools and Spas

EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT
OWNING A SPA BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK

WHY A SPA
While a swimming pool can be lots of fun & a great way to keep the family together and for exercise, a pool can't compete with the relaxing luxury of a heated spa. The temperature is usually set just above body temperature so that you have a warm feeling while the moving water massages you as it passes in a way that only moving water can. The water also gives you buoyancy which helps remove the tension from your body. Even in hot tropical areas, people enjoy the use of a hot spa as it is normally slightly hotter than the outside temperature so you feel cool when you get out.

HEALTH BENEFITS
The most obvious health benefit associated with owning a spa relates to what it can do in the way of providing relief from arthritis, joint and muscle injuries, and relief of stress. The warmth. combined with water movement, the application of massaging action provided by various types of water jets, and relaxation of the body provide can do wonders. The National Swimming Pool Institute of the USA has worked with the Arthritis Foundation for a number of years to promote an understanding of the relief from a spa for people with ArthritIs and encouragement to use a spa as part of the treatment regimen for Arthritis sufferers. Like the whirlpool massage baths found at Physical Therapy clinics and hospitals, home spas have been used in restoring muscle & tendon use for people who have had injuries or loss of function.

JETS
Spa Jets, which combine water & air under pressure, provide a number of different massage effects which can be directed to specific muscles & body parts. The energy exerted by these jets is determined by both the pressure of the water exiting the jet & the volume of air mixed with the water. The greater the water pressure, the stronger the effect, but the greater the air to water ratio, the greater the massage effect. (Based on natural venturi air inducton.)
Jets can be used on all parts of the body for massage, stimulation, and relaxation. Most spas have jets dedicated to massaging the bottom of the feet, and we all know how tired or painful our feet become from time to time. A flexible hose can even be attached to some kinds of jets to allow the application of the water/air pressure at all angles & positions for relief of hard to reach areas of the body. If the spa is to be used for actual hydrotherapy use, there are specific jets of larger sizes available specifically for that use.

OTHER SPA FEATURES
Base/Seat Air: As well as the air which is drawn in with the venturi spa jets, it is quite normal to induce air through openings either in the floor of the spa or the seat of the spa. This air expands as it rises & explodes when it hits the body allowing water to then fill the void & cause a massaging effect.
Temperature: In most cases, the temperature of the spa water needs to be a few degrees above body temperature to relax & soften the musceles & tendions enough for the jets to have their best effect. 38C or 104F.
Seating & Lounging: A number of seating positions are available in most spas, although above ground & in ground pre-manufactured fiberglass spas typically offer more seating variety. These varieties include a number of seating positions which allow persons to sit in a relaxed position from slightly reclined to semi reclined to lounger seats that allow an almost fully reclined position. Most in ground concrete spas simply offer a seating bench around the perimeter of the spa and focus on jets and water movement.

FILTRATION & TREATMENT
Spas should always be operating with a good filtration system to provide fresh, clean filtered water both when being used and afterwards in order to remove the body oils, dirt & other contaminants arising from spa users, elevated water temperature, and the local environment. Whether the spa is part of a pool system or a stand alone spa it should incorporate a closed circuit (pump/filter/heater/chemical teatment) during use.
By the same token, spas are typically fitted with a chemical sanitizing and treatment system to keep the water clean, clear, and free of bacteria, viruses, molds, algae, or other organisms/materials that might taint the water, discolor the spa surface or cause unpleasant odors.

EQUIPMENT
The following information can give you some insight into some of the issues regarding spa equipment:

HEATING - If you have a large spa go for gas unless you have very low cost electricity available.
If you want to be able to use your spa any time you want & you want it ready, then possibly best to go for a portable or stand alone, well insulated with a small electric heater which operates on standby to keep the water to the required temperature. (always with an insulating cover). If you wnat to only heat the spa when you want to use it, & you want it heated fast, then best to use a gas heater, this can be with a stand alone or an incorporated spa.

FILTRATION - If you are using a seperate filtration system for your incorporated spa or on a stand alone spa, then you can usually use a 1/2HP pump & a 50 or 75 SQFT cartridge filter which can be operated for 6-8 hours a day.
If you are purchasing a stand alone spa then it may come with a smaller pump which operates 24 hours a day, that is ok as long as all the water for the pump draws through the filter & the filter is at least 25 SQFT in area, dont use anything smaller.

JETS - Usually the mimimum number of jets in a spa is 4, these can easily be operated by a boost pump of 1.0HP, the jets usually have an opening internally of 1/4", if more jets are used then the boost pump should be larger.
Most portable spas come with many jets which can be operated in various combinations based on the maximum use of the one boost pump.

CHEMICAL TREATMENT
The three most common methods for sanitizing spas are Chlorine, Bromine, & Ozone.

CHLORINE
Chlorine is a chemical treatment/disinfectant typically used in pools. A chlorine dispenser or a salt chlorine generator can provide the proper amount of chlorine to keep your spa clean. Because of the elevated water temperature and smaller volume of water being treated, chlorine has lost favor with spas due in part to the odor and the stinging in the eyes associated with chlorine in the water.
BROMINE
Bromine is a disinfectant very similar to chlorine except that it works more effectively at higher temperatures & higher pH levels than chlorine. The bromine can be added through various types of dispensers which are placed in the circulating line so that a regulated amount is injected as necessary. It can also be dispensed via tablets inserted in a floating dispenser with small holes in the bottom so that the bromine tablets will slowly dissolve. It is always necessary to keep control of the pH, Total Alkalinity, & Calcium Hardness levels in your spa.
OZONE
Ozone is a gas produced just prior to the point of use and can be an excellent sanitizer when provided in adequate quantities. Many pre-manufactured spas come equipped with an ozone generator already incorporated, and they can be incorporated into in-ground concrete spas as well. They can be expensive and the cheap ones don't work very well. Because ozone consumes itself as it destroys organic material in the water it usually needs to be used in conjunction with one of the other sanitizing methods.

SAFETY
When using a spa pool the following safety considerations must be observed:
Never operate above 40C or 108F.
Never use a spa without medical advise if you have a blood pressure condition.
Never use a spa when under a heavy influence of alcohol or drugs.
Never stay in a spa for more than 20 minutes at one time.
Never use a spa which is not adiquately sanitized.