Herbie's Blog

The wiring of a hot tub is a difficult process to understand.  Especially if you are unaware of the equipment and devices used in a spa.  There are 1000's of spas out there, most of them with more than one way to wire them for different situations. 

When it comes to your safety and your investment you should know a few things.  General electricians are just that.  Unless they have the knowledge and experience of installing hot tubs then THEY DON'T KNOW.  I mean just because one is a licensed mechanic on auto repairs, would you really trust him repairing the 747 you are about to board?  There are some things to consider before having your hot tub wired.

The person you choose to perform the wiring needs to be reliable and have a history of hot tub installations.  I suggest always speaking to the company that you bought the spa from for recommendations.  They tend to be able to perform the complete installation or have a licensed electrician they work closely with on their team.  In almost all areas the wiring of the hot tub must be completed by a licensed and insured electrical contractor (electrician).

Remember when choosing an electrician... This is your life, not just an investment.  Knowledge is power.  Make sure the person you pick has the knowledge that you deserve.  Ask questions, get references.  That way you can enjoy your new "lifetime of relaxation".  Why not, you've earned it!

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Where does bacteria lie?  Right in your hot tub's plumbing lines is where. 

The vast majority of bacteria that exists in a hot tub is not in the water itself, nor is it attached to the shell.  Almost all of the bacteria in a hot tub lives within the plumbing lines protected by a layer of biofilm.  This biofilm both feeds the bacteria as well as providing protection from the water that streams through the lines while the jets are on.

Using a line flush in-between water changes is required for safe operation as well as peace of mind for all spa owners.  Why you ask? Because if you fill your hot tub with fresh water and DON'T flush the lines, you will end up transferring the bacteria from the old water right into the new water. 

Any experienced service technician, me included, has seen what a plumbing line looks like that hasn't been flushed.  Imagine seeing a layer of brown-grey slime coating the entire inside of the pipes.  Sounds pretty disgusting, huh!  This is called biofilm, a concentrated bacteria that gets removed during the flushing process.  If you actually saw biofilm in your hot tub pipes - trust me - you'd want to get rid of it. 

So, how does a line flush get rid of the gross stuff?  All you need to do is add it directly to the old, dirty spa water, remove the filters, and run all the jets on high speed for about 2 hours.  Following this, drain the hot tub as you normally would and do your normal cleaning.  Then refill the spa with clean, fresh water.  That's all!  Stop by either of our locations and talk to us about it. Peace of mind is simple and we're here for you.

Herbie B.

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It's clear that major market buyers such as Walmart, Home Depot and Target, your typical "big box" stores are beginning to infiltrate the pool and spa industry by selling large quantities of pool and spa chemicals.  The problem is the lack of knowledge and skills needed to provide advice to consumers who don't know what to do or how to do it.  Try asking John behind the counter at Walmart or Costco how much shock to put in your pool to start the algae treatment. Or try asking Mary at Target if chlorine or biguinide is a better option.  It's a waste of time and money. 

Large chain stores are starting to dive (pun intended) into the pool industry by selling toys and inflatable pools.  Since they make tons of money by selling such large quantities it makes it very difficult for your local pool and spa store to gain an edge.  Just ask Valley Spas, Monterey Spa and Stove or most recently Monterey Hot Tub Company... all victims of being forced to close stores. 

We are asking ourselves "How can we set ourselves apart?"  Chemicals are chemicals.  But knowledge is power.  And so is the way that we take the time to pass that knowledge on to others.  That is something these big chain stores can't do.  As I mentioned before, just try asking Joe at Home Depot how much stabilizer to add to your pool each season.  A guaranteed blank stare.

Everyone knows that the average customer wants to save money, especially in this economy.  No one knows better than Walmart.  They have the power to sell things lower than retail because of their buying power.  That puts small businesses such as Blackthorne at a loss.  We don't have the power to buy at such low prices so a lost leader becomes a loss. 

As a consumer myself I always look for the best price.  But sometimes the best price is not the lowest price.  Sometimes the knowledge that you get from the person you buy from will save you money in the long run.  I would rather spend a little more and know that there is someone I can call when I get home and can't figure it out.  Someone I can talk to when something goes wrong.  Someone who will help me find the part I need.  Someone who will help me when my pool is green and I can't see the bottom AND I have a party this weekend.

Just a thought the next time you go to shop for pool or spa chemicals, toys or even a hot tub, take this into consideration.  You are dealing with a major investment in your family's happiness, health and peace of mind.  So don't always look for the cheap and easy way out.  Eventually you will need some advice from someone who knows.  With our more than 35 years experience, no one know it better than we do.

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