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Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you already have a hot tub or you’re considering purchasing one, you may have questions. This list of frequently asked questions about hot tubs is meant to assist you with clear and simple solutions. If the answer to your question is not below, please feel free to get in touch with our store. Our team of hot tub experts would be more than happy to assist you.

GENERAL HOT TUB FAQs
SHOULD I BUY A HOT TUB?

Making the decision to buy a hot tub is a big one. It’s not something you do every day, after all. Your lifestyle can have a significant impact on the decision to purchase a hot tub. Before making the decision, ask yourself these following questions:

  1. Where in my backyard will I install a hot tub?
  2. Will the hot tub be for my entire family, or just for me?
  3. Will I benefit from fewer aches and pains, better sleep and reduced stress?
  4. Will I enjoy the convenience of access to hydromassage in the comfort of my own home?
  5. Will my family benefit from the additional family time in the spa?

If you said yes to one or more of the questions above, a hot tub might be right for you! Speak with one of our team members to learn more about the prices, sizes and brands available to you.

WHAT SIZE HOT TUB SHOULD I BUY?

The size of your hot tub should reflect your intended use for it. Will it cater to the needs of the entire family? Is it meant just for you and your significant other? Or do you enjoy hosting elaborate backyard parties? Your lifestyle and layout of your backyard can help you determine if you would like to invest in a smaller or larger hot tub.

Most hot tub brands have models available in the following sizes and capacities: 2-3 seats, 4-5 seats, 5-6 seats, 6 or more seats. For a better idea of how big or small our hot tubs are, visit our showroom in person today.

WHAT IS HYDROTHERAPY?

Hydrotherapy is a therapeutic technique that harnesses the healing properties of water. The combination of heat, buoyancy and massage helps to relax muscles, ease sore joints, improve circulation, and reduce muscle tension. Used by healthcare professionals all around the world, hydrotherapy can help to improve sleep patterns, reduce stress, ease aches and pains, aid in post-injury recovery, and soothe sore joints, among many other health benefits.

MINERAL PURIFIER – WATER CHEMISTRY GUIDE
Mountain Leisure Hot Tubs Chemical Kit Includes
  • Mineral Purifier
  • pH Increaser
  • Total Alkalinity Increaser
  • Scum Sponge
  • Granular Shock Oxidizer
  • Granular Chlorine or Bromine
  • Test Strips
Fresh Water Start Up
  • Turn off power to your hot tub
  • Remove the filter(s) and fill the spa through the filter housing
  • Fill to the “Fill Line” or approximately 2” – 3” above the filter or top jet(s)
  • Turn on the power at the service disconnect or at the main breaker. There will be a short delay before the hot tub come on. Once it is on, turn on the jets and verify that there is sufficient water flow.
  • Set the hot tub temperature to your desired temperature and ensure all of your components are working as they should (i.e. pumps, blowers, lights, waterfalls).
  • Test the water using a test strip
    • pH Goal: 7.8 on your test strip
    • Alkalinity Goal: 120 on your test strip
    • o Sanitizer Goal: Aim for the high side of the Sanitizer Reading typically Chlorine (3) or Bromine (6)
  • Install the Mineral Purifier in the filter housing. This is good for 4 months and must be replaced quarterly along with fresh clean water.
  • Place and leave the Scum Sponge in the Hot Tub to absorb oils as it floats on the spas water surface.
After Each Use
  • Add one Tablespoon of Shock Oxidizer after each use
  • Squeeze and rinse Scum Sponge as needed
Maintenance Routine – Frequency Based on Usage

These items are critical to the care of treatment of your hot tub water and frequency is based on usage. For the average user, following this routine once weekly should be sufficient. If you find that this is not sufficient, you may need to follow this routine twice weekly

  • Remove and clean the filter(s) or rotate out with a second set of clean filters.
  • Test water using test strips and adjust the levels of pH, Alkalinity, and Sanitizer (Chlorine or Bromine)
  • Remember after each use, add one Tablespoon of Non-Chlorine Shock
  • Wash the Scum Sponge before returning to the hot tub. This will help with water clarity.
Monthly Maintenance
  • Soak filters in Spa Guard Filter Cleaner* or in a Bleach solution (4 cups bleach to 5 gallons of water) for 12-24 hours. Rinse them well before placing back into hot tub.
  • Wipe Scum Line
  • Skim Spa Surface
Quarterly Maintenance
  • Circulate Swirl Away Cleaner in your water before draining*
  • Drain the hot tub
  • Clean, Scrub and Sanitize the Shell
  • Replace the Mineral Purifier
  • Wash and sanitize the filters, cover and steps
  • Refill tub … Don’t let your spa sit empty for more that 24 hours. When refilling, place your hose in the filter housing so water fills through the plumbing lines first.
Mountain Leisure Hot Tub’s Fresh Fill and Start Up Guide
Wiring Guide & Requirements for Spa 50 amp Service
Hot tub Maintenance FAQs
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CLEAN MY HOT TUB?

How often and in what manner you clean your hot tub will depend on two factors: how often the spa is used and the manufacturer.

  • Test your hot tub water with test strips once or twice a week.
  • Treat your hot tub water accordingly based on the readings from the test strips.
  • Clean the filter every two weeks with water from the hose.
  • Drain, clean and fill the hot tub once every three to four months.

For more information about the water management system and cleaning process for your hot tub, get in touch with us today.

How often should I clean my filter cartridge?

Depending upon bather load, it is generally a good practice to rinse your filter cartridge every other week with fresh water from a garden hose to dislodge hair and other foreign matter. Every 3 to 4 months, and with each water change, your filter cartridge should be soaked in a filter-cleaning compound designed for this purpose. We recommend the rotation method: have two filters on hand, one in the spa and a clean, dry spare. Remove the dirty filter and rinse thoroughly, being careful to spray between the pleats. Soak the filter in a 5-gallon bucket of cleaning solution overnight or according to the instructions on the package. You can now install your clean spare while the dirty one is soaking. After soaking, rinse again and set aside to dry completely. With this method, your filters will last much longer, and you will never have to wait to use your spa.

When should hot tub filters be replaced?

Filters are generally good for about a full year of usage. After that, they become less efficient in trapping foreign matter because of the deterioration of the media. With the filter rotation method described in “How often should I clean my filter cartridge” (above), this means you would replace a pair of cartridges every 2 years.

How do I reset the GFCI breaker?

Breakers have three positions: ON, OFF and TRIPPED. It is usually easy to identify ON by looking at the other breakers in the panel. If they are ON when switched to the left then all of the breakers in that row are ON to the left. If there are two rows of breakers in the box they are typically ON when switched towards the center of the panel. OFF is also easy to recognize as it is the opposite direction of ON. TRIPPED will look like it is ON. When a circuit is overloaded and TRIPS off it does not go to the OFF position. Usually, you can identify a TRIPPED breaker by trying to push it in the ON direction. While an ON breaker will feel firm, a TRIPPED breaker will feel as though there is a spring to it. To reset the TRIPPED breaker you need to first switch it OFF and then firmly back on. Then test the circuit. SEE IF HOT TUB IS ON If the breaker TRIPS. If this doesn’t work, call Mountain Leisure Hot Tubs and we will arrange for hot tub service. You may also view this YouTube video for more information.

What can cause the GFCI to keep tripping?

A properly functioning Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) activates when it senses even a very small voltage leak or short to ground. They are designed to react very quickly. The cause can be many things. To isolate the culprit, shut-off the power source, then disconnect the system’s major components including: blower, ozonator, pumps, heater, etc. Power on. If it now trips, your problem is isolated to the wiring or circuit board. If the GFCI does not trip, plug these things back in one at a time until the GFCI trips again. (Make sure power is off whenever connecting or disconnecting components.) When it trips, you’ve located the culprit. If it is not one of these, check for bad wire connections, missing or burnt insulation or chafes, and loose screws or corrosion on terminals. If that is not the problem, sometimes a heater element that is going bad will cause the GFCI to trip.

Another cause may be a defective GFCI unit itself. They do not last forever, and especially in damp locations, they can fail and cause erroneous tripping. Other electrical devices in your home, especially those with motors, can send a pulse through the circuit that can actually trigger a GFCI to trip. These include washing machines, garage door openers, air conditioners, furnaces, and house fans. Monitor your spa’s GFCI to see if it trips when one of these devices is switched on. Make sure that the supply circuit to the spa is adequate.

At Mountain Leisure Hot Tubs, we are experts in hot tub wiring and maintenance. Contact us if you feel at all uncomfortable with repairing your hot tub.

My spa is not heating or I have an FL/FLO Error. What’s wrong?

First, check your filter. Dirty or clogged filters are one of the most common causes of heating problems. Try to operate the spa with no filter in (you may need to push the reset button on your spa pack). If everything works correctly at this point, then the filter was your problem. Next, check the heater indicator light. If it is not glowing, then you are likely not getting power to the heater. You could have a defective or stuck thermostat, high limit switch (check by pushing reset button), pressure switch, or flow switch. If none of these components is the culprit, it may be a bad relay or contactor. If the light is on, but water is not circulating, the heater will not work. If the indicator is on, and water is circulating, then you most likely have a defective heater element. It’s time to call a professional for hot tub service.

I can hear the motor running, but there is no circulation or heat. What is going on?

If you can hear the motor running but can see no water flow through the jets, you most likely have Air Lock. This is common after a spa has been drained and refilled. Try this method first:

  • Open all jets by turning the faceplates counter-clockwise.
  • Turn down the heat so the heater does not try and fire.
  • Press the Jet BUTTON to turn on jets, twice for high speed, let run for 10-15 seconds.
  • Repeat step 3 a total of 3 TO 10 times, increasing run time by 10-15 seconds each time UNTIL YOU SEE AND HEAR WATER FLOWING THROUGH JETS.
  • Once you see air bubble starting to be released from the jets leave jets running until all air is released.

If the above method does not work, you will need to bleed the air out this way:

  • Remove the front panel of the spa (usually a Phillips head screwdriver is needed).
  • Locate large union nut connecting spa plumbing to the motor.
  • Loosen nut on the pump by hand or by using a large set of channel lock pipe grips.
  • Once water starts leaking out, all air has been released, you can now re-tighten the union nut.
  • Turn on jets and see if the problem has been resolved (it may take 2-3 times of doing this before all the air is released).
  • Make sure union is tight and is not dripping.

Also, check your filter. A severely clogged filter can greatly restrict water flow, and with little or no flow, there will be no heat either. Try running the spa with filter out. If water now circulates properly, replace your filter(s). If an air lock or clogged filter proves not to be the culprit, the cause could be blocked plumbing or a damaged or obstructed impeller blade. At this point, it would be best to call a professional for spa maintenance.

You may also view this YouTube video for more information.

My pump quit pumping, and now it just makes a humming noise. What happened?

A common cause is a jammed or broken impeller, or the bearings may have seized. If the motor shaft can be rotated by hand, then the problem may be a dirty pump switch, defective starter capacitor, burnt motor windings or other electrical problem with the motor. Unfortunately, this could mean you are in need of hot tub repair.

How often should I drain my spa?

Depending on usage and type of sanitizing system, a spa or hot tub with well-maintained water, which is treated with non-chlorine shock, should be drained and refilled every two to four months. This is necessary because of the amount of total dissolved solids becomes excessive, making it difficult to maintain sanitizer effectiveness and water balance. If you don’t want to deal with these issues (or even have to think about them), consider a hot tub maintenance package.

How do you recommend that I drain my spa?

We recommend that spa owners use the following method for draining their spas, as most drains are very difficult to locate and many times the drain plug can be misplaced or forgotten to be put back. Place a garden hose in the tub and allow it to fall to the lowest spot in the spa. Fill the tub for about 4 to 5 minutes, then turn the spigot off, disconnect the hose from the spigot and place that end in the yard away from the house. As long as the other end of the hose remains at the bottom of the spa it will cause a vacuum and suck the water out of the spa automatically. Once empty, clean the spa and refill it. You may also view this YouTube video for more information.

How do you recommend that I drain my spa?

We recommend that spa owners use the following method for draining their spas, as most drains are very difficult to locate and many times the drain plug can be misplaced or forgotten to be put back. Place a garden hose in the tub and allow it to fall to the lowest spot in the spa. Fill the tub for about 4 to 5 minutes, then turn the spigot off, disconnect the hose from the spigot and place that end in the yard away from the house. As long as the other end of the hose remains at the bottom of the spa it will cause a vacuum and suck the water out of the spa automatically. Once empty, clean the spa and refill it. You may also view this YouTube video for more information.

Our Hot Tub Service Area

Asheville
Hendersonville
Brevard
Boone

Lenoir
Hickory
Mooresville
Statesville

Huntersville
Charlotte
Waxhaw
Monroe

Waynesville
Burnsville
Upstate SC
Greenville

Brands We Provide Hot Tub Service For

Alps
Artesian
Artic
Baja
Bearfoot
Bullfrog
Cal Spas
Caldera
Catalina

Coast
Dimension One
Dream Maker
Dynasty
Emerald
Four Winds
Free Flow
Gatsby
Hot Springs

Hot Spot
Hydropool Spas
Jacuzzi
LA Spa
Leisure Bay
Master Spas
Maax Spas
Marquis
Nordic

Premium Leisure
QCA
Saratoga
Sunbelt
Sundance
Sweetwater
Thermospas
Viking
Vita Spas

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