Sundance^® Spas Vistamar^™

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.

See this Video: Learn how to drain your spa simply and easily with ONLY a garden hose… No tools or trouble!

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.

See this Video: Learn how to drain your spa simply and easily with ONLY a garden hose… No tools or trouble!

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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

Thanks to advanced water management and filtration systems, hot tub maintenance is easier than ever—routine tasks take just a few minutes a week. When we surveyed current owners about basic hot tub maintenance, nearly all of them said it was easy! Here’s a quick summary of how to maintain a hot tub:

Water: Check the chemical levels weekly with test strips and adjust them by adding the appropriate products per your owner’s manual—no chemistry expertise necessary. Drain and refills are only needed every 3–4 months, based on use.

Filter: Rinse and clean filters with a garden hose or filter flosser once per month. Replace as needed.

Cover: Use a cover to help keep your water warm and clean. It will protect your hot tub from debris and weather elements.

“Love our tub. It’s so easy to take care of!”

–Jenny, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Industry research shows that more than 76% of owners use their hot tub at least two times per week. Another survey found 98% of Jacuzzi® Brand hot tub owners would recommend purchasing one to their friends and family. Current owners will certainly tell you it’s worth it!

“This was a great buy, my whole family is enjoying it. Soon it will be filled with many friends and neighbors.”

–Dale, Hudsonville, MI