We've gathered a list of spa enthusiast's questions, together with expert's answers!  Lots of hot tub information here, so we've divided this page into 3 sections, for easy navigation.

Equipment Selection FAQ Maintenance & Repair FAQ Water Chemistry FAQ

If you don't find the answer to your question here or elsewhere in The Spa Depot's SpaCyclopedia, just Ask Dr. Tubbs for an email reply.

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Equipment Selection FAQ

• What's the difference between a Hot Tub and a Spa?
• What are my choices in selecting a hot tub or spa?
• How do I find a quality brand of spa?
• Should I install my hot tub spa inside or outside?
• Do I have to install plumbing for my portable spa?
• Which are better, gas or electric heaters?
• How do you hookup the wiring for 220/240 volts?
• Should I use a 110-volt or 220-volt electric heater?
• Is it expensive to operate a hot tub spa?
• What is meant by the spa pump's horsepower (HP) rating?
• What's the story on ozonators?
• Can I save money by using an ozonator?
• Is there an easier way to remove my spa cover?
• What should I look for in a spa cover?
• What are the power requirements for the new lightweight "take anywhere" portable spas?
• Can an external gas heater be added to my spa and what are the benefits?
• I'm ordering a new spa cover. Is there a benefit in upgrading to a 2-lb. Foam core?
• What can I do to protect my spa cover from seasonal high winds?
• Why are your spa covers custom made rather than shipped from an inventory?

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Maintenance & Repair FAQ

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• How often should I drain my spa?
• What should I use to clean my spa?
• Is there a good product for removing tub ring?
• How often should I clean my filter cartridge?
• How do you remove calcium scale from spa filters?
• When should hot tub filters be replaced?
• Is there anything I can do to protect my hot tub cover from damage?
• Can scratches be removed from my spa shell?
• Is it OK to use car wax on my spa shell?
• What causes the dark staining on my plastic spa fittings?
• Should I treat the wooden skirt on my spa?
• I'd like to install an Ozonator.  Can you tell me how?
• If the bulb in my ozonator burns out, can it be replaced?
• My spa is losing water. How can I find the leak?
• My pump quit pumping, and now it just makes a humming noise. What happened?
• I can hear the motor running, but there is no circulation or heat. What is going on?
• My spa is not heating. What's wrong?
• Why does my water overheat?
• What is causing my water temperature to fluctuate?
• Why aren't my jets as powerful as they used to be?
• What can cause the GFCI to keep tripping?
• My wooden hot tub was left empty for a year. Now it leaks like a sieve. Any suggestions?
• Which is better for my hot tub: letting the thermostat determine run times, or setting the timer for a specific amount of time each day?
• What can I use to remove stains and scale from my spa's surface?
• Can we use our outdoor spa year 'round? Our winters get very cold.
• Our spa has some cracks & blisters.  Can I repair these myself?

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Water Chemistry FAQ

• Is there a difference between the various brands of spa chemicals?
• What is the best sanitizer to use?
• How is bromine maintained?
• What is the proper level of bromine or chlorine in spa water?
• How is sanitizer level measured?
• Is there an alternative to bromine and chlorine?
• What is the purpose of shocking compounds?
• Is there a difference between shocking compounds?
• What is the importance of pH?
• What is the recommended pH range?
• Is there a way to lock pH into balance?
• How is pH measured?
• How can I prevent the formation of oily scum on the spa water?
• My water immediately turned green.  What is going on?
• How do I raise my pH level?
• How do I lower my pH level?
• What is the importance of total alkalinity?
• What is the recommended total alkalinity level?
• How is total alkalinity measured?
• How can I raise my total alkalinity level?
• What is the recommended calcium hardness of spa water?
• How can I measure calcium hardness?
• How can I increase the calcium hardness of my water?
• Is there a way to prevent algae formation?
• What is the cause of cloudy water?
• Which water clarifier is best?
• What causes the musty odor I detect when I open my spa cover?
• White flakes occasionally collect on the bottom of my spa. What causes them, and how can I get them out?
• I adjusted my TA, and it is correct, but now the pH too high.  How can I lower pH without making my TA too low?
• We use our spa in the summer (at reduced temperature) to cool-off.  Will that adversely affect the water chemistry?
• What can be done about the harsh, choking fumes my spa emits when I operate the air jets?
• My bromine level got way too high.  How can I lower it?
• Where can I find conversion tables for tablespoons to ounces?
• What can be done to prevent dry skin from spa usage?
• After recently using a hot tub I got some small reddish bumps under the skin. What would cause this?
• What caused my gold jewelry to turn color after handling spa chemicals?

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