How to Replace a Hot Tub Pump
Spa owners should accept the fact that there hot tub pump will fail. The damage of this failure can be much larger than a new pump. Routine inspection of your hot tub pump will help prevent damages. A good spa pump will last 6-8 years so be prepared to replace your older pumps.
A good rule to follow is to inspect your hot tub pump every time you clean your spa filter. You should be checking for water leakage, loud noises and hot pump motors. If you find any of these symptoms then it is time to repair or replace your pump before the pump fails and damages other parts such as the heater.
Water is a sure sign of trouble. Look closely at the spa pump and determine where it is coming from. It may be leaking from the ports and simply need to be tightened or require new o-rings. It may be coming from the motor shaft and pump housing. This is usually a sign of a leaking bearing and will need to be fixed before the bearing fails completely and you have a flood to deal with. Also check the pump housing for small cracks. A cracked housing will get bigger with vibration and should be fixed or a new housing purchased.
If you hear excessive noise you may find it is coming from the pump’s sealed bearing or the motor. If the spa pump bearing is worn, this means the pump is working harder to overcome the worn bearing. It is also a sign that leaks will follow. Take care of this right away! if the pump is making excessive noise then chance are the motor windings are failing and it is time for a new spa pump.
Poor water flow in your spa is generally not caused by pumps. A pump either works or does not work. however the impeller can become clogged or a something might be lodge inside the pump housing. Remove both ports and physically look inside the pump. Check for obstructions. Try and spin the impeller, it should not turn freely as there should be resistance from the spa motor. If you are experiencing poor flow, I would suggest looking at your filter and suctions as the leading cause.
A normal hot tub motor will give off heat under regular conditions. However, you should be able to place your hand on the pump motor. If you find that it is very hot, then there may be internal motor problems. A very hot pump means energy is being wasted and can be costly. The cooler a pump motor runs the more efficient it is.
A spa pump has a starting capacitor that gives it extra juice when starting. If you pump hums and or the main breaker trips then the capacitor may be shot. However, there are a couple other things to check first. Make sure the impeller is free to move and that nothing is lodged. Also make sure no ice has formed inside the pump housing causing the impeller to stick.
If you decide for a new pump, make sure you choose a quality pump. You need to match port sizes usually 1.5″ or 2″. Also you need to determine whether you need a 1 speed or 2 speed pump (check the label). Also you should match the voltage, is your pump 110-120 VAC or 220-240 VAC? Finally, ensure you match the amps listed on your pump with similar amps. Never assume HP listed on the pump is accurate (often used as marketing gimmick by manufacturers), use the Amps rating as a proper guide.
When looking for new pumps consider quality. Remember your old pump failed so try and buy a pump that will last even longer. All manufacturer’s make replacement pumps so don’t feel you need to replace your spa pump with the same brand name. Paying a slight premium can be a great investment versus the cost of a failure! Premium pumps will last longer, run quieter and consume less power.
Ways To Find The Ideal And Reasonably Priced Plus Size Swimsuit
Summers are for enjoying life. But sadly women are not able to hold on to that joy because they are not able to select a perfect bathing suit. Fortunately in the present world swim suits of any size can be easily found. Online shopping for swim suits will help in saving your money also. Yes, reasonably priced plus size swim suits looking great can be easily found now.
In contrast, going to a local mall to shop for a bathing suit could be time costly, expensive, and uncomfortable. Plus, once you happen to find a swim suit that may seem suitable, it may be far more expensive than it’s even worth! These are only a few reasons why online shopping is a much more efficient.
Retailers on the Internet offer a great variety of inexpensive plus size swimwear. There are even some shops that will let you type in your sizes so that you can virtually try on the suits. This is important because if the suit doesn’t look good, then it doesn’t matter how much money you save.
When you look for swim suits online you can get different styles of cheap plus size swim suits and you can pick the style you like. Remember the reason for which you are buying the swim wear. If you are planning to go for swimming for a long time then you must get the one which is supportive and wraps up your body. But if you are into sun bathing, then a bikini or a one piece will serve the purpose.
If your chest is big then you can go in for suit with a built-in bra or even a square cut neck opening. Try and get a swim suit with a single color. If you need to cover your large tummy then you can select inexpensive plus size swim suit made of Lycra.
If your ass is big then get a swim wear with an angled cut at the thigh. This will be perfect for big hips or thighs.
To conclude if you want to cover your full area about your waist, then you can buy a sarong which matches your swimsuit.
Summer is all about having a great time and soaking your cares away, and cares such as appearance shouldn’t get in the way of your good time. This summer, shop online for your swimwear and let the good times roll.
Replacing your Hot Tub Heater.
There becomes a time in every hot tub owners life when your spa pack and hot tub heater will eventually fail. The dilemma will then be whether you replace or repair your heater. This is a question that I guarantee all spa owners will eventually come across. No matter how well built your spa heater is, it will eventually fail. There are a few tips that I can share with you that will help you make this decision.
The first thing that has to be considered is the age of your existing spa pack and spa controller. If your hot tub heater is older than 5 years, I would suggest you look at replacing it with a new heater. As a heater ages, the internal parts become worn and also if your tub heater is past 5 years of age, chances are you will continue to experience multiple failures in the coming years.
If your older spa pack is analog, then you should really think of upgrading to a digital spa controller. A digital spa pack comes with a LED or LCD top side controller providing many advantages. You can change the temperature right at the hot tub without getting out of the tub. The digital controller is much more accurate meaning your water will stay at the temperature it is set for. The topside display will also give you the exact temperature of the water. Digital spa packs have solid state construction meaning there are no moving parts to break down.
Replacing a failed heating element is perhaps the least expensive spa repair. A heater element can be repaired by most spa owners without calling a service technician. If you are comfortable with this type of repair you may find the cost is around $100.
Operating cost savings! Most new spa packs manufacturer’s such as Balboa have programmable energy savings options built into their spa pack. This means you can set you tub temperature to economy modes when you are away. The programmable advantages of a digital pack could pay for itself just in operating cost savings.
Are you a handy man? Can you troubleshoot electronics? If not then you are looking at hiring a spa repair shop to fix your heater. This can quickly escalate the repair costs. On site visits can run $70-$100/hour. If they have to take your spa pack back to the shop then you are looking at most expenses. In the end you may pay more than a new spa pack to replace a $20 part.
Look at the cost to repair versus replacing your spa heater. Most brand new state of the art spa packs start in the range of about $500 and up. This means a new warranty and all new parts. The average repair bill for a hot tub heater is around $400 and up. Do the math, and in most cases you will find in the long term, you may be throwing away good money.
Spa packs are universal. Most dealers will not tell you this, as they want you to replace your spa pack with the same one you had. This is the same as a GM telling you, you need to use only their brakes? Shop around and don’t be scared, spa packs all do the same thing. When looking for a replacement pack always consider quality and the warranty.
I hope this article has provided you with the information needed to make a decision to replace or repair your spa pack.
Untold Benefits Of Pool Cleaners
Before anything else, do not be one of those persons who make the grave error of buying just any type of lower prized pool cleaners without realizing that the type of pool they have is what has to ascertain the type of pool cleaners to acquire.
As different as the styles of swimming pools as well as pool cleaners are, so are there different prices for the different pool cleaners; do not expect to pay identical money for every pool cleaner.
If you previously did not own a pool and desire to recognize the finest sort of pool cleaner to use for your latest pool , it’s surely very best to ask the opinion of those that have owned as well as used pool s for several years; didn’t they agree that “experience is the finest tutor”?
If you just cannot afford to purchase pool cleaners yet you wish to use them, locate those individuals that offer out their pool cleaners for a certain affordable fee; of course it is really consistently possible to uncover pool cleaner renters in your area.
One good thing about using the robotic pool cleaners is that they’re extraordinarily easy to use; they more over don’t use the filter and also pump of your pool; this assists to extend the life of your pool.
Countless people prefer to buy their swimming pool cleaners on the Internet instead of from their local shops for the reason that they can more so visit the manufacturer’s web site from the website of the retailer and discover anything they require to learn about the particular swimming pool cleaner from the web site of the manufacturer.
Bye bye to the times when we would need to purchase an item before we can read the manual; but with the Internet you can now read the manual of most items before spending money, as well as the manual of any pool cleaner you wish to purchase.
Obviously there are loads of budget models of swimming pool cleaners out there to pick from, but before you order one, remember that you ought to view permanence over affordability when buying your swimming pool cleaner.
Those folks that feel it is really a sensible move to purchase inexpensive pool cleaners that aren’t as good as higher prized ones need to recollect this - the amount of money they feel they have saved buying the inexpensive pool cleaners might perhaps end up being spent on repairing the pool cleaner or buying another pool cleaner when the inexpensive one goes damaged.
To finish up, remember that you can read through the manual of any pool cleaner you need to obtain, before buying; that’s the beauty of visiting the websites online of the manufacturers of pool cleaners; they allow you to read the manuals of the pool cleaner you’re fascinated about.
The Facts You Should Know About Swimming Pool Cleaners
On a preliminary note, I truly understand how demanding it can be to cleanse your swimming pool, nonetheless the really excellent thing is that with the suitable kinds of pool cleaners, it clearly has now become a lot easier than ever.
I recognize that it’s easy to be lured to opt for less expensive pool cleaners on account of the amount of cash you’ll save, but know that “you receive what you pay cash for”; cheap isn’t consistently good, especially in terms of pool cleaners. Acknowledge that the dirtier your pool is, the more there’s a tendency that you as well as your lovely family can get sick in the process of swimming; therefore, if you appreciate the physical health of your lovely family, pay a lot of focus on keeping your pool clean.
Analyzing through the manual of any swimming pool cleaner before buying it will inform you whether that swimming pool cleaner is suitable for your kind of swimming pool or not; so constantly certify that you read the manual of any swimming pool cleaner before purchasing. It can be really tempting to pay for second-hand swimming pool cleaners due to the low costs but it’s really advantageous to pay for only those second-hand swimming pool cleaners which are really in very really excellent working condition.
I do not think it sensible to NOT use swimming pool cleaners on account of the cost, but expose yourself as well as your lovely family to health hazards which are connected with swimming in unhealthful or unclean pools. If you need to get your swimming pool cleaner on the Internet, make sure that you go through as many online retailers as possible before deciding to purchase from one; you’ll be astonished to find the exact same pool cleaner more affordable at the other online retailer you check.
Robotic swimming pool cleaners basically operate with the precise same kind of artificial intelligence technology which robotic sorts of vacuum cleaners work with; they do the decontaminating so that you don’t have to. I don’t know about anyone else, but why should I expend hours to cleanse my swimming pool the hard way when I can automate the process with a robotic swimming pool cleaner that does lots better job of decontaminating the swimming pool ?
To wrap up, to make sure that your swimming pool cleaner lasts highly long, get and use the appropriate accessories or replacement parts; that’s why it is truly appropriate when trying to buy the accessories or replacement parts for your swimming pool cleaner to get those that will clearly be well suited to your swimming pool cleaner.
Practical Hints On Swimming Pool Cleaners
Foremost, I truly understand how tasking it can be to clean your pool, nonetheless the really excellent news is that with the correct styles of pool cleaners, it clearly has now become far easier than ever.
I realize that it’s possible to be tempted to go for less expensive swimming pool cleaners because of the amount of money you will save, but don’t forget that “you receive what you pay for”; cheap is not mostly always good, specially as regards swimming pool cleaners. Don’t forget that the more unclean your swimming pool is, the more there’s a likelihood that you and even your loved ones can get unwell while swimming; so, if you value the physical vigor of your loved ones, pay lots of attention to keeping your swimming pool clean.
Analyzing through the manual of any swimming pool cleaner before buying it will reveal whether that swimming pool cleaner is proper for your type of swimming pool or not; so consistently certify that you research the manual of any swimming pool cleaner before acquiring. It can be very tempting to obtain second-hand swimming pool cleaners because of the low costs but it’s surely pertinent to obtain only those second-hand swimming pool cleaners which are really in very wonderful working condition.
I do not see it thoughtful to NOT use swimming pool cleaners because of the cost, yet expose yourself and even your loved ones to wellbeing dangers that are connected with swimming in unhealthful or dirty swimming pools. If you desire to acquire your swimming pool cleaner online, certify that you visit as many online retailers as possible before deciding to buy from one; you will be taken aback to find the precise same pool cleaner lower in terms of cost at the other online retailer you check.
Robotic pool cleaners basically function with identical form of artificial intelligence discovery that robotic sorts of vacuum cleaners function with; they do the disinfecting so that you don’t have to. I don’t know about other folks, but why would I spend hours to clean my pool the hard way when I can automate the procedure with a robotic pool cleaner that does a lot better job of disinfecting the pool ?
As a final note, to certify that your swimming pool cleaner lasts absolutely long, get and use the right add-ons or replacement parts; that’s why it surely is advisable when trying to purchase the add-ons or replacement parts for your swimming pool cleaner to get those that will definitely be well suited to your swimming pool cleaner.
Garden Maintenance - An Introduction
While summer time is a time of outside fun, it’s also a time for outdoor jobs. Seems like there’s a never ending list of things that need to be done in your yard. And, many are tasks that have to be done again, over and over all summer.
Your landscaping is one thing that needs constant care to look it’s best. If winter wasn’t good to your lawn, you can plant grass seed to cover bare spots. Fertilizing your lawn will replace nutrients in the soil that winter freezes have destroyed and give you a thicker lawn.
Wood chips and plastic sheeting can be utlized in flower beds to minimize weeding. It can also assist the soil to retain moisture and reduce the amount of watering. And, your trees, bushes and shrubs will need to be trimmed and pruned.
To protect your deck it should be given a thorough cleaning a minimum of one time during the. Leaves that are stuck in crevices can remain wetand cause rot and should be cleaned out. A pressure washer is the easiest way to properly remove any debris that has gotten trapped. If the wood is looking worn, refinish the deck and paint on a water resistant coating.
Every lighting fixture in your garden should be cleaned at least once annuallya year. Even if you have low maintenance solar lighting, you need to still remove all of the covers and clean them with soapy water. Glass globes or plastic covers that are dirty will cause your garden lighting to be less effective.
The exterior of your home needs to be checked each summer and any chips or loose pieces of siding or bricks should be repaired. Rain seeping behind any loose bits of siding or cracked bricks will cause the wooden foundation to quickly rot. Mould or stains can be removed with preprietary products, or often simply with soap and water.
A swimming pool can give you hours of fun and relaxation, but it can also mean hours of extra work. Testing the water must be done every 7 days and any extra required chemicals must be added as soon as possible. A pool filter should be used on a daily basis to extract any debris that will clog up your pools filter.
Whilst it may be OK to let your external summer jobs fall behind now and then, don’t let them lapse for too much time. Things that are not done in a timely manner take much longer to finish when you do get around to it. And, the summer months are for enjoying the outdoors with your family, not toiling all the time.
The Right Way To Shock Your Swimming Pool
Pool shock is a granular pool chemical, which should be added to your swimming pool at least once each week. You should shock more frequently if the pool is used heavily, after you receive large amounts of rain, or during extended periods of hot, sunny weather. The chlorine tablets or granular chlorine that you constantly dissolve into your pool water seeks out and combines with bacteria and other organics on a molecular level, to neutralize these harmful contaminants. In the process of killing these harmful contaminants the chlorine becomes inactive, and the chlorine and bacteria that have combined together is called “Combined Chlorine”. The combined chlorine must be removed from the swimming pool to keep your pool water safe and clean. The combined chlorine is removed by “Shocking” the swimming pool. Super chlorinating or “Shocking” means drastically raising the chlorine level of the swimming pool for a short time, to a high enough level that the combined chlorine is oxidized and burnt off.
Then read the directions and put in the right amount of shock. The manufacturer should have a chart to advise you how much chlorine you will need. You will have to have a fair idea of how big your swimming pool is. If you feel like you have put in too much, that’s ok because you cannot over shock a pool with chlorine. The amount of chlorine that you will need, will vary on the size of your pool plus how green it is. If you purchased the liquid shock, simply pour it into the pool itself from the deep end.
Always add shock to water not water to shock. Wear clothes you don’t care about cause they might get bleached. Warm water dissolves shock faster than cold, its your choice. Use a wooden stick and stir around the shock making sure it gets all dissolved or as much as your can. Pour the bucket of shock all around your pool or heave some in the middle. You may have some undissolved shock at the bottom of your bucket. In this case just dip your bucket in some pool water give it a swish around and pour it back into the pool to help dissolve some of that shock.
In addition to the chlorine based pool shock, you will find a product called Chlorine-Free Pool Shock. This revolutionary pool chemical performs the same task of oxidizing bacteria and organics in your swimming pool water, but it does not contain chlorine or chemicals that are harsh on swimmers eyes and skin. Chlorine-Free pool shock performs just as well as a chlorine based swimming pool shock by using the active ingredient Potassium Monopersulfate. Chlorine free pool shock uses a unique chemical process to destroy bacteria, instead of raising the chlorine level of water to dangerous levels. You can actually swim in the pool only one hour after using Chlorine-Free Shock. Chlorine based pool shock (Calcium Hypochlorite) has a high pH, and will naturally raise the pH level of your swimming pool water, in addition to changing your chlorine level. Chlorine free shock has a neutral pH, and will not affect any of your pool chemical levels.
Another type of shock that is widely available at any local pool store, hardware store and many grocery stores is liquid chlorine. This liquid chlorine is commonly used as shock, and used in place of chlorine tablets. Many pool owners believe this liquid chlorine is all they need to properly maintain a swimming pool, and unfortunately this is incorrect. Liquid chlorine is very inefficient and costly compared to properly maintaining a swimming pool using chlorine tablets and a weekly shock treatment. Liquid shock may seem easier to use than the granular shock for some pool owners because you simply walk up to the pool and dump the liquid in. The problem is that after you dump the hazardous liquid in your pool, you have to dispose of all the empty plastic bottles with the dangerous chemical residue inside. Granular pool shock is packaged in small, easy to use 1 lb. bags. If any children have access to the area where pool chemicals are stored it will be far easier to have an accident involving full or empty bottles of liquid chlorine, than an accident with bags of granular pool shock.
Inground Pool Designs: A Pool Can Change Your Lifestyle
If you’re looking for a way to increase the enjoyment you get from your home, to find a way to spend more quality time with your family, and increase your home’s value all at once, consider adding a pool to your backyard. Good inground pool designs will add richness to your quality of life, making the dollars you put into the purchase of a pool well worth the cost.
Summer tends to be the time of year most families are able to spend the most time together. Children are out of school during the warm months, and parents are able to spend more time out doors. But what do you do to spend that time together? You might be surprised how many families spend their time apart, even if they live in the same home. Finding activities to do together can be frustrating when there are so many diverse individual interests.
This is where custom swimming pools come into play. There are few people out there who can resist the temptation of the sun and clear, sparkling water. Swimming pools appeal to children and adults alike, and give a family a place to gather and enjoy each other’s company.
So, once you decide you want a swimming pool, you have to start looking for inground pool designs. To have a truly extraordinary swimming pool, you have to do your homework and research the market availability. Custom swimming pool is a feature that buyers will look at when you sell your home, so be sure to install your pool tastefully if you plan to resell.
Go crazy with your design if you aren’t concerned about what future buyers will think of it. There are endless options for pool designs. Pick something you like and stick to it. Imagine things in your life and use that inspiration to come up with a design. Examples could be, a desert, wildflowers, or the tropics. The whole design will come together better if you stay with one theme.
Consider your tastes and the style of your home when choosing inground pool designs. If you like the idea of a more natural look, consider natural stone surrounds and a garden setting. If you consider your tastes more modern, try sleek pavers and angular walls.
After you have researched your different design plans, be sure to talk with numerous professionals to allow you the best price for installation. If you would like to save some money, you may be able to find materials on your own. There are companies that will add additional costs to the material costs.
Having a custom swimming pool in your yard can greatly increase the value of your home. If you are looking to install a pool for your family to use it is very important that you take the time to consider how much you want to spend, what you want your pool to look like and how to ensure the safety of those using the pool.
Home Sauna: Maintenance Tips
A home sauna can be a real treat. You’ll experience all the benefits of a proper sauna and sweat bath right in your own home. However, saunas do need some upkeep. As long as you are willing to learn about how to maintain your home sauna, you’ll be able to enjoy it for years to come. Saunas are almost always built of wood and this needs some special care to keep it in optimum condition. Since home saunas tend to be fairly small, this is an ongoing task that really shouldn’t take much time.
Cleaning Your Home Sauna
Since the steam will kill any germs that happen to enter the sauna, you really don’t need to use anti-bacterial sprays or other disinfectants within the sauna. In fact, it’s not even a good idea to use cleaners like this, since they tend to seep into the wood and then let off nasty fumes as you are heating the sauna up again. With the wrong cleanser, you could end up with an unusable steam room!
Prevention is the best medicine and this applies to cleaning, as well. Rather than wait for sweat to stain your wood seating, it’s a far better idea to have towels ready to lay on the benches. Have anyone entering the sauna sit on these and you will find that the wood stays in great condition for far longer.
To actually clean the sauna, here are some helpful hints: - Use plain soapy water to wash the wood with a soft cloth. - Rinse with cool water. - For severe discoloration, sand the stained area before washing and treating as normal. - Watch out for ammonia in your cleansers, not only does it give off toxic fumes, it also turns the wood grey.
It’s also a big help to have people wipe down the seats when they use the sauna. This will help reduce the discoloration that is due to weat.
Maintaining the Sauna Heater
The wood isn’t the only part of the sauna that needs cleaning, the sauna heater will also need some regular care. There are two types of sauna heaters, electric and wood burning.
An electric heater is fairly easy to clean. You will want to wipe down the heater with a soft cloth and some mild, soapy water from time to time to keep it pristine. Don’t ever use a rough cloth or scrubby, since this tends to scratch the metal surface. Once a scratch has appeared, the humid environment in the sauna promotes rust.
Wood burning heaters will need to have the ashes removed after use and regular, professional inspections of the vents to ensure there is no fire hazard from creosote buildup.
The stones that are used to heat the sauna are also quite important. No matter what kind of stones you use in your spa, you really do need to inspect them on a regular basis. Any rocks with cracks or that smell odd will need to be replaced.
Another issue that many home sauna owners run into is a sticky door. The heat and moisture combined in the sauna room makes the wood swell. This can cause the sauna door to stick and is quite easily solved. Just take a piece of sandpaper, see where the wood is sticking and gently sand it just enough to allow the door to open and shut easily. It really isn’t that difficult to maintain a sauna if you know what you’re doing. Avoid harsh chemical cleansers and keep your heater in tip top condition and you’ll enjoy your sauna for a long time to come.