LUXURY OF THE SPA
While a swimming pool can be lots of fun & a great way to keep the family together & to exercise in, a pool never is able to produce the relaxing luxury of a heated spa.

The temperature set just above body temperature so that you have a warm feeling & the moving water massaging as it passes you in a way that only water can.
The water giving you bouyance which takes the tension off most parts of the body.

That's what a spa is all about.

Even in hot tropical areas, people enjoy the use of a hot spa as it is normally slightly hotter than the outside temperature so you feel cool when you get out.

A spa is for all occasions.

WATER SWIRL
The movement of the hot water in a spa is enough in many cases to provide relief for arthritis & similar pains.

The National Swimming Pool Institute of the USA has for many years run a program in conjunction with the Arthritis Foundation for the promotion of the understanding of the relief which a spa can give to people afflicted with Arthritis.

For many years, whirlpool massage baths have been used in restoring muscle & tendon use with people who had lost that function, the spa pool with just hot water & water movement also achieves these functions.

JETS
The introduction of Spa Jets, which are a combination of water & air, help to provide a number of different massage effects which can be directed to specific muscles & body parts.

The energy exerted on the body is determined by both the pressure of the water exiting the jet & the volume of air mixed with the water.

The greater the water pressure, the stronger the effect, but the greater the air to water ratio, the greater the massage effect. (Based on natural venturi air inducton.)

Jets can be used on all parts of the body including the underneath of the feet for massage, stimulation, erotic exileration & relaxation

The jets can also be on the end of a flexible hose to allow use at all angles & positions.

The spa jets are designed so that the water passing through them draws in the air naturally, they should not have to be force fed with air if designed correctly.

If the spa is to be used for actual hydrotherapy use, then there are specific jets of larger sizes available specifically for that use, do not use standard jets for hydrotherapy.

BASE/SEAT AIR
As well as the air which is drawn in with the venturi spa jets, it is quite normal to induce air through openings either in the floor of the spa or the seat of the spa. This air expands as it rises & explodes when it hits the body allowing water to then fill the void & cause a massaging effect.

TEMPERATUREIn most cases, the temperature of the spa water needs to be a couple of degrees above body temperature to relax & soften the musceles & tendions enough for the jets to have their best effect. 38C or 104F.

SEATING
The position which people assume when utilising the spa facilities is dependent upon the reason for use. Most spas provide a number of seating positions which allow persons to sit in a relaxed manner whilst receiving massage from the jets either behing their back & neck or legs or from infront or the sides.

LOUNGING
Most portable spas now include sitting in the seated position but also provide a number of lounge style seats so that you can lay back & enjoy the swirling water & the massaging jets. In these situations, jets can be best used for foot & crouch massage.

FILTRATION
The spa pool should always be operating with a supply of fresh filtered water when in use & for some period after to remove the body fats & other solids which are introduced because of the high water temperature & activity in the spa. Whether the spa is part of a pool system or a stand alone spa it should incorporate a closed circuit (pump/filter/heater/chemical teatment) during use.

TREATMENT
The spa pool must always be in a situation where it is being sanatised while in use. This is not just for commercial use but is highly recommended for domestic use.
This chemical treatment should keep the level of sanitizer high enough to destory any bacteria, virus or other unsanitary organic material introduced into the spa during operation.

SELECTING EQUIPMENT
Use the following rules of thumb to give yourself the most appropriate system for your spa whether it be an incorporated spa or a stand alone spa:

HEATING - If you have a large spa go for gas unless you have very low cost electricity available.
If you want to be able to use your spa any time you want & you want it ready, then possibly best to go for a portable or stand alone, well insulated with a small electric heater which operates on standby to keep the water to the required temperature. (always with an insulating cover)
If you wnat to only heat the spa when you want to use it, & you want it heated fast, then best to use a gas heater, this can be with a stand alone or an incorporated spa.

FILTRATION - If you are using a seperate filtration system for your incorporated spa or on a stand alone spa, then you can usually use a 1/2HP pump & a 50 or 75 SQFT cartridge filter which can be operated for 6-8 hours a day.
If you are purchasing a stand alone spa then it may come with a smaller pump which operates 24 hours a day, that is ok as long as all the water for the pump draws through the filter & the filter is at least 25 SQFT in area, dont use anything smaller.

JETS - Usually the mimimum number of jets in a spa is 4, these can easily be operated by a boost pump of 1.0HP, the jets usually have an opening internally of 1/4", if more jets are used then the boost pump should be larger.
Most portable spas come with many jets which can be operated in various combinations based on the maximum use of the one boost pump.

CHEMICAL TREATMENT - The two most commonly used systems for sanitizing spas are Ozone & Bromine.

OZONE - is a gas produced just prior to the point of use & in adiquate quantaties is an excellent sanitizer. Many spas come equiped with an ozone generator already incorporated, there are good & lesser quality systems available, be prepared to pay a higher price for a better system & don't have it included if it is cheap.
Ozone will react to destory organic material in the water & in doing so will destory itself within minutes, which means that there is still a requirement for a residual disinfectany in the water to stop cross contamination between users.
BROMINE - Bromine is a disinfectant very similar to chlorine except that it works more effectively at higher temperatures & hogher pH levels than chlorine.
The bromine can be added through various types of dispensers which are placed in the circulating line so that a regulated amount is injected as necessary.
Chlorine in liquid or calcium based powder form can still be used in place of bromine & it can be added by hand or by chemical pump or dispenser.
It is always necessary to keep control of the pH, Total Alkalinity, & Calcium Hardness levels in the spa as in a pool. (see "Do your own pool service".

SAFETY
When using a spa pool the following safety considerations must be observed:
Never operate above 40C or 108F.
Never use a spa without medical advise if you have a blood pressure condition.
Never use a spa when under a heavy influence of alcohol or drugs.
Never stay in a spa for more than 20 minutes at one time.
Never use a spa which is not adiquately sanitised.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL TO

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Web Page written by:
Victor K de Fontenay © Jan 1997
Page last updated on 2nd March 2000