Artesian Spas
FAQs

We’ve compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions to help you before, during and after the purchase of your spa. Take a look below.

GENERAL HOT TUB FAQ’S
What does ‘Plug & Play’ mean?

If you’ve always wanted to own a hot tub but don’t want the hassle of having to run a dedicated supply, a ‘Plug & Play’ (13 amp capable) hot tub could be the perfect solution. A ‘Plug and Play’ hot tub is capable of running from a standard 13amp RCD protected socket. Speak to one of our team to discuss if a ‘Plug & Play’ model is the right one for you.

How should I fill my spa?

We recommend using a hose to fill your spa. The hose should be placed down into the filter housing to avoid a potential airlock (detailed instructions can be found in your Owner’s Manual).

Do not fill your spa with hot water straight out of your water heater or tap. This water may be as hot as 60°C and will cause damage to the surface and plumbing of the spa.

Can I leave my hot tub on all the time?

The answer to this is Yes! You have purchased your new hot tub and want to be able to use it whenever you need, rather than having to plan in advance. Turning your spa off every time you get out would mean having to wait for the water to reheat before you can use it again. You may decide to turn your spa off if you were going away for an extended period. However, if this is the case, if the temperature could drop below 0oC then it should be winterised correctly. Even if you don’t plan to use your spa for a period of time, we would recommend keeping your spa on but turning the temperature down so it can be correctly sanitised and ticking over while not in use.

How long should it take a hot tub to warm up?

If it’s your first time getting your hot tub up and running, then you should know that it does take a little time for your hot tub’s water to heat up initially. How quickly it will heat depends largely on a few factors:

  1. The ambient temperature outside;
  2.  Size of the spa heater;
  3. Volume/capacity of your hot tub or swim spa;
  4. Whether the spa cover is on or off;
  5. Insulation type/level;
  6. The temperature of the water being used to fill the spa.

Depending on the size of your hot tub and the efficiency of your spa heater, you can generally raise the temperature an average of 2 to 3 degrees per hour. Although larger spas and different heaters will all affect the amount of time it will take to heat up your spa.

Note: If your hot tub isn’t heating, please contact your authorised retailer.

Is Spa Aromatherapy safe for my hot tub?

Aromatherapy can make a wonderful spa experience even better. However, you should only use dedicated Spa Aromatherapy products in your spa as these have been specifically designed not to upset the chemical balance in your spa water. Aromatherapy products not designed for spa use can also cause excessive foaming.

HOT TUB MAINTENANCE
How often should I test my hot tub?

We highly recommend testing your spa water every day. Getting into the habit of testing your spa water regularly will help you notice any imbalance of chemicals to remedy quickly and effectively. This will also help vent any gases trapped between your waterline and your spa cover allowing wearable components greater longevity.

Note: Correct use of a sanitising chemical is imperative to maintain safe bathing water.

How often do you have to change the hot tub water?

Draining and refilling your hot tub is an important aspect of hot tub maintenance. Generally, most hot tubs will need to be drained every 3-4 months. However, this will be influenced by frequency of use, how many people are using the hot tub, how well the water is being kept in balance and if any products have been taken into the hot tub.

Now that you know how often you should change the water in your hot tub, let’s talk about the warning signs that it’s time to change the water:

  • Smelly water – If you open your hot tub and it doesn’t have a freshwater smell and chlorine/sanitiser itself won’t get rid of it, this is a clear sign it’s time to drain and replace.
  • Cloudy water – If you notice cloudy hot tub water and sanitiser chemicals or water clarifier won’t clear it up, it’s a clear sign that it’s time to change out the water.
  • Foamy water – If the water seems to be foaming up and you can’t get it to go away with sanitiser and anti-foam chemicals, it’s time you get rid of the old water and replace it with clean, fresh water.
How often should I clean my filters?

Filter maintenance is one of the most important steps to ensure your hot tub is clean, healthy, and running smoothly. Keeping your filters clean not only ensures an enjoyable bathing experience, but it can also save you money. We recommend rinsing your filters with a hose once a week and soaking them in a filter cleaner solution on a monthly basis. Replace your filters every 12 months and your Micron filter ever 3-4 months (where applicable).

Note: Only official Artesian Filters should be used to maintain the correct flow rates through your spa pumps. Use of non-official Artesian Filters may void your warranty.

Why is my hot tub water foaming?

There are several reasons why your spa water could be foaming, but the good news is that foamy hot tub water is easily treatable, as long as you know what is causing it. The most common causes are:

  • Soaps and detergents;
    Detergent can be found in your swimming costumes, hair or on your body, with the biggest culprit being bathing suits.
  • Oils and lotions.
    The most common cause of foamy water is a buildup of oils and lotions. Every time you use the hot tub, you can potentially add a variety of oils and lotions to the water, including:
    – Body oils;
    – Deodorant;
    – Beauty products such as make up or moisturisers.
    We recommend each bather showers with fresh water before getting in the hot tub.
  • Incorrect water balance.
    When your spa water goes out of balance it can start to foam as well as cause damage to your spa or irritating rashes on bathers. Test often using test strips designed for your chemical system.
Why is my hot tub water green?

Your spa water can be discoloured or green due to several factors, mostly resulting from an imbalance of chemicals.

The most common reasons as to why your hot tub water is green are:

  • Low chlorine/bromine/sanitiser levels
  • Low pH
  • Algae
Why do I have white bits floating in my hot tub water?

There are two main causes of the formation of white deposits in a hot tub – this is typically a build up of calcium or, it could be biofilm. When your water is too hard or your pH is too high, calcium is likely to form and create white flakes in your water. Whereas Biofilm is a bacteria growth in your hot tub. Biofilm is a greasy, slimy substance that builds up inside the pipes and is present on the filter. It is important to know the difference so that you can treat your spa accordingly.

What is Biofilm and how do I treat it?

Biofilm is a group of bacteria and micro-organisms that attach themselves to plumbing and pipework surfaces. Biofilm can harbour harmful bacteria like Legionella (Legionnaire’s Disease) and E-Coli. It forms naturally under moist conditions but thrives in dark, warm (>30°C), water rich environments. If the surface that biofilm is on dries out it will not die but rather it will go into a dormant state, reactivating once it comes in contact with water again. Unfortunately, chlorine/sanitiser alone will not get rid of Biofilm. To remove the biofilm within the plumbing, we recommend using a targeted spa flushing product (e.g. DryOx), to eliminate the Biofilm quickly.

Why does my spa water get cloudy?

Cloudy or milky water is probably one of the most common hot tub issues; hot tub water can quickly lose its clarity, turning from crystal clear to hazy and dull.

The milky/murky looking water is caused by suspended particles in the water giving the water its cloudy look. These particles are too small to get picked up in the filter, so they pass straight through, staying in the water.

In most cases, these particles are introduced by bathers which is why we recommend everyone showers before using the hot tub. To restore the sparkle back into your spa water. Dose the water accordingly with Water Clarifier and then rinse your filters 12 hours later.

HOT TUB SUPPORT AND WARRANTY
Can I download a manual?
How often should I have my hot tub serviced?

Just like a car, it is recommended that you have a service professional look over your Artesian spa at least once a year to ensure it is running smoothly. Servicing helps keep your hot tub in optimum condition. Our qualified network of Artesian Spas retailers and service engineers will be able to help you with your service requirements. Get in touch to find yours today.

What is an air lock in a hot tub?

Every so often after a spa is drained and refilled you may experience what is called an ‘air lock’. An air lock is caused by bubbles of air that are trapped in the pump wet end. You will hear the pump running but there will be no water movement from the jets operated by this pump. Read our blog on how to fix an air lock (link).

How do I winterise an Artesian spa?

We do not recommend winterising your hot tub as all our spas have built-in safety features to protect them from freezing.

However, if you want to winterise your spa, we recommend having it done professionally by your local Artesian Spas retailer or service engineer.

What warranty comes with my spa?

Our full warranties can be found here – Our Warranty

HOT TUB SAFETY
What age can children go in the hot tub?

With the high temperatures, powerful jets, and chemicals used, it’s important to follow the recommended hot tub safety guidelines to keep your little ones safe and comfortable when in the hot tub.

The British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association Prevention (BISHTA) and other medical professionals have generally recommended that children under the age of 4 years old should not use a hot tub or be subjected to extremely warm baths due to potential risks of overheating, heat stroke, dehydration, and bacterial infection. BISHTA also advise that children should be supervised at ALL times. We also advise taking other precautions such as lowering the spa water temperature to 37°C and not exceeding a bathing time of 20 minutes.

PRE-DELIVERY
What do I need to prepare before installing a hot tub?

Trained technicians from your local Artesian Spas dealership will take care of your delivery and installation but there are a couple of things you need to do before your hot tub or swim spa is delivered.

First things first is the base. Your spa needs a solid, level base to allow the even distribution of the weight of your tub and the people using it. Concrete, slabs or decking laid to the appropriate specification will be suitable. We do not recommend placing your hot tub on grass or soil as the hot tub will sink. We recommend asking a qualified contractor to help you build a suitable base if required.

Next up is your electrical supply. You will need a qualified electrician to install a 32, 20 or 13 amp RCD supply (13AMP for our ‘plug and play’ models), using armoured cable. A qualified electrician will be able to advise on the thickness and length required for your tub depending on the location of the hot tub from the isolator switch. Additional cable should be left loose so that the installation technicians can wire the cable into the hot tub during installation.

Lastly, hot tubs are fully portable units and are not plumbed in, however you will need to be within a hose distance of a water supply to fill the hot tub up. But that’s it, no pipes or permanent water supplies are necessary.

Does my spa come with a built in isolation switch?

No, a qualified electrician would need to install a separate isolation switch for the spa power supply. If you have questions about what amperage requirements your spa needs, please contact your local Artesian retailer or fill in our contact form.

What electrical requirements do I need for my spa?

There must be an appropriate electrical supply of 13, 20, or 32 amp etc. depending upon the specification of your chosen spa (please see the ‘What do I need to prepare before installing a hot tub?’ section above). Please check with your local retailer for the spa model you have chosen on what will be the most suitable supply. We recommend that any work should be carried out by a qualified electrician in accordance with IEE regulations.

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