Swim Spas Lake Tahoe | Lap Pools, Exercise Spas For Sale

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

Should you use your hot tub in the winter or winterize it? Well, the answer depends on where your hot tub is located.

If you are frequently near your hot tub, we recommend using it! Hot tubs are very enjoyable in the winter, and all other seasons.

However, if your hot tub is at a vacation house that you don’t get to often in the winter, or if you expect to be away from your home spa for several weeks during the winter, we recommend winterizing your hot tub.

How do I winterize my hot tub?

Winterizing your hot tub can get complicated. We recommend consulting your specific Hot Tub’s Owner’s Manual for complete directions, should you choose to winterize your hot tub yourself. However, there are some steps involved that require tools that might not be in the average person’s  toolkit.

At The Spa and Sauna Company, we have factory-trained service technicians available to winterize your hot tub for you. Call us at 775-852-3838 or Click Here to fill out a form to request service.

Using your hot tub in the winter

Now, if you plan to use your hot tub in the winter, and we hope you do, there are a few extra things to be aware of that you wouldn’t have to consider in warmer months.

Opening your hot tub in the winter

Before you open your hot tub cover, you want to make sure to remove any snow or ice on it, so snow and ice doesn’t fall into the hot tub or freeze on the cover.

Sitting in your hot tub in the winter

Keep your hot tub at its normal operating temperature. Be sure to limit your winter hot tub time to 15  minutes because it’s more difficult for your body to regulate its temperature when you are sitting in hot water with your shoulders and head exposed. Consider wearing a hat, to help you regulate your temperature better. Enjoy that soak!

Getting out of your hot tub in the winter

You will be cold after stepping out of a warm hot tub and into cold winter air. Be prepared and bring a towel or warm bathrobe that you can put on upon getting out of the hot tub. You might want to consider a spa side towel tree, which is available for purchase at The Spa and Sauna Company.

Also, be mindful of any snow or ice on the ground outside, you don’t want to slip. Flip-flops or slippers are a good idea. So is keeping a nice, clear path to your hot tub, so you can enjoy a soak any time.

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

The Spa and Sauna Company includes local delivery with the sale of our hot tubs. These deliveries are provided by a team of trained hot tub delivery experts, who are all team members at The Spa and Sauna Company.

“We want to control the whole experience from beginning to end,” said Spa and Sauna Company Operations Manager Joe Lake. “That way we know they’re happy with their sale, as well as delivery.”

Hot Tub Delivery

Some other area spa dealers include spa delivery in the sale price, but others don’t. Some provide local delivery only in the Reno/Sparks area. Others have a base charge of about $200, that increases based on the difficulty of the delivery.

So how much is a hot tub delivery worth? The Spa and Sauna Company values local delivery at several hundred dollars. That’s a great value to be included when you purchase a hot tub from The Spa and Sauna Company. Our trained professionals will bring the hot tub directly into your backyard and place it precisely where you want it.

The only exception is when a crane or other machinery is needed. And in that case, we can provide referrals to crane vendors we have worked with in the past. If you need a crane, you would pay the vendor directly, just like your electrician. While crane delivery is rare in the Reno/Sparks/Tahoe area, it is sometimes necessary when the spa will be on a hillside or a second or third story deck.

Pool Table and Shuffleboard Delivery

While we do use subcontractors to deliver and assemble the pool tables and shuffleboards we sell, the subcontractors we work with have over 15 years of experience and have worked with The Spa and Sauna Company for years.

How much is a pool table or shuffleboard delivery worth? Again, we value it at several hundred dollars.

Our Delivery and Service Team

A hot tub is a long-term investment and over the course of its life, you may need service or routine maintenance. Our Service Team includes factory-certified technicians, some with over a decade of experience.

See some of our Delivery and Service experts below.

Should you need service assistance with your hot tub or pool table, Click Here.

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

A hot tub is a luxury item and you want to make the best investment possible. So how long does a hot tub last? Well the answer depends, in part, on how you care for it.

Hot Tub Care and Maintenance

Like cars, which also have mechanical elements, such as motors and heaters, as well as routine maintenance items that have to be changed periodically, like filters, and a gorgeous exterior to care for, the quality of the hot tub brand you purchase and how you care for it will determine how long your hot tub lasts. We’ve even met customers who have had the same hot tub since the late 1980s!

Also similar to car buyers, many hot tubbers like to upgrade every 7-10 years, to take advantage of new designs, features and technological advancements.

High-End Models

At The Spa and Sauna Company, we’ve worked on high-end hot tubs in the field, that we also sell in our showrooms, that have been over 20 years old. Some last 25 to 30 years!

Entry-Level Spas

Even more entry-level spas hot tubs can last 15 years. We’ve seen entry-level spas that people kept for 10 years, traded in, and we have resold as used hot tubs to new customers. Those hot tubs still have a lot of life in them!

Replacing Parts

A quality hot tub brand in a higher model series can last over 20 years when maintained properly. Though components of the tub may need to be replaced on occasion, the price to replace parts is minimal, especially when you consider the years of enjoyment and therapeutic value that a hot tub provides.

Larger Investment, Longer Enjoyment

Some advantages of the higher-end models include higher-quality jets, longer warranties, and quality therapeutic value. This is definitely something to consider while shopping for a hot tub. Sometimes making a larger up-front investment will extend your enjoyment of your hot tub in the later years of its life.

To shop hot tubs now, Click Here to visit our Hot Tub Finder. This handy web page allows you to explore options by brand or seating capacity.

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

Is it safe to use a hot tub while pregnant? Is it safe for an infant or toddler to go in a spa? What about a child? What if I have a medical condition? (Disclaimer: We, at The Spa and Sauna Company, are not doctors. Always consult a physician for medical advice.)

We know you have a lot of questions about Hot Tub Safety and rightly so. Used correctly, a hot tub can be a wonderful family experience. They have been proven to actually improve health for most people.

We hope to address some of the most common concerns and put your mind at ease. Hot Tubbing should be an enjoyable experience, not one riddled with unanswered questions.

Is it safe to use a hot tub while pregnant?

It depends. In general, you don’t want to spend more than 10 minutes in a hot tub while pregnant, especially in the earliest months of pregnancy. Some people decide to skip a full-body hot tub soak entirely. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a hot tub while pregnant though. You can still sit on the edge of the hot tub and enjoy time with your friends and family by dangling your feet into the water. Again, consult your doctor for more individualized directions.

Is it safe for an infant or toddler to go in a very hot spa?

No. Infants and toddlers can’t regulate their body temperature in the same way adults can. For that reason, infants and toddlers should not go in a very hot spa. Extremely limited time in a cooler hot tub might be ok, with the use of water wings or other flotation devices, and constant supervision from an adult. Consult with your pediatrician or family doctor.

Is it safe for a child to go in a hot tub?

Yes. In general, children can go in a hot tub for about five minutes at a time, depending on the temperature of the hot tub. If you keep your hot tub with warmer water temperatures, five minutes might be their maximum. If the hot tub is cooler, they might be able to handle up to 20 minutes with proper hydration and breaks. Again, if you are concerned, consult your child’s pediatrician. Also, children in a hot tub should always be supervised by an attentive adult.

Is it safe to use a hot tub if I have a medical condition?

This is a tricky one. Since there are so many different medical conditions, we recommend you discuss your specific health concerns with your doctor.

And remember, in general, for most healthy adults, hot tubs improve health. They relieve sore muscles, reduce back pain, and improve sleep quality.  Enjoyable features include lights, waterfalls, and the opportunity for unplugged family time.

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

The Spa and Sauna company recommends you drain and clean your hot tub every 4 months, unless you have an ACE salt water system. Then you can drain every 6 months. You can do your Drain and Clean yourself or you can have our one of our skilled Concierge Techs do it for you.

If you do want to do your Drain and Clean yourself, here’s what you need to do.

Locate where the drain is located on your hot tub.

Drains are located in different locations depending on the brand and model of the hot tub.

On all Caldera and Hot Spring models it is located on the base below the front panel (on the same side as the control board). Keep in mind that the higher-level models have extra amenities to make draining easier. Consider the Hot Spring Highlife NXT and Highlife which have one drain for equipment and one for the whole vessel. Or the Caldera Paradise and Utopia, which have a valve that slides out. You pull it out and hook it to a hose (which you have detached from your house) and then push it half way back in for draining. Similarly, the Sundance 880 has two options for draining, a drain on the exterior of the siding and inside the cabinet a quick drain, which requires less time.

Freeflow Spas have a drain at the base not far away from the outlet.

Draining your spa using the Side Drains can take up to 6 hours. Typically, when we drain your spa, we siphon the water out using a sump pump to save time. You can purchase a sump pump for yourself if you desire faster drain times.

If your model accommodates it, hook a hose up to the drain to allow the water to come out faster.

It is typically more difficult to insert a hose on Caldera Vacanza, Hot Spring Hot Spot, and Freeflow Models. If cleaning your spa at home yourself is an important consideration, we recommend you consider upgrading to a model that allows for more simple draining.

While you wait for your spa to drain, The Spa and Sauna Company recommends you use this time to clean your filter.

Filters should be sprayed down with a hose monthly or soaked in Filter Cleaner and then sprayed with a hose before inserting back in to your spa every 4 months. If you soak your filter and drain your spa at the same time, you don’t lose any valuable hot tub time!

Once the spa is mostly empty, use a shop vac or even a bucket to get any remaining water out of the seats and footwell.

Our pros always use a shop vac.

You’ll also want to open your equipment compartment and vacuum out any cobwebs, dust or dirt.

Although you won’t see this from outside your spa, it’s important to keep the inside of your spa clean too.

Once the spa is drained, it’s time to clean it.

We recommend a mitt, washcloth or rag, and using BioGuard Off The Wall to clean the shell of your hot tub. We also suggest wearing gloves as the solution can be hard on your skin. Off The wall will clean dirt, stains, grease and scale. You will want to apply it all over the tub. Let it sit for a few minutes and then scrub it off. Rinse well with water.

We also suggest cleaning your pillows with water only.

You can also use this time to use The Original Gel-Gloss Polish and Protector on the shell.

Finally, use 303 Protectant on the cover and panels.

Put the drain cap back on.

This is one of the easiest but also one of the most important steps!

Refill the hot tub by inserting a hose through the filter as if you were filling the spa for the first time.

Then it’s time to wait.

Once the water is above the jet level, you can turn the power back on and allow the spa to begin to heat.

Depending on how cold the water was, and what kind of hot tub you have, your hot tub should warm up about 2 – 6 degrees per hour.

You will want to wait until the water has reached 80 degrees before testing the water and adjusting the chemicals.

Then the spa can continue to heat to your ideal temperature.

A few final reminders:

If you happen to have hard water or well water, you will want to add Stain and Scale Control at this time.

If you have an ACE hot tub, you will want to put Vanishing Act in for 24 hours, and flip it after 12 hours.

And that’s it, your final step is to get in and enjoy your hot tub!

If you prefer to have our Concierge Techs perform this service for you, we’d be happy to help. Please call us at 775-852-3838 or Click Here.

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

A hot tub from The Spa and Sauna Company makes a great holiday gift (or a gift for any time of year, for that matter)! Many of our customers come in before holidays or special occasions, like milestone birthdays or anniversaries, to purchase a hot tub as a special gift.

Let’s explore some reasons:

1. Provides year-round enjoyment
   A portable spa can be used all year, especially in the Reno-Tahoe area, where the mornings and nights are so much colder than the peak temperatures of the day. Soaking in hot water is a wonderful way to invigorate before your day or relax before bedtime any time of the year.
2. Will last for years and years
   Today’s hot tubs are designed to last for many, many years, with proper care and maintenance. We’ve met some people who have their spas for over a decade, before trading in for a newer model, of course.
3. Provides a place for quality time with friends, family and loved ones
   Nothing says you care more than a hot tub designed for distraction-free time together. Hot tubs are great for reconnecting without the constant buzz of smartphones or other devices.
4. Adds lasting value to your home/property
   Hot tubs are an asset to your property value, when well maintained. If you should decide to move, who wouldn’t want a home that comes with a hot tub. And since hot tubs are portable, if you’re moving locally, you could always take it with you, too. The Spa and Sauna Company relocates hot tubs too.
5. Relieves muscle aches and pains
   Hot tubs are therapeutic. Just 20 minutes a day can relieve chronic pain or sore muscles. We’ve had hot tubbers tell us they no longer need chiropractors for their back pain, after they started using a hot tub regularly.
6. Relaxation any time
   A hot tub at your own home provides instant access to relaxation. All you need to do is lift the cover and get in!
7. Improves sleep
   A 20-minute soak before bed can improve the quality of your sleep, resulting in fewer wakes during the sleep cycle and higher quality sleep.
8. Improves overall health
   Hot tub time can improve overall health, by fostering a more positive outlook on life.
9. They’re just so much fun
   Have you ever been in a hot tub before? The jets, the water, the heat, the company, water toys. It all makes for a really good time.
10. It’s a gift that shows you care
    The gift of a hot tub shows you care! Who wouldn’t be touched knowing the gift giver wanted to improve their health, share quality time, and all of the other great benefits discussed above.
11. It would make a wonderful surprise
    Surprise! Holiday gifts can get so mundane sometimes. You’ll never have to worry about getting stuck in the rut of giving your significant other a hot tub every year. And we promise, this will be a gift he or she will never forget.
12. It’s a gift that improves quality of life
    Health benefits, relationship benefits, home value benefits, entertainment benefits. The list just goes on and on.
    If you’re considering a hot tub as a gift this year, we encourage you to come down to one of our showrooms right away! We have over 100 hot tubs in stock, but ordering hot tubs from the manufacturer and getting on the delivery schedule, can take some time. Click Here to browse models.