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

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

Spas and Hot Tubs require proper Water Care. So, are spas and hot tubs chemical free? In a word, no. Although some hot tub and spa dealers will try to convince you that your hot tub doesn’t need water care or chemicals to function, water care is essential to maintaining a healthy environment in your hot tub.

At The Spa and Sauna Company, we are proud to offer a variety of water care options that are suitable for your individual needs. All of the Water Care Options we offer here will kill germs and bacteria, so the best choice is the one that makes the most sense to you, either for your budget or your skin sensitivity.

We also offer free water testing services at all 3 of our locations, so you can have a Water Care Professional check that the chemicals in your hot tub are at the proper levels. Just bring a sample of your hot tub water in a clean container to any of The Spa and Sauna Company’s locations. If your chemicals aren’t at their optimal levels, we are here to offer advice and products to help you adjust them.

The hot tub you purchase will determine in part the water care you choose OR if water care is an important consideration for you, the water care choice you make will determine which hot tub you buy.

At The Spa and Sauna Company we offer 4 brands of hot tubs, Hot Spring, Sundance, Caldera and Freeflow. Each has different options for water care.

We also use SpaGuard Water Care Products to supplement those systems. This includes items such as Shock Oxidizer and Enhanced Shock, one of which will be required for your hot tub cleaning needs. As a starting point for water care, minerals should be used on all hot tubs and work in conjunction with other sanitizers.

SpaGuard Enhanced Shock is a combination of oxidizer, sanitizer, and water clarifier. This unique water care item is exclusively carried by The Spa and Sauna Company in the Reno area.

Hot Spring

Let’s start with Hot Spring which has a Salt Water System available, which provides a lower chemical, more natural soaking experience.

Hot Spring Spas in the NXT, Highlife and Hot Spring Collection are available with the ACE Salt Water System. The ACE salt water system creates active oxygen with ACE diamond electrode technology. That active oxygen combines with salt to create chlorine. The ACE system requires less hands-on time to manage your water care. It also is environmentally friendly and offers softer, cleaner water. With this system, we recommend using 1 TBSP of SpaGuard Enhanced Shock per person, upon exiting.

As an alternative to the ACE system, owners of a Hot Spring Spas with an Ozone System can choose the EverFresh system, which reduces the amount of chlorine that needs to be added. It also includes minerals that make the water softer. With this system, we recommend using 1 TBSP of SpaGuard Enhanced Shock for each person in the hot tub, upon exiting.

Hot Spring Spas without an ozone system can use SpaGuard Water Care and Freshwater AG Plus Silver Cartridges. This is a more manual system for hot tub cleaning. SpaGuard Products can be used to sanitize your hot tub, reduce stains, clarify your water, test your water and sanitize your water.

Sundance Spas

Sundance Spas can use the SunPurity Silver Cartridge. This cartridge disinfects, prevents algae and clarifies water. Using this more natural option will reduce the amount of chemicals you need. All Sundance Spas are equipped with “ClearRay,” a UVC (Ultraviolet) Sanitation System. UVC light wavelengths are used for sanitizing water. Upon exiting the hot tub, you will want to add 1 TBSP of Enhanced Shock per person for sanitizing purposes.

Caldera Spas

For Caldera Spas, we recommend using the @Ease In-Line SmartChlor cartridges which lasts at least a month. The mineral cartridge lasts 4 months. When used with the Monarch^® CD Ozone System, it provides Caldera’s most effective water care system. This system doesn’t over-chlorinate the water or use excess product. It also prevents pH from fluctuating, meaning less dry itchy skin and less wear and tear on your spa’s covers and pillows.

With this system, you shock your hot tub monthly, instead of after every use. You will use SpaGuard Shock Oxidizer once a month. Never use Enhanced Shock with this water care system.

Freeflow Spas

Freeflow Spas are a more basic spa, that doesn’t offer ozone or salt water systems. Freeflow Spas from The Spa and Sauna Company come with an @Ease Floating System. The ball floats inside your hot tub. It uses SmartChlor Technology to reduce the amount of chlorine and the amount of Shock Oxidizer needed. When the SmartChlor runs out, the ball flips the other side to alert you. With this system, you only need to use Shock Oxidizer once a month.

Other Options

Additional systems are available if the options listed above do not fit your needs.

Routine Maintenance On Every Spa Brand

All systems require shocking the hot tub (either after every use or monthly, depending on the water care system), testing the water balance weekly and cleaning your filters monthly. You will also want to drain and clean your hot tub 3 times a year. Yearly, you should purge the hot tub plumbing lines to get rid of buildup. It’s not too complicated once you find a routine that works for you.

By maintaining your spa with a small amount of chemicals, you can enjoy a healthy, clean, hot tub experience for many years to come.

This instructional video will address a question we hear frequently. How do I pair my Hot Spring Remote to my Hot Spring Spa? Watch the video for a step-by-step tutorial.

This instructional video will address a question we hear frequently. How do I pair my Hot Spring Remote to my Hot Spring Spa? Watch the video for a step-by-step tutorial.

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

Did you know you don’t need a 220 Volt electrical hookup to have a hot tub? While most acrylic hot tubs require a 220V electrical hookup, a Freeflow hot tub and certain other hot tub models can be plugged directly into a regular 110 Volt 15 Amp outlet.

That means all you need to do is take home your Freeflow Spa and plug it in to get started having some fun.

Freeflow is a value spa line, which currently has 7 models to choose from, and can fit anywhere from 2 to 7 People. Every model is unique. There is the 2-seater Mini, the diamond-shaped Tristar, the circular Aptos, the large Monterey, and a few square and rectangular models to choose from that would suit a family with 4 or 5 seats.

Other advantages of a Freeflow Spa include:

• Cost – Freeflow Spas tend to be less expensive than acrylic hot tubs due to their less expensive shell construction. You can take a Freeflow Spa home for significantly less than an acrylic spa. Lower cost means more people can afford a hot tub. And more hot tubs for more people is always a good thing!
• Shell Construction – Freeflow Spas are called “Plug-and-Play” Hot Tubs or Unicast Hot Tubs. They are made from rotationally-molded plastic, which is also used to create everything from traffic cones to kayaks. This plastic is lighter than the materials used to make acrylic hot tubs. It is also less expensive to make, keeping the cost of your Freeflow Spa down.
• Portability – Some of these spas are so easy to move you can purchase them “cash and carry.” All you need is a small pick up truck and you can purchase your Freeflow spa and take it home that day!
• Water Care – At The Spa and Sauna Company, we recommend the @Ease Floating System for Freeflow Spas. You simply place the ball in the water and it floats. The system uses SmartChlor Technology to reduce the amount of chlorine and the amount of Shock Oxidizer needed. When the SmartChlor runs out, the ball flips the other side to alert you. With this system, you only need to use Shock Oxidizer once a month. It couldn’t get any easier!

As you can see, Freeflow has many benefits in addition to being a 110V hot tub. Click Here to learn more about Freeflow Spas.

In case you are exploring other 110V options, Sundance Spas, which makes acrylic hot tubs, offers a few hot tubs that will work in a standard 110V 15A outlet. These models include the Denali, Prado5, Dover, Tacoma and Jetsetter.

Other brands we carry also have a few spas that feature a 110V model, but they require 20 Amps. Don’t use these with 15 Amp outlet, as you will trip a breaker. Caldera Spas offers two 110V models, requiring 20 Amp outlets. Those 110 V 20A models are the Aventine and the Tarino. Hot Spring Spas also has some 110V 20A models. They are the Beam 110, TX and SX.

We hope this information has helped you decide if a Freeflow Spa or other 110V hot tub might be right for you.

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

We all know that it’s fun to play 8-ball or 9-ball on a pool table. That’s why those games have stood the test of time and are so well known. But did you know that there are other games you can play on your pool table? Ones that are fun for the whole family or a group of friends or even teams?

Below is a brief overview of a few other game you can play on your pool table. Be aware these games include a number of variations, so if you know them, they may follow the rules below or they may be slightly different.

Cut-Throat Pool

Cut-Throat pool is perfect for any odd number of pool table players. You can play with three or five players.

Basic rules for Play:

• You rack with a standard triangle rack and place the 1 ball at the top of the triangle, and the 6 ball and 11 ball at the corners.
• Assign players a group of five balls for a three-player game or a group of three balls for a five-player game.
• Aim for opponents’ balls.
• If you pocket a ball, you keep shooting until you miss or scratch.
• Once all of their balls are pocketed, a player is eliminated.
• However, if you scratch, all other opponents (including eliminated ones) can return one ball to the table and resume play.
• The winner is the person with any balls left on the table after all other players have been eliminated.

Straight Pool

Straight Pool is a call-pocket game, which means the object is simply to call the shot you want to make before making it. This game is for two players or two teams.

Basic rules for play:

• Rack in a triangle rack.
• Upon breaking, the goal is to sink a ball or get the cue ball and two other balls to reach a rail. Otherwise it is a foul and two points are lost. The opponent can require the initial breaker to break again or just play. All other fouls are only a one-point loss.
• The goal is to reach a set number of points decided upon before the game starts. One point is scored for each object ball pocketed in the called goal.

One-Pocket Pool

One-pocket is also a game where the player can shoot at any ball regardless of number or color. Each player gets their own pocket – and can not get their ball in any other pocket – giving this fun game its name.

Basic rules for play:

• Rack in a triangle rack.
• You do not need to call your shot. You also don’t need to get your ball into the pocket in any designated order.
• If you get a ball in your pocket, you must shoot again. If the ball gets in a neutral pocket, not yours or your opponent’s pocket, your turn is over.
• First team or player to get eight balls in their own pocket wins. That team or person can still win if the opponent sunk the ball the final ball into their pocket.

Ping Pong, Puzzles, Hobbies, and Meals

Should you tire of pool table games (and we can’t imagine why you would), remember you can always play get a pool table conversion top. With a conversion top, you can play ping pong, or remove the net to do a large puzzle on a nice flat surface, or ever serve a meal. The conversion top will also provide a flat surface for any number of hobbies, the only limit is your imagination. Opportunities for family fun with a pool table are nearly endless, making it a great investment for your home!

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

We all know that it’s fun to play 8-ball or 9-ball on a pool table. That’s why those games have stood the test of time and are so well known. But did you know that there are other games you can play on your pool table? Ones that are fun for the whole family or a group of friends or even teams?

Below is a brief overview of a few other game you can play on your pool table. Be aware these games include a number of variations, so if you know them, they may follow the rules below or they may be slightly different.

Cut-Throat Pool

Cut-Throat pool is perfect for any odd number of pool table players. You can play with three or five players.

Basic rules for Play:

• You rack with a standard triangle rack and place the 1 ball at the top of the triangle, and the 6 ball and 11 ball at the corners.
• Assign players a group of five balls for a three-player game or a group of three balls for a five-player game.
• Aim for opponents’ balls.
• If you pocket a ball, you keep shooting until you miss or scratch.
• Once all of their balls are pocketed, a player is eliminated.
• However, if you scratch, all other opponents (including eliminated ones) can return one ball to the table and resume play.
• The winner is the person with any balls left on the table after all other players have been eliminated.

Straight Pool

Straight Pool is a call-pocket game, which means the object is simply to call the shot you want to make before making it. This game is for two players or two teams.

Basic rules for play:

• Rack in a triangle rack.
• Upon breaking, the goal is to sink a ball or get the cue ball and two other balls to reach a rail. Otherwise it is a foul and two points are lost. The opponent can require the initial breaker to break again or just play. All other fouls are only a one-point loss.
• The goal is to reach a set number of points decided upon before the game starts. One point is scored for each object ball pocketed in the called goal.

One-Pocket Pool

One-pocket is also a game where the player can shoot at any ball regardless of number or color. Each player gets their own pocket – and can not get their ball in any other pocket – giving this fun game its name.

Basic rules for play:

• Rack in a triangle rack.
• You do not need to call your shot. You also don’t need to get your ball into the pocket in any designated order.
• If you get a ball in your pocket, you must shoot again. If the ball gets in a neutral pocket, not yours or your opponent’s pocket, your turn is over.
• First team or player to get eight balls in their own pocket wins. That team or person can still win if the opponent sunk the ball the final ball into their pocket.

Ping Pong, Puzzles, Hobbies, and Meals

Should you tire of pool table games (and we can’t imagine why you would), remember you can always play get a pool table conversion top. With a conversion top, you can play ping pong, or remove the net to do a large puzzle on a nice flat surface, or ever serve a meal. The conversion top will also provide a flat surface for any number of hobbies, the only limit is your imagination. Opportunities for family fun with a pool table are nearly endless, making it a great investment for your home!