Archive for the ‘Certified Spa Dealer’ Category

« Older Entries

Chronic heart condition? Study suggests saunas may help

Friday, May 11th, 2012

A study performed at the University of Toyama in Japan reported on by New Scientist, a British science magazine, suggests that sauna use may help those with chronic heart failure.

Forty-one participants suffering with chronic heart failure were asked to bathe in a sauna for fifteen minutes five days a week. Once the sauna session was complete, the subjects were asked to wrap themselves in a blanket for a half hour, helping to keep their body temperature elevated approximately 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit higher thank normal. The study period lasted three weeks.

Once the period ended, it was found that heart function had improved heart function and could exercise for longer periods. New Scientist noted that “Sauna treatment increased the heart’s ability to pump blood, and boosted the distance participants could walk in six minutes from 1,100 feet to 1,250 feet.” This 9% improvement was said to be “significant” for chronic heart failure patients.

The results also found improved function for the membrane lining the heart. This lining aids in controlling blood vessel diameter.

This study was conducted using traditional steam saunas. We have an entire line of Helo Saunas designed for the home that are easy to install. In fact, our smallest unit only requires a standard household outlet to operate!

We also have an entire line of infrared saunas available for those that can’t tolerate the high heat of a traditional sauna.

Take a moment to visit one of our Oregon Hot Tub showrooms for a firsthand look at our line of saunas. It could be the answer for you to better heart health!

Posted in: Certified Spa Dealer, Health Benefits, Sauna, Sauna Repair | No Comments »

Want healthy hot tub & swim spa water? Clean filters are key!

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

Here’s a startling statistic: many hot tub owners don’t clean or replace the filters in their tub or swim spas at all!! We’re a bit mystified by this, especially since one of the main elements that keep your hot tub & swim spa water clean, clear and healthy is (guest what?!) clean filters!

Filters are designed to keep hot tub & swim spa water clean and free of bacteria, body oils and other organisms introduced by bodies during a soak or swim. There’s only so much, however, that a filter can do without your help. Do the following to keep your water healthy and clean for hot tub & swim spa use:

  • DO clean your filters thoroughly at least once a month. Rinsing with a garden hose is not enough! Filters must be cleaned with a degreasing agent. The filter cleaner (http://www.oregonhottubstore.com/Spa-Essentials-Filter-Cleaner-Spray-p/se_flt_cln.htm) Oregon Hot Tub sells is formulated to do the best job on hot tub and swim spa filters.
  • DO rinse filters in-between cleanings or after sessions in your hot tub or swim spa where the bather load is high. Extra bodies = more “stuff” entering your tub or swim spa. Rinsing helps keep your water cleaner longer, and ensures nothing clogs the filters that can interrupt filtration & heating functions.
  • DO keep your water balanced. When water is out of balance, hardness or other water care products can precipitate out of the water and coat filter sleeves, inhibiting their filtering ability.
  • DO consider adding a Scumball (http://www.oregonhottubstore.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=scumball) to your tub or swim spa’s filter bay. Designed to absorb body oils & lotions, they help prevent filter clogging and water line scum to boot.
  • DO replace your filters on a regular basis. Tubs and swim spas with single filters need to be replaced every year; if a tub or swim spa has multiple cartridges, replace every 2-2½ years.
  • DO consider replacing regular filters with Tri-X (http://www.oregonhottubstore.com/Tri-X-Filter-p/tri_x.htm) filters if you have a Hot Spring Spa. Tri-X is exclusive filter technology only available to Hot Spring Spa owners. Made of a dense filter media, these filters more than double the filtration of your hot tub, and last 4 years minimum! (These can also be used on selected Hot Spot & Solana Spas. See us for details.)

Give your hot tub & swim spa every opportunity to provide you with clean safe enjoyable water…keep those filters in great shape! That’s an order!

Posted in: Certified Spa Dealer, Hot Tub Accessories, Hot Tub Maintenance, Hot Tub Products, Hot Tubs Beaverton, hot tubs portland, Hot Tubs Portland Oregon, How-To, Swim Spas, Water Care Products | No Comments »

The truth about UV-C Sanitizing for Hot Tubs

Friday, May 4th, 2012

Hot tub manufacturers are always looking for easier ways to sanitize water. Thankfully for Oregon Hot Tub, the manufacturer of Hot Spring Spas is the leader in bringing new hot water sanitizing technology to market in ways that make it safe and easy to have crystal clear hot tub water.

Several years ago, after years of research and beta testing, Hot Spring introduced its exciting ACE Salt Water System. This system has revolutionized water care for us to be sure! However, it has also caused other manufacturers to scramble and find the alternative to the ACE System. (Since the ACE System is proprietary, other companies cannot legally replicate this technology.)

With this scramble has been the introduction of systems using UV-C bulbs to sanitize hot tubs. While this is not new technology, used for years for ponds, aquariums and other smaller bodies of water, it is new trying to use it to sanitize water that is exposed to a wide array of bacteria known only to thrive in 100 plus degree water.

Before you make a decision on a new hot tub and a way to keep your hot tub water safe and easy, here are some published facts about UV-C sanitizing systems to note:

  • UV-C does not kill bacteria. Instead, it interacts with bacteria DNA. It changes the bacteria to a state where it can no longer reproduce. This will only successfully happen with a UV-C bulb consistently producing enough radiation to affect this change.
  • Claims have been made that “no chemicals” are needed when using UV-C bulbs to sanitize hot tub water. This is absolutely untrue. Anything available to read online (including on the sites of hot manufacturers now trying to sell this option) state that bromine or chlorine must be used. They also state that shock must be used, and that pH, alkalinity & hardness must be maintained at certain levels. This can only be done by weekly water testing and adjusting with chemicals. If you follow this regimen, you in fact need six chemicals to maintain a hot tub with a UV-C bulb: 1) Chlorine or bromine; 2) Alkalinity increaser; 3) Calcium hardness increaser; 4) Shock (MPS); 5) pH increaser; 6) pH decreaser.
  • Claims have also been made that you can reduce your chlorine/bromine use in half. However, it should be noted that EPA regulations stipulate that the safe residual for chlorine in a hot tub environment is 3.0-5.0 ppm; the safe residual for bromine is 2.0-4.0 ppm. While UV-C systems now being sold for hot tubs make this claim, they also make a disclaimer that you should refer to government agency standards and regulations on how to maintain your water chemistry—which take you back to the EPA regulations.
  • A homeowner should not change out a UV-C bulb. If a bulb being replaced is still producing ultraviolet radiation, it can cause serious eye injury and skin burns. Even reflective light from a UV-C bulb can cause these health threats!
  • A UV-C bulb must be replaced annually, according to hot tub manufactuer websites. Average cost found online to replace a UV-C bulb is $85-$125.

 Finally, we urge you to be a savvy informed consumer when hot tub shopping. Realize that hot tub sales folk will try to compare their UV-C sanitizing system against our ACE Salt Water System. They are both entirely different and achieve different results the way they are designed. While both could be considered options for taking care of hot tub water, in no way are the two systems the same or equal.

We hope you’ll visit us today for a rundown on the ACE Salt Water System and our tried and true EverFresh System. Both systems are easy, effective, safe and abide by EPA regulations for approved hot tub sanitizing. We look forward to seeing you!

Posted in: Certified Spa Dealer, Hot Tub Benefits, Hot Tub Maintenance | No Comments »

Health alert: Remove contact lenses before Hot Tub, Swim Spa & Sauna use

Friday, April 27th, 2012

The next time you get ready to enjoy a relaxing session in your hot tub, swim spa or sauna, we recommend contact lens wearers remove them prior to hopping in.

Why? The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) has recommended that all contact lenses avoid exposure to any form of water. There is an organism present in all forms of impure water that, along with other forms of bacteria, can attach itself to the surface of contact lenses.

Although it is a rare occurrence, these bacteria and organisms could cause a sight-threatening eye complication called Acanthamoeba Keratitis. Bacteria find a place to survive between the lens and the eye. When they get a chance to live and thrive, they irritate the eye and can cause corneal ulcers. Symptoms to be aware of that could indicate Acanthamoeba Keratitis:

  • Severe eye pain
  • Increased redness not alleviated with regular eye drops
  • Cloudy vision
  • Increased sensitivity/pain when inserting contact lenses (this would be due to enlarged or inflamed corneal nerves)

Ways to avoid risk of contracting this condition, if your contact lenses are exposed to water:

  • If you accidentally wear your lenses into a hot tub, swim spa, or sauna, avoid any water splashing into your eyes
  • Use lubricating drops to help loosen the lens on the eye
  • Remove the lenses and thoroughly clean & disinfect them. If they’re disposable lenses, discard them
  • Never sleep with lenses in your eye that have been exposed to water

Swim spas, hot tubs & saunas are all excellent forms of relaxation and promote a healthy lifestyle. Take care to keep your eyes healthy too!

Posted in: Certified Spa Dealer, Health Benefits, Hot Tub Safety | No Comments »

Here are even MORE health benefits when using a Swim Spa

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

In a previous article, we covered some of the health benefits of using a swim spa: improved cardiovascular health, weight management, better cholesterol levels, stress reduction and living longer. Here are another five potential benefits of owning a swim spa and making swimming part of your healthy living.

Safe exercising for overweight & arthritis. Having a big body of water in your own backyard makes it easier for those with weight issues or arthritis to safely do exercise to stretch and work stiff joints. Depending on how far you immerse your body, you eliminate the burden of 50-90% of your body weight on muscles and joints. Because you’re buoyant it will make it easier for you to do exercises and flex stiff joints. The warm water is also ideal for arthritis sufferers.

Stronger muscles & bones. Swimming affords you the opportunity to work nearly every muscle in your body. The water resistance puts just the right amount of challenge on your body’s muscles—much better than many other aerobic exercises. This is excellent for muscle toning and overall strength. And, here’s a bonus: regular swimming has been shown to increase bone strength, especially in post-menopausal women.

Reduce asthma symptoms. Those with asthma have discovered exercising and swimming in a heated body of water—like a swim spa—is easier on their pulmonary system over working out in a gym. The heat and moist air is less irritating to those with asthma. Because it also challenges your lung capacity and breath control, swimming has been found to improve the overall condition of some asthma sufferers—especially children.

Lower diabetes risk. Robust swimming activity has been found to help lower the risk of diabetes. In fact, one study showed that men who burned at least 500 calories through swimming reduced their risk of Type 2 Diabetes by 6%. For women, the results are even more encouraging: risk of Type 2 Diabetes decreased by 16%! Swimming can aid your body’s natural insulin production, as well as aid glycemic control.

How many more reasons do you need to check out owning a swim spa? Not only is a swim spa good for you, it’s really great fun for the entire family—and your friends. It’s not too late to make 2012 the year for a healthier you! Check out our entire line of TidalFit Swim Spas today at any of our Oregon Hot Tub stores. You’ll be glad you did!

Posted in: Certified Spa Dealer, Health Benefits, Hot Tub Benefits, Swim Spas | No Comments »

« Older Entries