Archive for the ‘Hot Tub Safety’ Category

Love your gold jewelry? Please remove it when hot tubbing!

Friday, August 31st, 2012

Jewelers are, in my opinion, so very lucky. Time may march on, traditions may change, technological advances continue to emerge…but it seems humans will always have an enduring love affair with jewelry. If you don’t want anything to ruin that jewelry love affair, do your precious baubles a favor and take them off when you hot tub.

Several years ago the firm Hoover & Strong, a wholesale jewelry manufacturer, studied the results of chlorine and bromine on gold jewelry. In the test, a 14k nickel white gold ring setting was immersed in various types of chlorine, including hot tub chlorine and bromine. The goal was to find out the effects of these compounds specifically on a ring with stone settings. The result of the study found that a gold ring would lose a stone from the ring or expect prongs to break in the following time frame:

  • Chlorine—Prong failure would occur after 312 hours (about 156 days).
  • Bromine—Prong failure would occur after 384 hours (about 192 days).

For the purpose of this experiment, chlorine and bromine was maintained in the water at 5 ppm, and the ring was exposed for 2 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Obviously most of us aren’t going to soak in our hot tub for two hours every day of the year. However it is clear that, while all the fabulous benefits of hot tub use may be undeniable for human beings, it is definitely not so for the human being’s jewelry!

The study also recommended removal of jewelry when cleaning with any household laundry and cleaning products, and to NEVER clean rings with bleach.

Here’s some good news for the hot tub/jewelry lover: SilkBalance! SilkBalance, combined with our Freshwater Silver Ion Purifier allow you to enjoy your hot tub chlorine free. Since SilkBalance also contains a property to prevent biofilm from attaching to your hot tub’s parts and plumbing, it could very well have the same effect on that favorite ring accidentally worn in the hot tub during a soak. You never know!

Ultimately, we’d recommend you do your precious trinkets a favor and remove them before every visit to the hot tub. That will certainly allow you to have a happy soak!

Posted in: Hot Tub Safety, Hot Tubs Portland Oregon | 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 »

January is National Thyroid Awareness Month

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

Hypothyroidism is a condition that is more common than you might think. Millions of Americans suffer from it and may not even be aware.

The condition occurs when the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormones – the main hormones responsible for metabolism. If you suffer from this condition, there are some things you should know about using your hot tub. If you think you might have the condition, consult your physician.

Using bromine as your sanitizer in your hot tub is the wrong answer for those with hypothyroidism. Bromine has been shown to naturally deplete iodine in the body. Without iodine, your thyroid gland can’t produce hormones, leading to hypothyroidism.

Bromine, while a widely used hot tub sanitizer, is also one of the most antiquated ways to kill bacteria in hot tub water. Oregon Hot Tub has excellent ways to care for your hot tub water that are entirely bromine free. Our EverFresh System, in existence for over 16 years, allows you to soak in a virtually chlorine free environment. The addition of SilkBalance when using the EverFresh System not only provides safe easy water care, you’ll exit your tub each time with your skin feeling moisturized!

Our exciting new ACE Salt System is another revolutionary way to sanitize your hot tub. ACE utilizes a cell featuring a diamond chip electrode to convert salt into sanitizer for your water.

Both of these systems are cutting edge in their ability to provide you water that is safe, healthy and–most importantly–leave bromine out of the equation.

Other steps to a healthier thyroid include:

  • Eat organic as often as possible. Wash all produce thoroughly.
  • Avoid eating or drinking from (or storing food and water in) plastic containers. Use glass and safe ceramic vessels.
  • Look for organic whole-grain breads and flour. Grind your own grain, if possible.
  • Avoid sodas. Drink natural, filtered water instead.
  • Look for personal care products that are as chemical-free as possible. Remember — anything going on you, goes in you.

For more hot tub health tips and benefits, visit our health benefits page.

Take time to visit one of our showrooms today for more information on our healthy water care options. You’ll be excited by what you see, and start yourself on the way to a better healthy you in 2011!

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Posted in: Hot Tub Benefits, Hot Tub Safety, Water Care Products | No Comments »

Five Key Things to Keep in Mind When Planning Your Hot Tub Retreat

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Creating the perfect backyard haven for your new hot tub can be an exciting part of your buying experience. Summer is the perfect time to identify the perfect spot for your hot tub, and how to integrate it into your backyard living.

Here are five things to keep in mind when planning the spot for your new hot tub:

  1. Convenience is key—Sometimes it can be tempting to place a tub in a remote out of the way spot for privacy. If you want to truly get the most enjoyment out of your hot tub, and ensure you’ll use it regularly, proximity to the exit of your home is important. The less distance you have to travel when leaving your house to hop in your tub, the more likely you’ll use it often and integrate it into your daily activities. Also, keep in mind what your bare feet will be treading on when heading out to the tub. We in the Northwest are used to the rain—but tramping over soggy grass to get to your tub is not very fun. Stepping stones are a nice complement to most backyard settings and keep your tootsies from tracking grass into the tub.
  2. Give yourself firm footing—What you sit your hot tub on is important, as it’s going to be there for a good long time. Timbers or crushed rock do not set you up for long term success. While you may not need to go to the expense of pouring concrete, consider something firm that won’t settle over time. Paving stones, brick or a small platform made with pressure treated wood will do in many cases. Another excellent option is something easy to install, like a SmartDeck. Speaking of firm footing, steps for easy entry and exit to the tub are really a smart idea, and one of the first things shoppers tend to forego. DuraSteps allow you to enter and exit your tub safely, and do it without significant expense.
  3. No one likes to be bugged while soaking—Landscaping around your hot tub will enhance your soaking experience. Choosing the right plants to surround your hot tub with is critical. It may seem great to have fragrant flowers around your hot tub—but remember bees and other insects like them, too! Surround your hot tub with plantings that won’t draw the critters, but will be great to enjoy from your vantage point in the tub.
  4. Can I have some privacy, please?—Strategically placed privacy screens can help create the private space many desire when soaking. Bamboo (in pots please!) is a terrific option for a more organic screening for your hot tub. Evergreens can also help create some height—and a good shield from the neighbors. Gazebos are also an excellent means to privacy.
  5. Do I like the rain that much?—Many of us in the Northwest don’t even own an umbrella—we brave the rain with a cap and we’re good. Oddly enough, sometimes when we’re neck deep in swirling hot tub water, the rain can either be a blessing—or an annoyance. If you think it’s going to keep you out of your tub in the rain, a SpaUmbrella is a great answer. Listening to the rain pitter patter above you can be a nice touch, too.

Hopefully these tips will get you thinking about what you’ll do to help your hot tub become part of your backyard paradise! Need help finding the perfect spot in your yard? Contact us today for a free in-home consultation!

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Posted in: Hot Tub Products, Hot Tub Safety | 1 Comment »

Keep Your Family Safe & Healthy in Public Pools & Hot Tubs

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

There has been a lot of buzz recently on the news circuit regarding safe water in public pools and hot tubs. When we visit a public pool, or use a hot tub in a hotel or health club, we’re usually careful about not slipping when entering the water, looking for a lifeguard to be on duty, or keeping an eye on the kids when they’re swimming. But, what are we doing to make sure the water we’re getting into is also safe?

This is becoming a larger concern in today’s world. Two things to be especially aware of: 1) Whether there is sanitizer present to kill bacteria in water and prevent any chance for infection; 2) Whether the pH level is in the correct range. A low pH can cause skin and eye irritation—in fact, many people who think they are allergic to chlorine in fact are not. Their experience has been in a public facility where their skin itches or their eyes water and burn when swimming in a pool or soaking in a hot tub. Since many are not aware that a low pH causes these reactions, chlorine is blamed as the culprit.

This summer, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is taking an active role in helping folks out to ensure they are using a tub or pool that is safe and healthy. Take a moment to visit http://healthypools.org. On the main page of the site, they are giving everyone the opportunity to receive a free bottle of test strips to check pools & hot tubs for proper chlorine and pH levels. What a great thing to pack with you when you head out with your family on a vacation, or throw into your gym bag when you head to the health club?

Although it goes without saying, we at Oregon Hot Tub want everyone to take part in a healthy lifestyle that includes immersion in hot water. If you would like additional information on keeping your hot tub at home clean, safe and easy to care for, take a moment to visit one of our stores. Our team will be happy to help you, and suggest alternatives to chlorine or bromine to sanitize your tub. It’s an excellent time to stop by and check out our revolutionary ACE Salt Water System. ACE is new this year, and will absolutely change your thinking about being able to enjoy a hot tub without a lot of chemicals and maintenance.

Happy (and healthy!) soaking this coming summer season to all!

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Posted in: Hot Tub Safety, Pool Safety | 1 Comment »