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Installation Instructions
SITE PREPARATION
You probably have a spot picked out for your new spa, whether it’s
indoors or outdoors, on a patio or on a deck. Just make sure you check
the following:
• Always put your spa on a structurally sound, level surf
ace
. A filled spa can
weigh a great deal. Make certain that the location you choose can support
the weight.
• Don’t forget to level your spa before filling it. (See Spa Leveling
Preparation.)
• Be sure to locate your equipment compartment, which houses all of the
electrical components, in a pl
ace
where water drainage will be away from
it. Allowing water into the equipment compartment can cause damage
to the electronics, or may result in tripping the circuit breaker on your
house’s electrical panel.
• Leave yourself easy access to the circuit breakers.
• Leave access to the equipment compartment for periodic spa care and
maintenance.
WARNING: Damage to the spa’s equipment compartment
components or internal plumbing as a result of rodent infestation is
NOT covered under your warranty!
OUTDOOR AND PATIO
INSTALLATION
No matter where you put your new spa, it’s important that it has a solid
foundation to support it. In fact, structural damage to the spa, resulting
from incorrect installation, or placement on an inadequate foundation, is
not covered under the spa’s limited warranty.
If you install the spa outdoors, we recommend a reinforced concrete pad
at least ten centimeters (four inches) thick. The reinforcing rod or mesh
in the pad should be attached to a 6 mm² bonding wire per national
electrical codes (contact your local electrical code compliance inspector
for more information; inspection for proper grounding may be required
before pouring concrete to form the slab).
If you place the spa on the ground, even temporarily, place stepping
stones under the leveling areas (see Spa Leveling Instructions). The
stones should be at least 5 cm (2") thick and 30 cm (12") square. Even
with stones in place, the spa will inevitably settle and become unlevel.
Plus, a spa surrounded by dirt or grass will soon be filled with dirt or
grass from users’ feet. So get it onto a solid foundation as soon as
possible.
DECK INSTALLATION
To be certain your deck can support your spa, you must know the deck’s
maximum load capacity. Consult a qualified building contractor or structural
engineer. To find the weight of your spa, its contents and occupants, refer
to the Spa Specification chart. This weight per square meter must not
exceed the structure’s rated capacity, or serious structural damage could
result.
CAUTION:
WATKINS WELLNESS
suggests a structural engineer or
contractor be consulted before the spa is placed on an elevated deck.
INDOOR/BASEMENT INSTALLATION
Be aware of some special requirements if you place your spa indoors.
Water will accumulate around the spa, so flooring materials must
provide a good grip when wet. Proper drainage is essential to prevent
a build-up of water around the spa. When building a new room for the
spa it is recommended that a floor drain be installed. The humidity will
naturally increase with the spa installed. Water may get into woodwork
and produce dry rot, mildew, or other problems. Check for airborne
moisture’s effects on exposed wood, paper, etc. in the room. To minimize
these effects, it is best to provide plenty of ventilation to the spa area. An
architect can help to determine if more ventilation must be installed.
HOT SPRING
spas are equipped with a vent to remove excessive heat
from the equipment compartment. Find this vent (its under the bottom
front left or right corner) and be sure the vent is not blocked by anything,
including carpeting.
Your
HOT SPRING
dealer can help you with local information such as
zoning regulations and building codes. They can also give you a copy of
our planning guide.
CAUTION
: Do not install the spa on a heated floor.
WARNING:
Please keep the area around your spa well ventilated
when it is installed indoors or in a confined area. Inadequate
ventilation around the spa could cause a build-up of a higher-than-
normal concentration of spa chemicals and/or bacterial fragments.
These dispersed spa chemicals and/or bacterial fragments can be
inhaled, and may result in breathing difficulties or lung damage in
certain people suffering from a compromised immune system or
respiratory infection. If you or other bathers are affected by this
condition, please seek medical attention as soon as possible.
In addition to the above, properly clean and maintain your spa as follows:
• Follow all procedures in this owner’s manual and printed instructions on all
water care (chemical) products packaging.
• Test the water regularly to ensure proper levels of sanitizers, pH, and other
water care requirements.
• Drain, clean, and refill your spa with fresh water on a regular schedule, and
in accordance with this owner’s manual.
• Clean the filter(s) at least once per month.
• Check to make sure you have proper circulation throughout your spa water
system.
• Have spa users bathe before entering the spa water.
SPA LEVELING PREPARATION
Concrete sloped at 1.5
cm (.5") per 3 m (10')
is preferred so that
rain water and water
spillover will run off and
not puddle underneath
the spa (water under the
spa for long periods of time may
cause the wood to deteriorate).
Other options are brick, stepping
stone, or blocks.
It is important to note that soft
surfaces, even when stepping
stones are used to evenly distribute
the weight of the spa, will have a tendency to settle, thus resulting in an
unleveled spa.
NOTE:
Placing the spa on grass or dirt may increase the amount of
debris which is inadvertently brought into the spa water and may cause
harm to your equipment as well as the spa surface, which is not covered
under warranty.
Slope 1.5 cm (5") per 3 m (10')for proper drainage.
1.5 cm (.5")
3 m (10')
Stepping stones or brick may settle
causing the spa to be unlevel.
Installation Instructions
