FAQs
What are the likely running costs?
Can I heat my spa with my boiler or with another heat source?
Are spas really good for you?
Do I need planning permission?
Do I need a special base?
Do I need a special plumbing to my spa?
What power supply will I need?
Can a spa be installed indoors and outdoors?
Can I install my spa partially below ground?
Do you offer finance?
What warranty will I have?
Does my spa or swimspa come with a cover?
How heavy is my spa or swimspa?
Can I use my spa all year?
Can I drain my spa in the winter or if I am going on holiday?
Is a spa or hot tub good for holiday lets?
Can I lock the controls on my spa?
How does my spa heat?
Do I need to use chemicals?
Is the water chemistry easy to look after?
Can I use chlorine tablets?
Where do I get my chemicals from?
How is the water filtered?
Do I have to change the water and how often?
What is the best way to look after the cover?
How do you look after the headrests?
How often should you clean the filters?
Why do I have rust on my stainless steel fittings?
Do you offer a service plan?
What happens if I move home?
What are the likely running costs?
Whilst we can estimate that it costs around £3 a day to run one of our average family Hot Tubs, (less than a latte from your local coffee shop) the amount of energy consumption can differ when you factor in the different variables.
These variables include the size of the Hot Tub, the temperature outside, how often you may use the Hot Tub, how long it is used for, age and quality of the Hot Tub cover, the temperature of the water and of course your electrical tariff.
Click here to read our blog post where we discuss the cost of running a Hot Tub.
Can I heat my spa with my boiler or with another heat source?
Yes, we supply a range of ECO heat pumps that will cut your heating costs.
Our 4kW Eco heat pumps can potentially turn 1kW of electricity into 4kW’s of heat and will substantially reduce heating costs.
Our Dantherm heat pumps are specifically designed for heating small and medium sized outdoor pools and spas, reducing running costs by up to 70%.
We can also fit your spa with a heat exchanger that can run off different primary heat sources, as an example; ground source heat pump or biomass boilers -
Please contact us for more information.
You ask any Doctor - hydrotherapy is world-renowned. Hydrotherapy is a Greek word, with hydro meaning water and therapeia meaning healing.</p> <p>Your spa will increase blood circulation and lower blood pressure, boost the metabolism, remove toxins from your body through perspiration and increase kidney activity. It will also help relieve aching muscles and joints and increases oxidants and nutrients in the skin and repair damage. But that's just the benefits for the body.
For your mind, your spa will help you sleep, boost mental alertness, sooth anger, increase levels of concentration, improve memory, reduce anxiety and relieve mental fatigue. Quote “The beneficial effects of the water depend on the temperature, the depth and the duration of immersion" Dr John Harcup of the BSF medical advisory committee.
Do I need planning permission?
Planning Permission is not usually required, although if you are in a conservation area or thinking of installing it in your front garden it would be worth checking with your local authority.
If positioning on a roof, balcony or upstairs, we recommend that you consult a Structural Engineer.
Do I need a special base?
You must remember that your spa or swimspa when full of water and people will be very heavy so we do not recommend that it is placed directly onto grass.
If you have an existing well-constructed patio your new spa should sit on it without any problems. If not, we recommend a concrete base, approximately 200mm larger and approximately 100 – 150mm thick. You might need to incorporate a light steel mesh if the ground is unstable. Our expert team is always happy to provide helpful advice.
Do I need a special plumbing to my spa?
No, a Catalina spa is a self-contained unit and all it requires is the correct power supply and filling with a hosepipe.
What power supply will I need?
Depending on the model chosen, we have models that run off a single phase power supply on 13A, 16A, 20A, 32A, 48A, 70A and 100Amp. It is possible to run your spa or swimspa off 3 phase but we will need to make modifications to the control pack (charges will apply). We recommend the electrical installation and final connection is carried out by a qualified electrician.
Can a spa be installed indoors and outdoors?
Yes, our spas are designed to be installed either indoors or out, they are also designed to withstand pretty much any weather conditions from the dry blistering heat of California to the frozen regions of Norway. The important factors to bear in mind are to ensure the cover is securely fitted and lock down straps are fitted and not damaged and to prevent damaged by freezing the spa is left full and power on. There is a winter or set back setting on the spa controls.
Can I install my spa partially below ground?
Yes, you can install you spa either partially of fully in ground but you will need to consider the following;
Access – It is important to ensure there is good access to all of the spa equipment, pumps, controls etc. both for service and any potential warranty
Drainage – the pit must be fully self-draining or fitted with a submersible or sump pump with float switch
Ventilation – A pit must be ventilated.
More installation tips can be found here.
Yes we offer finance. Please contact the office for more information or click here to see what options are available.
Depending on which model it is you own, the warranty will vary:
- Catalina Signature Range- 5 Year Shell, 2 Year Equipment
- Catalina Aquadynamic Range- 10 Years Shell, 10 Years Equipment
- Catalina Premium Range- 5 Year Shell, 2 Year Equipment
- Solstice Leisure Spa Range- 5 Year Shell, 2 Year Equipment
- Dream Maker Spa Range- 5 Year Shell, 2 Year Equipment
- Catalina Swimspas- 10 Years Shell, 10 Years Equipment
- Solstice Leisure Swimspas- 5 Year Shell, 2 Year Equipment
- Holiday Park Range- 1 Year (12 Months)
All our warranty cards can be found here for reference.
Does my spa or swimspa come with a cover?
Yes, all Catalina spas and swimspas are supplied with a insulation/safety cover.
How heavy is my spa or swimspa?
The weight will, of course, depend on whether it is full or empty. The dry weight will vary depending on model, the weight should be detailed on the description of each spa or swimspa.
Remember when full with water, the weight increases significantly - a 100 ltrs weighs 1kg so a swimspa of 8000 ltrs will weigh 8000kg plus the weight of the swimspa!
Absolutely! Many people tell us about their holiday experiences of using a hot spa in the snow! There's nothing better than sitting in the warm therapeutic waters on a winter evening staring up at starry sky.
Can I drain my spa in the winter or if I am going on holiday?
It is possible to drain the spa if it is not being used. This should only be done in the summer months or when there is no possibility of freezing temperatures.
The down side of draining the spa is that as the residue water evaporates it will allow scale and other deposits to dry onto surfaces that will be particularly difficult to remove later.
Ideally the spa or swimspa should be left full. You should then set the controls to a lower (or lowest) temperature and change the filter cycles to 2 – 4hrs per 24hrs. The water should also be tested and if required corrected to the right levels, it is advisable to maintain a sanitiser level, this can be done by shock treating the water. Run the pumps to ensure the chemicals are well mixed then fit the insulation cover.
If your spa or swimspa is fitted with removable headrests we recommend that these are removed and cleaned with freshwater, dried and stored in a cool dark area away from direct sunshine.
You should never leave your spa or swimspa empty over the winter period.
Is a spa or hot tub good for holiday lets?
Yes and we produce a number of spa specifically designed for holiday lets that are HSG282 compliant, they have special tamper proof controls, inline chemical feeders and quick drain facilities. Our holiday let hot tubs can be viewed here.
It’s a fact that hot tubs are the number one search requirement on over 50% of all confirmed holiday bookings, even higher than swimming pools
A hot tub will increase the occupancy rate from an average of 60% per annum to 80% per annum, it has the further financial benefit of being able to increase the average weekly rental cost of the accommodation by as much as £200.
Taking into account the initial cost and the annual running and maintenance cost a hot tub will breakeven within year 1 and then significantly contribute annual profitability of the letting property.
Bearing in mind the life expectance of a spa or hot tub you could be looking at £50,000 additional profit.
Can I lock the controls on my spa?
Yes, the majority of our spas and swimspas you can lock the control panel to prevent its use in your absence, the spa cover is also supplied with a lock to secure it over the top of the spa for added safety and to prevent it being blown away.
For your convenience, all equipment is contained within the cabinet of your spa and includes a 3kw electric inline heater.
Our popular range of ECO heat pumps can be fitted to any of our spas or swimspas helping to reduce heating costs by as much as 70%.
All spas and swimspas require some form of chemicals either for balancing the pH or as a sanitiser. All our models are fitted with an ozone system, some even have additional UV; this substantially reduces the amount of chemicals required.
Is the water chemistry easy to look after?
Yes, very much so. The water is easily tested by using a test dip strip and gives clear information as to what to do. A simple operation taking only a couple of minutes will always ensure your spa water remains in a pristine condition. We recommend the spas are tested daily especially before use. It is also a good idea to add a little sanitiser at the end of each bathing day.
The key important areas are the sanitiser (chlorine or Bromine) and the pH, how acid or alkali the water is.
Chlorine: between 1ppm and 3 ppm – Max 5ppm
Bromine: between 3ppm to 4ppm - Max 6ppm
pH: between 7.2 and 7.4
Other measurements;
Total Alkalinity: between 100ppm and 140ppm - Max 160ppm
Calcium Hardness: between 100ppm and 200ppm – Max 400ppm
Cyanuric acid: must not exceed 70ppm
We strongly urge that chlorine tablets are not used in the spa as these have been shown to cause headrests to deteriorate very rapidly. Furthermore they are very acidic so will reduce pH and can cause corrosion to metallic items including the spa heater. We recommend that chlorine granules are used instead.
If chlorine tablets are being used they must be placed inside a floating chlorinator and the chlorinator should be tied loosely to a controller to prevent it being drawn into the skimmer.
Where do I get my chemicals from?
Any chemicals you require for operating your spa or swimspa, including a wide range of essences and accessories, are all available from our online shop.
Our spas are built with a highly-efficient cartridge filtration system filtering out the very finest particles, helping to keep your spa water sparkling.
On some models the filtration is set for 100% in low speed of the pump, a partial bypass opens when on high speed. On Catalina swimspas and Catalina Aquadynamic spas these all have a separate circulation pump and filter system.
Do I have to change the water and how often?
Depending on use we recommend that you change the water every 2 - 3 months on a spa. This can be increased to 6 months on a swimspa, but don’t waste it!
A couple of days before you are going to drain the spa, don't add any more chemicals, remove the cover, switch off the spa allowing the water to cool and use it for watering the garden.
What is the best way to look after the cover?
Your cover has been specially designed to fit your spa and to retain heat. It is an essential part of the spa package and is designed to both reduce running costs and to provide an element of safety. It is therefore important to look after it as replacing the cover can be expensive.
Correct Cover Care is important. Failure to follow these maintenance procedures can affect the life of your spa cover and its warranty.
Instructions on how to look after your vinyl cover can be found here.
For our new weather-shield covers, care instructions can be found here.
How do you look after the headrests?
To ensure a long life for your headrests we recommend you remove them from the spa when not in use. It is also good policy to remove headrests (where possible) periodically and clean the spa shell behind.
We also strongly urge that chlorine tablets are not used in your spa as these have been shown to cause headrests to deteriorate rapidly.
If your preferred spa sanitizer is chlorine based, we recommend that only chlorine granules are used.
How often should you clean the filters?
You don't need to change the filters that often but we do recommend that the filters are taken out and cleaned at least every 2 weeks or more often, depending on use. The filters are best cleaned using our Cartridge Cleaner and left to soak overnight and then simply rinsed with a garden hose. Ideally you should always have a spare set to alternate, allow the now cleaned set to dry. Store them in a dry space, out of direct sunlight
We recommend that the filters are replaced by new ones every 6 months. Replacements can be found here.
Why do I have rust on my stainless steel fittings?
We only use a 316 grade marine stainless steel in the manufacture of Spas and Swimspa waterside fittings. But on occasions customers have reported the appearance of rust.
The corrosion resistance of all stainless steel is dependent on the presence of a (self-repairing) protective oxide layer on its surface, but it is possible under certain conditions for this oxide later to break down, for example contact with acid. Other areas where the metal can oxidise that is sufficiently narrow to ensure that the area remains stagnant. Accordingly corrosion/rust can occur in gaps a few mm wide.
Furthermore, in some regions there can be trace iron content in the supply water, either from the actual mains water supply or the network of pipes the water us flowing through.
The presence of iron in the very smallest amounts can cause the Stainless steel to appear to rust where in fact it’s the iron causing the staining. As you will know, it only takes the smallest amount when mixed with water to create what looks like a very large issue.
Another cause, though not so common, is the galvanic action caused where the smallest of electrical charge can cause corrosion. It is always important to ensure all spas and Swimspas are well earthed for bather’s safety but also to present this form of corrosion.
If you flush the area with fresh water and thoroughly clean the surfaces and if possible allow to dry, the protective oxide layer on its surface will repair. “Metal Gone” or any similar iron reducing chemical can help prevent its occurrence.
It is important to ensure all chemicals are thoroughly mixed and added to the spa or Swimspa in liquid form. Sprinkling of chemicals on the water surface can allow any undissolved product to come in contact with the stainless steel. Acid or chlorine (and bromine) can cause the oxide layer to break down on any stainless fittings that are close to the water surface.
Like stainless steel rails and fittings on boats, if not cleaned regularly rusting/corrosion can occur. This will often look worse when the surfaces are wet as it allows the staining to spread. It is important to note that this is neither uncommon not detrimental to the performance of the material. Only Gold and Platinum are completely 100% corrosion proof.
‘A little care and occasional maintenance will ensure your leisure investment remains beautiful and trouble free.'
Yes - we have a service department which offers annual servicing and maintenance. Our All-Inclusive annual service programme is very popular as it provides total peace of mind and guarantees your spa for life (see Terms & Conditions). Who else is better at servicing and maintaining your lifestyle investment than the people to make it?
Please get in touch if you would like more information.
Catalina spas are portable enabling you to relocate them.
If you move house and want to take your spa with you, using our specialist equipment we can assist you in moving your spa to your new home. Most people, however, sell the spa with their old house and buy a replacement for their new home.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like more information on our relocation services or you'd like to discuss what stock we have available.