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INSTALLATION OF THE SPA

 

The spa can be installed with a wall fully build up, half way sunken or completely sunken into the ground or as a portable unit on a wooden frame. No mater how the installation it is very important that the support for the lip of the spa be strong and level. No sand back filling is used as a support.

 

Tiling should be completed before the spa is fitted. The lip of the spa should rest on the tiles. Repairs to the spa can result in the shell being damaged should the tiles be laid after the spa was fitted.

 

Tip: A template (square tubing frame) can be made up, that has the same form as the lip of spa but which is 50mm. smaller. This template can then be placed level before the bricks are build on the outside of it. When the spa is fitted it will overlap the brick with 50mm.

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Important note: A sand bag or dagga covered by a plastic sheeting is necessary to support the foot-well of the spa.

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Decide before hand where the pump unit is going to be placed. Try and build the platform for the pump unit as close as possible to the spa. The reason being that the further the pump unit is away from the spa the more heat loss will occur on the piping. The maximum distance the pump unit can be from the spa is 6m.

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Installing the spa outside the building has the advantage that the motors cannot be heard.

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Leave a hole of plus minus 200mm x 300mm in the wall. Direct the plumbing on the spa towards the hole in the wall. The spa will then be fitted and the pump unit piping will be connected through this hole from the outside.

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Note: It is important that the pipes on the spa be marked before hand to ensure that the pipes, from the pump, is not connected to the incorrect pipes on the spa. Incorrect plumbing can cause irrecoverable damage to the spa shell.

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Normally an electrical cable of 4mm with a 30a circuit breaker is sufficient. Consult with an electrician as this cable must be certified by him. In most cases the spa will have its own distribution box.

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To seat the spa properly on the foot-well and lip, fill the spa with plus minus 200mm of water after fitting it. Leave the dagga under the foot-well to dry for at least 24 hours before starting to fill the spa.

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PLUMBING AND PUMP UNIT

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PVC piping (50mm) is used for plumbing. Tangit glue or PVC cement is normally used to connect the piping. Normally all the plumbing on the shell as well as that of the pump unit is fitted at the factory.

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Water flow

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Water is sucked from the spa through the bottom suction towards the pump unit. This pipe is connected to the pipe running from the filter. The water flows parallel through the filter and heater, then trough the main jet pump, and is then returned on the main line for the jets.

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Air flow (venturi)

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The main water jets on the spa shell uses venturi to suck in air through an air control valve and mix it with water. This is the 32mm. pipe running on the top side of the jets. This pipe is complete and should be left alone.

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Air flow (de luxe models)

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A air pipe must be fitted from the blower motor to the air channel of the spa. A goose-neck can be used to prevent water flowing back into the blower as this is an open circuit. The top of the goose-neck should be higher than the top water level of the spa. A double goose-neck can be used when it must be placed underneath the spa shell. Ensure that the top of the goose-neck is just below the lip of the spa and the bottom is right down to the bottom of the foot-well.

  

Important Note: The blower must be connected to the air channel on the spa. Any of the other pipes will do irrecoverable damage to the spa shell.

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Double pump unit

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An additional jet pump, bottom suction, and controls can be fitted as a second pump. This pump is normally added on the larger spas (10 jets) or in the case of solar heating. The water will be sucked from the spa on an additional bottom suction and returned on the main water line for the jets. The jets on this water line will be split between the filtration and the jet pump.

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Air bellows and air switches

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A 3mm. air pipe connects the air controls on the spa shell to the air controls on the distribution box. Pressure applied on the air control will switch the air switch on or off.

FILLING AND DRAINING OF THE SPA

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PRIMING THE PUMP UNIT

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After draining the spa or starting it up for the first time the following procedure must be followed to ensure that all air is removed from the pump unit before switching on the heater:

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  • Switch off the circuit breaker for the heater (distribution box) and turn the thermostat anti-clock wise to zero degrees. Make sure the jets on the spa are in an open position by turning then on the outer ring anti-clock wise to an open position.

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  • If the pump unit is installed higher than the water level of the spa, the air release knob on the filter and leave trap basket on the water pump must both be filled with water. If the pump unit is installed lower than the water level of the spa it is only necessary to unscrew the air release knob to allow the trapped air to escape.

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  • Switch the pump unit on by pressing the air bellow on the spa for the water pump. Air trapped in the pump unit will be pumped out from the main water jets. If water is not pumped within a couple of seconds then start with point 2 again.  Note: If the pump unit is higher than the water level of the spa the excess water will flow back to the spa when filling the filter and pump leave trap.

 

 

SETTING THE TEMPERATURE

 

  • Once the pump unit have been primed (only water and no air is pumped through the jets) the circuit breaker for the heater may be switched on.

 

  • The current thermostats are not a 100% accurate in setting the water temperature according to the dial. To be able to heat the water to the desired temperature, turn the thermostat clock-wise to the maximum position. Depending on the type of installation the water should heat approximately 2-4 degrees per hour.Let the spa heat to the desired temperature, then switch the pump off. Turn the thermostat anti-clock wise until a clicking sound from the thermostat can be heard. The pump can now be switched back on again. The water temperature will be regulated at this setting. Take the reading on the dial for future settings.

 

 

Important note: During the first heating session the thermostat of the spa is set to the maximum temperature. It is thus important that the spa is monitored on a regular basis to ensure that the water does not exceed 40°Celsius. This is the maximum temperature that the spa should operate at.

 

 
DRAINING THE SPA

 

  • Switch off the circuit breaker for the heater and turn the thermostat anti-clock wise to zero degrees.

  • Open the waste valve for the water to be pumped out.

  • Close the jets by turning the outer ring clock-wise.

  • Switch the pump on to drain the spa. The water will be pumped out to the level of the bottom suction of the spa. The last bit of water must be bucketed out.

 

Note: The water pump must be switched off as soon as the water in the spa has dropped to the level of the bottom suction. If run dry the water pump will be damaged. 

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