Hot Tubs 101

12 Featured Hot Tubs

2012-01-16T18:47:00.001-05:00

The beginning of the year is when you do a lot of thinking & recapping of the prior year. It's no different for us at Spring Dance Hot Tubs. And as we've thought through hot-tubbing in 2011, we realized that we featured 12 different hot tub models over the last year as our "Spa of the Month." And 12 models is not even half of the hot tub models we have available!

Here is a quick look at the 12 hot tubs we featured in 2011:

Some of my favorite highlights:

We proved that The Caldera Cantabria hot tub can fit a LOT of people by letting a football team try it out in June!

In August we told you about the all new Hot Spot Rhythm featuring a massaging footwell for the perfect foot massage!

When we featured The Hot Spring Sovereign model in October, we made a video featuring a few staff members sharing their favorite things about the Sovereign:

We hope you enjoyed seeing our featured Spa of the Month in 2011!! We're looking forward to showing you even more hot tub models in 2012!

Official Hot Tub of the Philadelphia Home Show: 2nd year in a row!

2012-01-11T15:33:00.001-05:00

We're excited to announce that for the 2nd year in a row, we're the Official Hot Tub of the Philadelphia Home Show!

2011 marked our first year as the Official Hot Tub of the Home Show & we're excited to continue the tradition.

If you've never been to the Philadelphia Home Show, make sure you stop by from Saturday January 14 thru Sunday January 22nd. It's a huge show featuring so many products for the home that there's sure to be something for everyone! I know I always walk away with a handy tool I never knew I needed!

This year along with the 14 hot tubs we'll have on display, we're bringing 4 Saunas as well!

Visit us from this Saturday through next Sunday! Buy your tickets online & save $3.00!

Simple Hot Tub Exercises

2012-01-02T11:13:00.000-05:00

The Health Benefits of hot tubs are numerous, and the the warmth & buoyancy of the hot tub water makes it a very inviting place to exercise! Read about some other reasons why it's good to exercise in a hot tub. And then get to exercising! Here are a few exercises we like:

Warm Ups
Do three to five repetitions of each warm up:

Side bends: Put hands on hips. Bend from the waist on one side, then come back up. Repeat on the other side.

Shoulder shrugs: Raise one or both shoulders up toward the ears. Lower and repeat.

Arm circles: Extend arms out at both sides. Rotate arms forward, then in reverse.

Torso rotations: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and toes turned slightly out. Rotate to your left side. Then rotate to your right side.

Exercises

Next, try these exercises:

Bicycle: Sit on the edge of a hot tub seat and support yourself by a grab bar holding on to the seat. Lift up your legs & rotate them in slow bicylce movements, keeping your stomach taught. Start at a slow pace- try 20 to begin- and add more and more repitions each time you soak

Jack-knifes: Again sit on the edge of the hot tub seat & support yourself. Keeping your stomach taught, bend your legs and bring them up to your chest almost making a ball. Next extend your legs opposite side of the tub, arching your back a bit. Make sure you are using your stomach muscles & not your back muscles Start with 2 sets of 25 and increase each time you soak!

Side Leg Extensions: Sitting in the same position of the tub and supporting yourself slightly, extend my legs straight out. With a taught stomach, spread both legs out with pointed toes. As you bring your legs back together, flex your feet. The resistance of the water works to strengthen and tone the muscles. Start small, with 2 sets of 25

Remember that you can become overheated in a hot tub, especially when you're exercising, so stay hydrated & don't work out for very long!

What exercises have you tried in your hot tub? Share in the comments!

Source 1 and Source 2

Exercise in a hot tub?

2011-12-31T09:08:00.000-05:00

You bought your hot tub to relax, right? Have you ever considered that your hot tub might also be a great place for a work out!? It is! Here are a few reasons why:

The Warmth & buoyancy of hot tub water make it a safe ideal environment for relieving pain & stiffness in your muscles & joints, even pain from arthritis!*

When you immerse yourself in warm water, your body temperature rises, increasing circulation in and dilating your blood vessels

As compared to running or other traditional exercises, excercising in a hot tub is a very gentle way to work your joints & muscles

Water can act as resistance to help build muscle strength.

And the part we like best- a hot tub gives you a massage, helping you to relax tight muscles!

There are so many Health Benefits of Hot Tubs. We love the relaxing part about hot tubs, but why not consider incorporating your hot tub in your exercise routine?

Check out the Hot Tubs available at Spring Dance Hot Tubs!

*According to the Arthritis Foundation

"Smart" Saunas

2011-12-28T13:30:00.000-05:00

As we're moving into Sauna Season we thought we'd feature our line of "Smart Saunas:" The mPulse line by Sunlighten!

The mPulse series are the first ever to feature a full-spectrum of infrared heat, meaning they blend near, mid and far-wavelength infrared heat which allows you to target specific areas of your body & your specific health needs. Check out some of the health benefits of infrared heat below:

If you're committing to focusing on your health and wellness for the new year, check out the Infrared Saunas we carry and Request a Quote on one of our Floor Models, available for immediate delivery!

Hot Tub Benefits: INFOGRAPHIC

2011-12-23T15:53:00.001-05:00

We found this really cool Infographic about the benefits of a hot tub and wanted to share it with you all!

It really surprised me to learn that 80% of American suffer from chronic back or knee pain! (If the infographic is too small for you to read, view the graphic in your browser by clicking here)

What health benefits has your hot tub given you? Don't have a hot tub yet? What are you waiting for!? We have a Floor Model Clearance Sale going on now! Check out our Hot Tub Specials

Infographic developed by Swimtown Pool Supplies

How much do you know about Hot Tubs: Spa

2011-12-19T16:47:00.000-05:00

How much do you know about hot tubs!? Inspired by a magazine article published by our friends at SpaSearch.org, we're going to share some fun facts WE learned from reading this article!

First, answer the following question:

The answer is: The term is derived from the town of Spa, Belgium

Spa, Belgium is located in a valley in the Ardennes mountain chain. The pictures we found are as beautiful as that sounds:

Popular for its hot springs, Spa has been known as a "watering-place" since as early as the 14th century!

A mineral water producer (aptly named "Spa!") is headquartered in Spa, and it is home to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which hosts the annual Formula One Belgian Grand Prix. So that's how you've heard of it!

Even if you're not a fan of mineral water, hot springs or biking, Spa, Belgium sounds like a BEAUTIFUL place to visit!

Thanks to Wikipedia for knowing everything about everything!

Spa(s) of the Month: Geneva & Niagara

2011-12-10T10:05:00.000-05:00

We're getting CRAZY here at Spring Dance & this month featuring not one but TWO hot tubs as our Spa(s) of the Month!

We can't mention the Caldera Spas Geneva without mentioning the Caldera Spas Niagara, so we decided to feature both!

We call the Geneva & Niagara "Sister Spas" since they are both the exact same size- 7'5"x7'5" but have slightly different features. The Niagara features open, barrier-free seating for 7 Adults! And the Geneva can fit up to 6 Adults & includes a roomy lounge seat!

Both spas have beautiful lighting & feature a backlit Aquarella Water Feature! Visit one of our Philadelphia-area Hot Tub showrooms (in Pennsylvania AND New Jersey) and ask for a demonstration!

Find the Nearest Spring Dance Hot Tubs Location...

Win a trip to Finland from Finnleo Saunas

2011-11-18T10:55:00.000-05:00

Since we convinced you you NEED a sauna because of all the great Health Benefits we mentioned, how would you like to win a trip to Finland where saunas are a part of the Finnish culture?

Finnleo Saunas is giving away a weekend trip for two to Helsinki, the capital of Finland!

Enter to win the trip through Finnleo today!

Check out the Saunas we carry at Spring Dance Hot Tubs

Health Benefits of a Sauna

2011-11-15T14:45:00.000-05:00

This month we're talking about Hot-Tubbing in the cold, and yes we realize that saunas aren't exactly hot tubs, but we think they are the PERFECT cold-weather 'accessory!'

Not only do saunas have incredible health benefits, but there is evidence that sitting in a sauna can ward off cold symptoms! Here are a few other of our favorite Sauna health benefits:

WEIGHT LOSS
A 30 minute infrared sauna session can burn 200-600 calories! As the body works to cool itself while using an infrared sauna, there is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate. Your body's natural response to infrared heat therapy is to increase circulation and sweat.

SKIN PURIFICATION
Improve your skin's appearance with regular use of a sauna. Open wounds heal quicker with reduced scarring. Infrared heat therapy helps acne, eczema, psoriasis, burns and skin lesions or cuts. It also reduces wrinkles, makes skin look radiant, firms and improves skin tone and elasticity. Regular use may also help reduce cellulite trapped beneath the skin, lessen the appearance of scars, and help burns heal significantly.

PAIN RELIEF
Relieve back, neck and arthritis pain with infrared sauna heat therapy. Researchers studying HRP (Heat Responsive Pain) have observed remarkable therapeutic benefits by using continuous low level heat therapy for treating lower back and upper body pain, all conditions that fall under the HRP classification.

Find out more about the Saunas at Spring Dance Hot Tubs and Request a Quote Today!

Spa of the Month: The Limelight Pulse

2011-11-12T10:30:00.000-05:00

Since we're talking about Hot-tubbing in the cold this month, it's a perfect time to feature our favorite hot tub to use once the weather turns frigid: Our Spa of the Month- The Limelight Pulse!

Okay you caught us, we think every hot tub is great to use in the cold, but here are some great features about The Pulse anyway:

Raio Lighting & the Limelight Waterfall

The Pulse seats 6 adults (that's a lot of room!)

It comes standard with the Limelight line's exclusive & beautiful Raio LED-Lighting System!

The Limelight can be used along with the exclusive ACE Salt Water Sanitizing System!

And there is so much more!! Discover more about The Spa of the Month: The Limelight Pulse and Request a Quote today!

Hot Tubs and the Common Cold

2011-11-08T09:33:00.000-05:00

Bless you!

With cold & flu season just around the corner, people are always looking for extra ways to stay healthy during the cold months.

Did you know your hot tub has health benefits beyond just a fun place for the family to congregate and a relaxing place to enjoy a glass of wine?

Here are a few tips to use your hot tub to ward off a winter cold:

1. Bump up the Heat:

Raising your body temperature by soaking in hot water can help your body fight multiplying cold germs. Generally you want to keep the tempearture below 104 degrees or the manufacturer's recommended temperature. Slowly ease yourself into the hot water- it might sting at first- but the hotter the temperature the more you'll sweat, ridding your body of the cold & flu toxins (And all that Sweat? Good thing our hot tubs have great filtration!

2. But Make sure the hot tub is sanitized:

You don't want to make yourself feel worse by getting into dirty hot tub water, so make sure to check (or have a healthy friend or family member check) the water's balance. Never get into a hot tub if it looks or smells dirty!

3. Soak Often:

It's okay to soak as often as you'd like while you're feeling under the weather. Medical professionals suggest staying in a hot tub for no more than 20 minutes at a time. So go from the couch to the tub and back to the couch, as many times as you feel up to it!

4. Stay hydrated:

Even when you're not feeling sick, a hot tub can quickly dehydrate your system, especially with the temperature as high as 104. So make sure you stay hydrated with plenty of water while you're hot-tubbing!

Here's to a healthy hot-tubbing winter season!

Hot-Tubbing in the Cold: Save Money when heating your hot tub

2011-10-31T16:35:00.000-04:00

Here's a HOT TIP about your Hot Spring brand hot tub* that can save you money on your electric bill this winter!

When you're heating your hot tub for the first time or on a refill, turn off the breaker that runs your heater. You have a 24/7 circulation pump in your hot tub that will get cold tap water heated to a nice luke-warm 75 degrees using much less energy than if your heater was running!

Once the water hits around 75 degrees F, turn the breaker to your heater back on & let your hot tub heat up the rest of the way! Now you have nice, warm hot tub water, but you used much less energy!

Another tip straight from our service manager is to run the jets on your Hot Spring Spa with your cover closed as you are heating the spa. The heat from the pumps will warm the water using less energy!

Don't know which breaker controls your heater? Follow this handy chart to figure it out:

30 amp Breaker

20 amp Breaker

Vanguard
Sovereign
Prodigy
Jetsetter

Vista
Grandee
Envoy
Aria
Cantabria
Geneva

Niagara
Geneva
Tahitian
Salina
Martinique
Kauai

Do you have a Caldera Hot Tub? All Caldera Models except on the Vancanza Series* (Marino, Palatino, Vanto, Aventine, Cima, Lina) control the heater with the 20 amp breaker.

*Unfortunately, this trick can't be used with a Hot Spot or Vancaza Series hot tubs. These models only have 1 breaker which will shut off the hot tub completely!

This post is part of our November 2011 feature: Hot Tubbing in the Cold! Join us all month for tips & fun facts about cold-weather hot tubbing!

Best of Bucks 2011: We're a Winner!

2011-10-28T12:45:00.000-04:00

We are delighted to announce we have WON the Best of Bucks 2011 competition for the Best Hot Tub Dealer of Bucks-Mont!

The Intelligencer & Courier Post newspapers run this competition annually & we've won this award a few years in a row!

Thanks to everyone who voted us the best!

Halloween Hot Tub

2011-10-28T11:37:00.000-04:00

Our Hot Spot Tempo Hot Tub is on sale this weekend! [Scary goblin-monkey looking creature costs extra]

(That's William- hot tub salesman extraordinaire in our Jamison Hot Tub Showroom!)

Happy Halloween!

Why do I have so many hot tub filters?

2011-10-18T14:36:00.000-04:00

A customer recently asked me why her Hot Spring Grandee hot tub had so many filters (The Grandee has 5 filters), and I thought it was a good question. So I asked one of our sales reps who is an expert on the Hot Spring Spa filtration. He told me:

Hot Spring Spas have 100% Filtration which means that when you're soaking in your hot tub and your body starts to sweat, 100% of the oil & sweat from your body gets filtered out of the water. Good thing!

The first filter in a Hot Spring Spa is specifically for the circulation pump. That filter gets a LOT of use, so it's a good idea to rotate that filter every few months.

Then two of the filters are dedicated for pump #1 and the remaining two are for pump #2!

Without all these filters you'd have to use a lot more chemicals to keep your hot tub looking clean!

Check out all the hot tub filters we have available in our online store: Hot Tub Filters Online

Hot Tub Suspended from a Bridge (for someone's enjoyment!)

2011-10-08T11:36:00.000-04:00

Some crazy people- I mean dare devils- in Switzerland dangled a makeshift hot tub off a bridge 613 feet in the air and then GOT IN & had a good time!

Kinda beats your last hot tub party, huh?

Check out more details on Gizmodo

Spa of the Month: The Hot Spring Sovereign

2011-10-07T13:10:00.003-04:00

This month we're featuring the Hot Spring Sovereign as our Spa of the Month.

Instead of reading about what we love about the Sovereign, as per usual, we decided to make a video about it.

Enjoy!

We're pretty sure this video is Oscar-worthy!

Do you have a Hot Spring Sovereign? What do YOU love about it?

Is your Hot Tub Cover Heavy?

2011-10-05T12:35:00.000-04:00

Have you noticed your hot tub cover seems to have gotten heavier over the years? This is something that happens with cover age & is normal. Even the best made vinyl out there will eventually allow water into the foam cores. Covers can last anywhere from 3-5 years & it's important to replace your cover, especially when it grows heavy. Here are a few reasons why:

Eventually, unless you're a body builder, you may not be able to lift your hot tub cover (and you bought your hot tub to relax! Not throw out your back!)
A heavy cover, even if you CAN it, could damage or break your cover lifter or assist-bar

If you're not sure if your cover is heavy, try lifting one of the covers in our showroom next time you run in for chemicals. You might be surprised at how light a new cover is!

One Million Hot Tubs

2011-09-30T09:50:00.000-04:00

We just learned that Watkins Manufacturing, maker of Hot Spring Spas & Caldera Hot Tubs, manufacturered their ONE-MILLIONTH hot tub on September 20th!

Whoa! That's a lot of hot tubs!

The special 1-Millionth hot tub was the Consumer Digest Best-Buy Rated Hot Spring Aria model!

In celebration of this momentous moment, Watkins is auctioning off this spa to their dealers and MATCHING the winning big and donating 100% of the proceeds to the National Fallen Fire Fighters Association!

Congratulations to Watkins Manufacturing & thanks to everyone who owns a Hot Spring or Caldera hot tub- you (plus 999,999 others) helped make this moment possible!

Creative "Hot Tubs"

2011-09-16T09:13:00.000-04:00

In my travels across the internet, I often come across quite, how should I say it, creative hot tubs.

Take the Hot Tub Car for instance:

Perfect after a long day at the car show!

And there are the guys who made a Back Hoe Hot Tub by filling the back hoe with water & lighting a fire underneath it after a long days work!

Here is a Riverside Hot Tub these guys enjoyed after a day of fishing!

Here is a Dome Hot Tub found on a website that features even weirder things from the property!

Is that... a Hot tub made from Beer?

Great advertising idea, Heineken!

Here is something I've never seen called a Dutch Hot Tub (I wonder if that mountain range comes with it or if it's extra)

And if you've read Hot Tubs 101 before, you know I can't resist a cat picture, so here is a cat in a cupboard, siting in a bucket:

I think I'll take a traditional hot tub (but add the mountain range! And maybe a beer!)

Image Source 1, Source 2 and Source 3

Spa of the Month: The Caldera Martinique

2011-09-07T13:25:00.000-04:00

This month's featured hot tub is the Caldera Martinique!

Some of the features we love best about the Martinique are:

-It won the Consumer Digest Best Buy award last year!

-It has a contemporary look to its seating & is very roomy!

-You can personalize your jet experience for the best, hydrotherapuetic massage!

-We have 3 floor models in stock & ready for immediate delivery!

But don't take it from us! Here is a review from the Caldera website from a real Martinique owner:

Really eases pain and stress of fibromyalgia. we use it several times a week,especially in colder weather. I can't imagine not being able to use my spa. It literally changed my life -Camping Diva, Virginia Beach, VA

Check out more & get a quote on our September Spa of the Month!

Hot Tub Spotted: Or is it a shooting range?

2011-09-03T06:21:00.000-04:00

We love to share hot tubs we find posted across the web. Our service coordinator, Cathy, found this one this week:

I wonder if he's shooting at a bear that was trying to get into the hot tub with him! This gave us a big laugh in the office this week!

Hot-tub safely, you never know who is hunting from their hot tub.....!

Hot Tub Spotted: Hiding a crook!

2011-08-29T06:20:00.000-04:00

Or rather a man was spotted IN a hot tub! We read a story about how last Tuesday in Wenatchee, Washington, police spotted a man with an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The crook ran from the police, jumped a few fences & when the police finally apprehending him, they found him hiding in a neighbor's hot tub!

We asked our sales rep, William, to reenact the scene for us:

Such a creative hiding place, no!?

This post is part of our 13th anniversary celebration where we talk about whatever we want, all month long!
Story Source

Hot Tub Safety: Guide from the American Red Cross

2011-08-27T08:14:00.000-04:00

The American Red Cross has a "Home Pool and Hot Tub Maintenance and Safety" Guide we thought was helpful. While not everything applies to a hot tub, here are a few of the suggestions that we think are important:

Maintain a Safe and Clean Pool or Hot Tub.

Store chemicals out of children’s reach.
Use qualified professionals to repair or replace equipment.
Follow all manufacturers’ directions for operation, cleaning and maintenance.
Maintain proper disinfectant and pH levels all the time. Test the water regularly.

Ensure Good Water Clarity.

Don’t let anyone who has diarrhea into the water.
Consider running your pump longer during high use times or periods when it is hot or rainy

Use Chemicals Safely

Never add water to chemicals. Always add the chemical to large amounts of water and pour slowly.
Never mix chemicals.

Download the guide and share it with your family!

Hot Tubs and Earthquakes

2011-08-26T07:18:00.000-04:00

The "Devastation" from the earthquake

After this week's surprise earthquake on the East Coast, I got thinking about hot tubs & how they hold up in natural disasters. So I hit my favorite place for quandaries such as these: Google. It turns out after a natural disaster, the hot tub isn't the first thing that comes to survivor's minds as something to photograph & post online for our viewing pleasure. Don't they know we want to see these things!??

I did find a few images & stories

This image is of an outdoor hot tub after the tsumani & earthquake in Japan:

I read this scary story from the Santa Cruz Sentinel:

I was inside the second story hot tub cleaning it when the earthquake hit. From that view point I saw Quail Run Road actually move up and down in a rolling fashion and the telephone poles were whipped back and forth. I could not extricate myself from the tub as the house and the deck that supported it were moving quite violently. It reminded me of the Disneyland Tea Cup Ride.

This comic made me laugh:

And on Yelp I found a picture of one person's attempt to protect their hot tub from "Earthquakes and zombies"

If an earthquake ever hits the east again & I'm around to experience the "Disney-land Tea Cup Ride-like feeling," I hope I'm in a hot tub like the zombie-proof one above and am as prepared as the couple in the comic!

Where were you for The BIG East Coast Earthquake of 2011?

This post is part of our 13th anniversary celebration where we talk about whatever we want, all month long!

Preparing your hot tub for a Hurricane

2011-08-25T12:23:00.000-04:00

UPDATED 8/26/11 with new tips from our service manager!!

With Hurricane Irene nearing our coast and the potential for wind damage to be severe, here are a few tips to keep your hot tub safe:

Lock your cover: Make sure all 4 of your cover locks are securely snapped into place. If any of the locks are broken, contact us about ordering replacement locks.

Tighten the Straps: Once the straps are locked, pull up gently on the cover to see if the cover moves much. If it does, adjust the straps so there isn't as much give (this is especially important for Hot Spring brand tubs!)

Remove Debris: Try to remove any branches or lawn chairs or any other debris that might fly up and hit the hot tub in high winds (We realize you can't do anything about that aging Oak tree that is 10 feet away- so our fingers are crossed that it crashes down in the other direction)

Add Wind Straps: If your hot tub is located at the shore where the threat of hurricane is greatest, you should definitely add "wind-straps" (basically a longer set of straps with locks that stretch across your entire hot tub) to your hot tub. This is a great addition to your hot tub even if you're not near the ocean! Secure Straps for Hot Tubs

Do not Drain: This is especially important if you're at the shore & there is a threat of flooding, but DO NOT DRAIN your hot tub! If the flood waters do reach your hot tub, it will most likely float away if it's drained.

Keep your hot tub electrically connected: If you lose power to your hot tub, just check & make sure it's functioning correctly once the power is restored. There is no need to disconnect your hot tub during the storm.

Stay safe!

Beautiful Hot Spring Spa Installations

2011-08-19T09:33:00.000-04:00

The best part about working at Spring Dance (besides when the popcorn machine comes out during sales events) is that we get to help make our customer's backyards BEAUTIFUL!

We all know how lush & serene the landscape is in the Delaware Valley (or how cool the view from a hot tub on a rooftop in Philly is!) but have you ever checked out how other people situate their hot tubs in other parts of the world!? Check out some of these cool Hot Spring Spa installations:

Beautiful installation of a Hot Spot TX from Aqualab in Los Cabos, Mexico!

Gorgeous Hot Spring Grandee with Stone Siding from Oasis Hot Tub & Sauna in Nashua, NH

A customer of Oregon Hot Tub took this beautiful photo from the comfort of her Hot Spring Sovereign

Another Spa Stone Grandee hot tub in a backyard that looks so inviting installed by Olympic Hot Tub

So inspiring! Which is your favorite? (I'll take that glass of wine in the spa in Mexico, please!)

Weekend at the Grange Fair

2011-08-18T14:49:00.001-04:00

Looking for something fun to do with the family this weekend? Stop by the Middletown Grange Fair in Wrightstown, PA

They have daily entertainment, 4-H youth activities, a petting zoo, an apple pie contest (yum!), other delicious fair food and rides for the kids.

Plus you can stop by our tent & see the hot tubs we have on display!

We've always loved being at the Grange Fair because there's nothing like the smell of cows early in the morning when you're throwing a little chlorine in the hot tub or the sound of sheep as we're explaining the jet features of one of our spas!

Hours of the Fair:
Thursaday 10am - 10pm
Friday 10 am- 11pm
Saturday 10am- 11 pm
Sunday 10am- 5pm

Hope to see you there!

Trade in your Hot Tub Sale

2011-08-15T09:30:00.001-04:00

Do you have an older hot tub that maybe doesn't work, or is really lacking in the "bells & whistles" department?

While some things like Wireless TV & music entertainment options for new hot tubs are just purely there for fun & enjoyment, other features like ACE Salt Water Sanitizing system really have revolutionized the way people care for their hot tubs- not to mention how CLEAN & FRESH the water can be on the system!

All month we're having our Trade in your Hot Tub Sale! You can get up to $1700 towards the purchase of a new hot tub when you trade in your 5 year or older Sundance or Hot Spring spa!

Check out the great new features that come with the hot tubs of 2011, and ask us what your old hot tub might be worth!

All in the Family: The Sines

2011-08-13T09:30:00.005-04:00

Last week we mentioned that when we say Spring Dance Hot Tubs is a "family-owned" business we mean we have a lot of family members working here. We introduced you to the Bailey's last week- this week we're going to introduce you to the Sine Family:

(from L to R) Lydia, Rebekah, Dan, Abby, Rachael)

Dan Sine is our owner & president & he started Spring Dance Hot Tubs in 1998. One time he was asked by his daughter (we'll get to her later) why he doesn't spend more time in his office & he told her his favorite thing about owning Spring Dance is interacting with customers- he can't do that from behind his closed door!

In 1999, a year after Spring Dance opened, Dan's oldest daughter Rebekah (Sine) Decker was convinced that working for dad at his hot tub store was better than the grocery store where she was working at the time, so she joined the family biz! (Okay, I'm going to stop talking in 3rd person now because this is getting weird, but that person is me.) And somehow, 12 years later I'm still here. There were some breaks- when I went to college- but I was back every summer, and then went full-time in 2005. I've worked retail, coordinated the service department and since 2006 have been the marketing manager here at Spring Dance!

Dan's second daughter, Abby (Sine) MacNeill, followed in her big sister's footsteps & worked retail for Spring Dance, mostly in our Exton showroom, throughout high school &college. Now she teaches Violin & runs a farm & CSA with her husband & friends.

Rachael Sine started working in our Jamison showroom at Spring Dance in 2004 & she worked with us until she graduated from high school. Actually she graduated early and she worked full-time in our retail department for about 6 months before heading off to college! Rachael just got back from a long-term trip to Bolivia & is currently looking for a full-time job (which means she's waitressing)

And not to be outdone by her oldest sisters, Lydia Sine, worked the last 2 years in the retail department at Spring Dance, as well, splitting the time with Sara Bailey of the Bailey family fame! Lydia has NO plans to return to Spring Dance after she finishes college (She starts at U. of Pittsburgh in two weeks *sniff*) but I tell her that's what I always said too....!

This post is part of our 13th anniversary celebration where we talk about whatever we want, all month long!

Animals in Hot Tubs

2011-08-11T09:30:00.000-04:00

We got thinking the other day about all the pictures we've seen over the years of animals in hot tubs. It just took a quick google search to find some of our favorites:

Bears love hot tubs too!

I really hope this one is photoshopped, but it looks so real:

WHAT is that thing!?

It's hard to find pictures of cats in hot tubs, but I, as a cat lover, can never resist an LOL cat picture:

Does your pet love the water? Any interesting animals ever find their way into your hot tub!?

This post is part of our 13th anniversary celebration where we talk about whatever we want, all month long!

Spa of the Month: The ALL NEW Hot Spot Rhythm

2011-08-08T09:30:00.000-04:00

We're so excited to introduce our August Spa of the Month: The Hot Spot Rhythm by the makers of Hot Spring Spas!

This is an ALL NEW MODEL for the Hot Spot line (So new that we don't even have it on the floors yet! But Good News- we have 2 coming in on a truck that left last week!) and is the hot tub model we've been waiting for!

The "sister" spas of the Rhythm are the Tempo & the Relay. These models were new in 2010 & have been great sellers for us. They are entry-level spas without too many bells & whistles, but they are BIG (the smallest is 7x7!) and powerful & have really pretty lighting features!

We thought they were only missing one thing- an option to have a hot tub without a lounge seat. And this is EXACTLY what the Rhythm is! It's a 7x7 hot tub, with the same power & lighting features, but it has open seating with a massaging footwell for your feet!!

We're so excited to get this model on our floors & just know you're going to love it! Check out the Spa of the Month: The Hot Spot Rhythm!

All in the Family: The Baileys

2011-08-06T09:33:00.004-04:00

We're not a big company- and that's okay with us! That allows us to have a relaxed environment (I counted- we've celebrated 4 birthdays in the last 3 weeks. That's a lot of left over ice cream cake in our freezer!) and make changes a lot quicker than if we were a big company.

One of our favorite things to say is that we're a family-owned company. A lot of businesses say that, and for us that means we have a lot of family members working at Spring Dance!

Today we want to introduce you to the Bailey's:

(From L to R) Lauren, Diane, Brooke, Jeff, Sara

Jeff Bailey is our Operations guy & is a co-owner in our West Berlin store. Jeff has worked for Spring Dance for forever (okay since 2000). First he was in sales, then he moved into the sales manager position & finally he got that title which really means "does anything & everything while working really long hours!"

A few years ago (2006 or 2007 maybe- I really need to do my research!), Jeff's wife, Diane Bailey started working for us as retail counter help. Quickly that position morphed into "does everything front-of-store related (even runs the forklift to unload trucks when no one else is around) with a smile on her face!"

About a year or so later, Lauren Bailey, Jeff & Diane's oldest daughter, starting working as retail help. She was great to have around & *sniff* left us for college just about 2 years ago!

Thankfully there was another Bailey to step in her shoes & Sara Bailey jumped in the family biz & fit in wonderfully! SADLY we're losing Sara to college in a few weeks, too!

But THANKFULLY there is still one more Bailey in the family! And we hope to eventually convince Brooke Bailey to join us here at Spring Dance!!!

Now you know a little Spring Dance trivia for next time you come in to pick up a bottle of chlorine!

This post is part of our 13th anniversary celebration where we talk about whatever we want, all month long!

Celebrating 13 years of hot tub fun!

2011-08-04T12:44:00.001-04:00

We're celebrating our 13th Anniversary this month!

In August of 1998, Dan Sine started Spring Dance with 1 truck, a dog who rode in the back (anyone remember Champ!?) and 1 part time employee. 13 years later we have 3 showrooms and over 8500 customers with our hot tubs in their backyards (but sadly, no more company dogs!).

Not only has Spring Dance changed a lot in the past 13 years (We now have 18 full time employees and 4 part time!) but hot tubs have too!

This was one of the most popular Hot Spring hot tub models in the late 90s: The Hot Spring Classic:

In fact, until around the year 2000, Hot Spring only had this color combination available: White with a redwood cabinet:

Not only do hot tubs LOOK so much different 13 years later (The image to the right is our most popular color combination in 2010: Pearl with an Espresso cabinet!), but the features are incredible! From Wireless TVs & entertainment systems where your hot tub hooks right up to your iPod or Mp3 player, to the ACE Salt Water Sanitizing System which has made water care easier, keeps hot tubs cleaner & eliminates that smell of chlorine, hot tubs are even more enjoyable!

And with 22 people to enjoy working with every day, Spring Dance is a more enjoyable place 13 years later, too! If only we could get a company dog again...

Join us all month as we feature weekly specials on our Facebook page (staring Monday August 8th!) and share stories & memories of the past 13 years here on our blog!

Pictures of older hot tubs from our friends at Oregon Hot Tub

Hot Tub Spotted: In a Philadelphia neighborhood

2011-08-02T11:28:00.001-04:00

We were just browsing Philly.com yesterday when we noticed one of our favorite things to come across: A hot tub on a roof in Philadelphia!

Phrequency.com featured Joseph Bernstein's Francisville neighborhood home and this is on the roof:

Beautiful view of Philadelphia from Joseph's hot tub!
Did you see the hot tub we craned onto a 12th story roof deck in Philadelphia last month!? Check out the pictures here!

Check out more images of this cool Philadelphia home!

How to stop Hot Tub Foaming

2011-07-29T10:45:00.002-04:00

This is NOT good!

Ever notice you're sitting in your hot tub and it's starting to resemble a bubble bath? While kids LOVE foam in hot tubs, most people over the age of 10 do not!

Foam is USUALLY caused by the introduction of somethign "foreign" to the water. That can be many things: residue from shampoo or hair gel to body products & lotions on your skin. Foaming can even be caused from laundry detergeant left in your bathingsuit or cotton T-shirt

Your hot tub owner's manual will probably suggest you get a shower before getting IN your hot tub! No one actually thinks that's practical so here are a few tips we've found that work:

Don't wash your bathing suit (especially if it's cotton!)
Or if you do, don't wash it very often. Rinsing your suit after use should dilute the sanitizer that got on your suit while soaking (Or just hot tub in the nude, whatever works!)

Wear your hair up off your neck
If you have long hair, it's best to keep it out of the water since your hair is probably full of product that can cause foaming!

Don't put lotion on your skin right before hot-tubbing
If you put lotion on in the morning & hot-tub at night, most likely the lotion won't effect the water. If you can, wait until after you use your spa before putting lotions or oil onto your skin!

If you're pretty careful about what goes onto your body or bathing suit and STILL still have foaming, check to make sure your pH & calcium hardness are balanced. High pH can cause foaming as well as low calcium hardness! After you balance your water, you might not see a difference in your water for 24-48 hours.

Correcting a foamy hot tub
Products like Brilliance Foam Disperser DO help eliminate some of the foam, but know that if you add too much, the problem will just worsen & you're best to just dump your water & start fresh!

Happy Hot-Tubbing!

International Hot Tub Association

2011-07-28T10:03:00.000-04:00

We're proud to be members of the IHTA (International Hot Tub Association) which is "the only trade organization solely dedicated to the hot tub industry and whose goal is to provide guidance to those seeking to own and use a hot tub."

Our GM, Jeff Bailey, sits on the board of IHTA & it's great to be a part of an organization that focuses solely on hot tubs. Most trade organizations are for pool companies with a little focus on Hot Tubs which means we often get overlooked!

IHTA just rolled out their new website which has cool features for hot tub owners like a section on
Health Benefits & Lifestyle Benefits as well as some water care tips!

The IHTA works hard to inform policy makers about our industry so rules & laws aren't created that make hot tub ownership more difficult (For example, in some states hot tubs are treated just like pools & permits & specs are required as if an in-ground pool was being installed)

Check it out at http://hottubindustry.org/

ACE Monthly Tip: How-To-Video!

2011-07-26T13:24:00.000-04:00

Do you have the ACE Salt Water Sanitizing System installed on your Hot Spring or Limelight hot tub? Or have you been thinking about trading-in your spa & upgrading to this new, simple water care system?

We recently made a video (starring Spring Dance Hot Tubs of Jamison employee, William!) explaining, step-by-step, the ACE salt water system & how easy it is to start up & maintain your hot tub using ACE!

Check it out:

See what we mean!? Easy, breezy!

Hot Tub on a roofdeck in Philadelphia

2011-07-19T12:13:00.004-04:00

Last weekend we delivered a Caldera Marino hot tub to a beautiful rooftop in Philadelphia, just off Rittenhouse Square!

The deck was 12 stories high & a crane easily got it up to the roof & into the custom spot cut out specifically for the hot tub:

Look at that gorgeous view the new Spring Dance customer will have from his Hot Tub!

Our President, Dan Sine, was hard at work & so was our General Manager, Jeff Bailey! (Or maybe they're just showing off & posing for the camera!)

Don't look down! Yikes!!!

Did you know it was possible to deliver a hot tub to a 12 story roof!? It is! (And this isn't even our highest roof!) Check out other FAQs about our hot tubs & delivery!

Hillbilly Hot Tub

2011-07-15T16:44:00.000-04:00

Nascar fans were spotted having a good ol' time with their "Hillbilly Hot Tub" recently!

Everyone loves hot tubs!

Source

Hot Tip: Hot Tub Pillow Care

2011-07-12T09:06:00.000-04:00

Does this pillow look familiar!? Have your pillows changed colors, torn or started to fall apart!?

Hot Tub pillows really take a beating. They're just in your hot tub, minding their own business & then BOOM- hot tub chemicals get throw in the water. That's always a good thing, but if too much chemical enters the water, after the bacteria is eaten, your pillows get attacked. To stop your pillows from turning into that lovey picture above try these few tips:

Always let your hot tub "breathe" after throwing chemicals into the water- leave the cover open & run the jets for 15-20 minutes
Wipe your pillows down with a mild cleaner like our Clean & Perfect surface spray every few months
Protect the Vinyl for your pillows with 303 Vinyl Protectant!

Happy Pillows make a Happy Hot Tub!

Hot Tub Spotted: As a Garden?

2011-07-09T10:33:00.000-04:00

A couple in Memphis, TN had a 15 year old hot tub that was sitting empty in their backyard. Due to the fact that their spa heater required natural gas to run (something that is NOT required in our hot tubs!) and the rising price of gas, they weren't using the hot tub anymore.

So what did they do?

They turned it into a garden of course! That's right! They filled their old, useless hot tub with dirt & made a garden!

"After 38 bags of dirt and $4 in seed packets, we, the butterflies and bumblebees enjoy the flowers!"

What a creative idea! If you're not using your hot tub anymore (and unless your heater runs on natural gas too, we can't possibly understand why!) our delivery department can haul it away for you & dispose of it, recycling the parts we are able to! Contact us for a quote!

Picture & Article Source

July Spa of the Month: The Hot Spring Envoy

2011-07-08T16:44:00.000-04:00

During the month of July, our showrooms are featuring the Hot Spring Envoy as our Spa of the month!

The Envoy is comfortable spa that seats 5 adults & includes a lounge seat and a "recliner" seat with special jets for your wrists & palms!

A: The Lounge seat with the exclusive Moto-Massage DX jet!

B: The "recliner" seat with jets for your wrists & calfs

C: The footwell features 3 Jetstream jets for a soothing foot massage!

And during the month of July, 2011, you can save an ADDITIONAL $500 when you purchase the Hot Spring Envoy with the ACE Salt Water Sanitizing system!

Check out more about the Spa of the Month: The Hot Spring Envoy!

Hot Tubs Spotted: On a movie set!

2011-06-27T11:07:00.000-04:00

By the looks of it, there was a big hot tub sale going on in Easton, PA last weekend. Until we looked a little closer & saw.... Adam Sandler!? Is he picking up some extra money by working as a hot tub salesman!?

Adam Sandler on the set of his new film!

Turns out he was in town to film a scene for his new movie, "I hate you, Dad."

According to some insiders, the hot tubs were there for a faux hot tub store called the "Hot Tub Mega Mart." The set designers took a famous Disney line & turned it into a tagline for the hot tub store:

"It's a Spa World After All!"

With last year's "Hot Tub Time Machine" and now THIS movie, hot tubs are popping up all over Hollywood! We're looking forward to seeing what hot tubs have to do with Adam Sandler hating his dad (or being THE hated dad!)

Source for info about the movie & Pictures

Fourth of July HOT TUB Party Checklist!!

2011-06-25T09:01:00.000-04:00

Patriotic Plates, Cups
& Napkins available
at Target!

While a pool party might be what you think of for a picnic on July 4th (and we love those!), why not try throwing a Hot Tub Party!? Here are some ideas that we've come up with so your hot tub party is one your neighbors & friends will never forget:

Send Invitations
Maybe you're the crafty type, but I'm not! So these days I rely on Facebook Event Invitations to get the word out to my friends! They are SIMPLE to use & you could even upload a fun picture from a previous picnic or event when your hot tub was being used!

Learn how to set up a Facebook Event here!

Decorate!

Target is featuring the greatest Patriotic-themed decorations right now on their website!

Why not hang up a strand of Star sparkle-lights near your hot tub?!

Or fill this patriotic, inflatable cooler with your drinks!

Food & Drink
Try this recipe for the perfect Old-Fashioned Pink Lemonade:

Ingredients:
2 cups white sugar
9 cups water
2 cups fresh lemon juice
1 cup cranberry juice, chilled

Directions:
In large pitcher combine sugar, water, lemon juice and cranberry juice. Stir to dissolve sugar. Serve over ice.

Add Tequila & Lime Juice for an Adult Version- A Pink Lemonade Margarita!!!

What's more American than Fried Chicken!? Here is a great recipe for Classic, Fried Chicken
And check this site out for tons of 4th of July Treats, Appetizers & Desserts!

Clean your hot tub!
Don't forget the most important part (well, second to the margaritas!) CLEAN YOUR HOT TUB! Make sure you have plenty of Hot Tub Sanitizer on hand to make sure your hot tub water is sanitized! Try spraying 303 Vinyl Protectant on your hot tub cover for ultimate shine! PLUS spray it on your cabinet- your hot tub will look brand new!

Shop in our Online Store & save 10%* now through June 30th, 2011! Just enter Promo code JULY4 at check out on orders of $25.00 or more & You'll get an automatic 10% off your entire order! PLUS you get Free shipping on orders over $50!!

Stock up on Hot Tub Supplies Now!

*Code is for online orders only. Free Shipping offer in the Continental USA only. Offer Expires June 30th

Get Fit for the Summer in Your Hot Tub

2011-06-23T14:21:00.002-04:00

You may not think of your hot tub as a place to keep fit & in shape, but there are a ton of hydro-therapeutic exercises you can do to get in shape for this summer's bathing suit season!

A great website, PoolLife, (from the makers of BaqauSpa & Brilliance for Spas- two water care brands we carry!) recently shared some hot tub exercises that will help you get in shape, no matter the size of your hot tub! Read the entire article for more details on the exercises. But here is a recap of the benefits of exercising in your spa:

1. Relax muscles and increase flexibility

To help decrease muscle tightness and increase flexibility, perform standing calf raises, neck circles and shoulder shrugs for 10 seconds. Repeat each exercise three times.

2. Increase weight loss

Exercising in warm water lessens the impact on your body and relaxes the muscles around the joints.

Try modified standing jumps, seated squats, and step-ups using the spa seat to increase heart rate and burn more calories.

3. Alleviate arthritis pain

Individuals with arthritis move more easily in water than on land.'

Start with a simple stretching routine, and then try balancing on one leg, side bends and the standing arm swim, Hollowell says.

4. Improve muscle tone and decrease cellulite

When you exercise in a hot tub, your body temperature rises, which causes blood vessels to dilate and promotes better circulation.

To burn more calories and improve muscle tone, try standing calf raises, marching in place and push-ups on the ledge of the spa.

Always consult your Doctor before starting any exercise program! Check out the full article on PoolLifeMag.com for more great health benefits of hot-tubbing!

Did you know: Spring Dance's Green Initiatives

2011-06-16T10:00:00.007-04:00

Did you know? We've recently taken some GREEN initiatives to decrease our carbon footprint & become better stewards of the resources we have been given. For example:

Ever wondered what happened to your old junky hot tub we pulled from your backyard when you upgraded to something new? Well, we are able to recycle parts of old hot tubs, and since May 2011 we've delivered 2700 pounds of old hot tub pumps to a local pump recycler!

Find any of these in your hot tub?

A few years ago we switched to inter-modal shipping for our hot tubs from California. So instead of coming across the road in a truck, we get a container of hot tubs coming across the country via rail! Not only is less fuel used, but it's a cleaner fuel decreasing the pollution that is released into the air! Not to mention by traveling by train we're giving FREE transport to hobos! Did those look like Dorito crumbs in your lounge seat when we unwrapped your hot tub? Maybe that's from a train-hopper guest who used your tub to crash* for a few days!

If only it were that easy for Kermit

The hot tubs we have are extremely Energy Efficient. California has the toughest energy efficiency standards in the country & our hot tubs are required to meet those standards. Just one example of an energy efficient features is that the circulation pump of a Hot Spring Spa circulation pump uses less energy to operate than a 40-watt light bulb! Read more about our hot tub's energy efficiency!

Ahh, it's so easy being Green!

*to our knowledge no hobos have actually ever been found in our hot tubs...

Mayo Clinic discusses the benefits of Infrared Heat

2011-06-13T10:06:00.003-04:00

If you're considering an Infrared Sauna like the ones we carry, good news! A Dr. at the Mayo Clinic recently answered the question: What is a far-infrared sauna? Does it have health benefits? Here is part of his response:

A far-infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses light to create heat. A traditional sauna uses heat to warm the air, which in turns warms your body. An infrared sauna heats your body directly without warming the air around you.

The appeal of saunas in general is that they cause reactions similar to those elicited by moderate exercise. An infrared sauna produces these results at lower temperatures than does a regular sauna, which makes it accessible to people who can't tolerate the heat of a conventional sauna.

Several studies have looked at using infrared saunas in the treatment of chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis, and found some evidence of benefit....no adverse effects have been reported with infrared saunas.

Check out the Sunlighten Infrared Saunas we carry & Read the entire article at the Mayo Clinic!

National Arthritis Awareness Month

2011-06-11T09:56:00.000-04:00

Did you know that May was National Arthritis Awareness Month? We promoted FREE hot tub test soaks all month! (Did we forget to tell you!? Oops!) Don't worry- you can still test out our hot tubs. We always offer this service for people considering a new hot tub. You wouldn't buy a new car without driving it first, would you? Don't buy a hot tub without trying it out, either!

Hot tubs have proven much relief to arthritis suffers. Soaking in a hot tub to reduce the pain of arthritis is a great alternative to prescription medication. A hot tub can provide the warmth, massage and buoyancy needed to both relax and exercise joints and muscles. Plus the soothing water of a hot tub has been proven to lower blood pressure and even help people get a better night’s sleep!!

If you suffer from arthritis or know someone who does, send them our way! (Or if you're just looking to trade in your older, wireless music & TV-less, lacking in the LED-light department, "junker" of a hot tub, come try the beautiful, energy-efficient hot tubs we have!)

Take one soak & you'll understand what you're missing! Contact us to set up an appointment

Cool down your hot tub with Summertime mode!

2011-06-09T13:43:00.000-04:00

Stay inside! It's HOT out there! If you're like me, you like to use your hot tub year-round & wouldn't mind winding down your night (or starting your day) with a soak in your spa. But sitting in 100 degree water on a 100 degree day is NOT my idea of a good time!

If you have a Hot Spring* or Caldera** hot tub from us you have a built-in feature that allows your hot tub to cool down in the hot summer months & feel more like a pool! It's called SummerTimer!

I love soaking once night falls
& the temperature drops to a "cool" 90 degrees :)

If you set your hot tub to this mode, your 24 hour circulation pump shuts off for 8 hours which allows your hot tub to cool down to a comfortable temperature in the 80s! That's perfect for those hot summer nights! Consult your Owner's manual for instructions on setting SummerTimer for your particular model.

Oh & if you're using the ACE Salt water system, it will shut off if you switch to summertime mode.

*Tiger River & Limelight models have this feature too!
** Unfortunately The Vacanza & Highland series from Caldera do not have a summertime mode. Might we suggest soaking in ice? :)

Introducing the Caldera Cantabria: Our June "Spa of the Month"

2011-06-01T13:24:00.001-04:00

This month we're featuring the Caldera model Cantabria as our "Spa of the month!"

The Cantabria is a HUGE hot tub at 9' by 7'7" and seats up to 8 adults!

We put its size to the test when we had the defensive unit from the Downingtown West football team in the hot tub- they all fit!!

Defensive players from the Downingtown West Football team!

Some features we love about the Caldera Cantabria are:

- The TWO Acquarella waterfalls that light up beautifully

- It packs a lot of power with 3 pumps and features a customizable massage with 6 jet sequences and 3 different speeds!

- Comes with 3 different shell & cabinet color options!

And there's so much more! You have to see the Caldera Cantabria for yourself! Or explore the Cantabria online!

Every month we feature a new hot tub as our "Spa of the Month!" Don't miss finding out more about the great hot tub models we carry. Sign-up to be notified monthly!

ACE® Water Care Solution Receives Top Innovation Award

2011-05-27T09:15:00.000-04:00

Another award for the ACE Salt Water Sanitizing System! This time the award was for the 2010 Innovation of the Year Award, and came from the parent company to Hot Spring Spas: Masco Corporation. Masco is a Fortune 500 company, and is one of the world's largest manufacturers of brand-name consumer products for the home and family!

This means that the ACE Salt Water Sanitizing system, along with Hot spring spas, was rated alongside innovations by Delta, KraftMaid & Behr and came out on top!

Have you checked out the ACE Salt Water Sanitizing system & what it can mean for you? It means your hot tub water is cleaner, easier to maintain & as a result hot-tubbing is more enjoyable!

Come in to one of our showrooms & "Test Soak" (Yep! We let you do that) in a hot tub featuring ACE & feel for yourself how different a Hot Spring spa is with ACE!

Hot Tub Safety

2011-05-25T11:51:00.000-04:00

Even with hot tubs!

I came across an article about Henderson, NV declaring May "Pool & Spa Safety Month." While this isn't a national campaign, we thought- why not make it? Or at least make it "Hot Tub Safety Month" at Spring Dance Hot Tubs!

Here are some tips to hot-tub safely:

Make sure your water is sanitary at all times by testing your water with a test strip & adjusting the pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness & sanitizer as needed!
Make sure you're up to code with your electrical set-up. The National Electrical Code requires the installation of a disconnect device for your hot tub be located at least 5 ft. away, and within line of sight of the spa. Make sure that your hot tub's electrical system is properly wired, grounded, and protected by a GFCI.
Make sure your hot tub cover has working locks to keep out unwanted guests (small children, animals, pesky neighbors!) (Are they broken? Call us at 215-491-7446 for a replacement set or information on buying a new Hot Tub cover)
Don't use any electronics while you're hot-tubbing (Unless it's a Wireless TV or sound system that we carry- those are made to work safely while you're relaxing!)
Consult your Doctor before entering a hot tub if you have a certain medical condition and are concerned how soaking in hot water might effect you. Pregnant woman should not use a hot tub. Young children should not use a hot tub & when they are old enough, should be introduced to the warm water slowly!
Watch the length of time you spend in the hot water: Medical experts recommend adult soaking in a lower maximum temperature of 100 to 102 degrees F. And they say you should not exceed a 15 minute soak. Your family Doctor should have recommendations best for you!

Most of all, HAVE FUN! That's what hot tubs are all about!!!

Hot Tub featured in ad for Immodium!

2011-05-16T10:09:00.001-04:00

We love when hot tubs pop up in ads for items that aren't hot tubs.

Immodium came out with this advertisement awhile back & I just saw the commercial that went along with the campaign:

It features a Hot Spring Spa!!!

(Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing!)

(source:)

Spanish Lesson for your Cinco De Mayo

2011-05-05T12:53:00.000-04:00

Happy Cinco De Mayo! Have you ever thought "I wonder how to say "Hot Tub" IN Spanish? I bet you have! Well, today you're going to learn. Well, kinda.

I asked a friend who has MANY Hispanic Co-workers the appropriate translation and she asked around & then shared that:

Tub= Tina
Caliente= Hot

However, "Caliente Tina" or "Tina Caliente" does NOT translate to "Hot Tub" (I'm not sure what it means so if I just said something offensive- OOPS!)

So when I asked "What do they say in Spanish speaking cultures then!?" She responded, "Hot Tub."

There you go! A Spanish lesson on Cinco De Mayo!

Hot Tip: 303 Vinyl Protectant

2011-04-29T09:25:00.002-04:00

Here's a quick tip to get your hot tub looking like it's brand new!

Spray your hot tub cabinet* with 303 Vinyl Protectant!

303 is a product we carry to protect your cover- it's like an SPF for your cover, protecting it from the sun.

But 303 can be used for lots of different vinyl products, including vinyl car seats, outdoor furniture & even your hot tub cabinet! Just spray on the 303 & rub it in & you'll be amazed at the difference! Your hot tub cabinet will look shiny & new again!

Get 303 through on our online store

And through May 15th, use the code MAY-303 for 10% off your order of $25 or more through our online store!**

*This 303 tip will only work with synthetic cabinets- not with traditional wood cabinets
**Discount is online only!

Hot Tub Spring Cleaning Tips!

2011-04-05T12:10:00.000-04:00

With the change of seasons you're cleaning your windows, your car & that back closet in the basement you haven't entered in years, so don't forget about your hot tub!

Here are a few Spring Cleaning Tips to get your hot tub in TOP Shape for the season:

1. Purge your Spa: Before Draining, put a Spa Purge agent into your hot tub to clean out bacteria from the plumbing lines. We like Clean Start by Silk Balance or Spa Purge by Natural Chemistry

2. Drain your hot tub: Remember to turn off the power to your hot tub first!

3. Clean the surface of your spa: Paying special attention to the water lines where sticky build-up can occur. Don't forget to wipe down your pillows too! We recommend cleaning the inside of your hot tub with a solution that does not create suds and is not abrasive. Use this solution with a soft rag. For hard-to-clean stains, try a surface cleaner like one made by BaquaSpa or Brilliance for spas. After cleaning, rinse the hot tub througly to get rid of any cleaning solution residue.

4. Clean & Protect Your Cover: Take note of any rips & tears in the vinyl of your cover as these issues can cause loss of heat to your hot tub. Check out our Cover Check-up List to see if it's time to replace your cover. Protect your cover with 303 Vinyl Protectant.

5. Clean the exterior cabinet: Wipe down your cabinet with a mild cleanser. Hot Tip: Spray 303 Vinyl Protectant on your cabinet to make it look new again! Nothing makes a cabinet look better than 303!

6. Clean your Filters: Depending on the type of Hot Tub you have, your filter requires different care & cleaning. Refer to your owner's manual for proper care, or read up on the most common filter care for the hot tubs we sell at Spring Dance.

Following these 6 tips will ensure your hot tub is ready for use all season! If you don't have the patience or time to worry about Spring Cleaning your hot tub, give Decker Cleaning a call. They are a recommended friend of Spring Dance Hot Tubs & can make your hot tub look new again!

Design a Hot Tub Ad Winner Announced

2011-03-31T11:34:00.000-04:00

Every year we take part in The "Design an Ad" Program that the local Bucks County newspaper The Intelligencer runs with area schools! Local school kids design an ad for our company, we pick a winner and then that ad runs in a special section in the newspaper!

Looking through the 30+ entries is always a lot of fun for our staff!

This year there were many great submissions, but we choose the entry from Katya, Age 12, from Sandy Run Middle School as our favorite:

Congratulations to Katya!!

Here are a few runners-up that we loved, as well:

Thanks to all the kids who participated!

All-Star Award

2011-03-22T15:06:00.000-04:00

Last week we found out we were awarded the Constant Contact All-Star Award for the 2nd year in a row for our e-mail communication with our customers!

Thanks to Constant Contact for recognizing our company! And thanks to everyone who reads our monthly e-newsletters! We hope you find them helpful & interesting!

Aren't on our list? What are you waiting for? Join our e-mail list and start learning more about the hot-tub lifestyle & find out about valuable in-store & online savings!

Ace Monthly Tips

2011-02-24T12:03:00.000-05:00

Attention ACE Salt System users: Here's another tip from Hot Spring to help keep your hot tub in top shape!

Monthly Test the water with a test strip. (This step takes less than 1 minute!)

Ensure water is balanced & re-confirm Use level via the control panel. Make adjustments if needed.
Shock the water with bottled chlorine to 5 ppm.

Don't have the ACE system but are interested in Salt water sanitization that is virtually maintenance free? Read about it online or request information from one of our sales reps

Check out all our Past Monthly Ace tips!

Award-winning Dealer in 2010!

2011-02-18T14:19:00.001-05:00

We're excited to announce that we are the recipient of the 2010 Retail Excellence Award for the Best Marketing & Promotions for Hot Spring Spas! We were thrilled to learn we earned this award back in January! This is our first award of this type!

From left to right back: William, Sales Spring Dance; Dan, Owner Spring Dance; Mike, VP Hot Spring; Diane, Retail Spring Dance; Steve, CEO Hot Spring; Chris, Manager Hot Spring; Cathy, Service Spring Dance; George, Service Spring Dance; From left to right, floor: Bekah, Marketing Spring Dance; Jeff, GM Spring Dance; Sean, Manager Hot Spring. Phew

Besides a nice pretty plaque for our award wall, what this means for YOU (our customers) is that we're going to try even harder with our marketing & promotions (Because apparently someone IS watching!) So look out for *hilarious* blog posts like "A Turkey in the hot Tub" in the upcoming year:

*said with a touch of sarcasm !!!

Love your Hot Tub Part 2

2011-02-14T08:58:00.001-05:00

On Friday we shared some of our Spring Dance Hot Tubs' customer reasons why they LOVE their hot tub! Don't miss what they said. Today, to celebrate Valentine's Day, we're featuring a few more responses:

"Our hot tub is our winter resort and weekend getaway all in one. We have an opportunity to be outdoors for an extended period of time, absorb the sunshine or the star-light sky, warm our bodies, reconnect with conversation without electronic distraction, and helps to stoke the fires of romantic as well. All just 10 steps from our back door.

Our hot tub gives winter a positive dimension."

-The Cassera Family in Mt. Laurel, NJ

"We love to soak while the snow is falling!!! Rolling in the snow is also great!!!"
-The Martis family in Doylestown, PA

We LOVE Hot-tubbing in the snow too!! Here is my favorite picture from last year when we featured our customer's hot-tubbing in the wintertime:

So Much FUN!

Why do YOU love your hot tub!? Share below in the comments!

Don't take it from US! Here's why our Customers LOVE their hot tubs!

2011-02-11T14:14:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we asked our customer's why they LOVE their Hot Tub! Here is what they said:

"These long, cold, dark days of winter exacerbate my arthritis and fibromyalgia. I look forward to my nightly soak, which not only warms me to the bone, but also relieves my aching muscles and joints. Usually, I sleep straight through the night after a lovely soak. A morning soak, when time allows during the week, and on weekends, is a wonderful way to start the day."

-Christine from Hatboro, PA

"one word "AMAZING" for the mind and body, the best investment I've ever made."

- Dee from Willingboro, NJ

"it's a blast for any age, anytime of the year!"
Like in the Spring
"AND it can always warm me up for bedtime."
Warm in the Winter!
-Beverly in Doylestown

Why do YOU love your hot tub!? Share in the comments! And stay tuned for more Spring Dance customer responses on Monday!!!

Have a wonderful weekend with your loved ones! And hopefully you get a chance to show your hot tub some love too!

Ace Monthly Tips

2011-02-01T13:04:00.001-05:00

Attention ACE Salt System users: Here's a tip from Hot Spring to help keep your hot tub in top shape!

Weekly Test the water with a test strip. (This step takes less than 1 minute!)

The pH level may increase during the first few weeks after start-up. Add pH decreaser if needed.
Adjust the Use Level, if needed, to maintain 1-3 ppm chlorine.

Don't have the ACE system but are interested in Salt water sanitization that is virtually maintenance free? Read about it online or request information from one of our sales reps!

Sunlighten mPulse Sauna featured on TV Show: The Doctors

2011-01-31T14:47:00.004-05:00

Sunlighten Saunas mPulse model was featured on the TV Show The Doctors last week!

Check out what they had to say about the amazing health benefits of infrared technology!

Check out all the Saunas we have to offer!

Official hot tub of the Philadelphia Home Show

2011-01-13T14:44:00.004-05:00

We're excited to announce that for the 2nd year in a row, we're the Official Hot Tub of the Philadelphia Home Show!

Come see us at the show starting Saturday January 15th, 2011 through Sunday January 23rd. We're displaying over 12 best-selling spas, including some rated Consumer Digest's Best Buy! Plus we'll be featuring the revolutionary ACE Salt Water Sanitizing System at 50% off Retail Price!

Stop in & see us at the Show- we'll be at booth #100 all week long- and find out WHY we're the Official hot Tub of the Philly home Show!! See you there!

Girl's night out

2011-01-07T16:21:00.002-05:00

Read all about the Solana TX
hot tub you could win!

We're excited for an event coming up on Wednesday January 19th in conjunction with B101 Radio & the Philadelphia Home Show: It's Girl's Night Out!

From 5pm - 8pm on Wednesday January 19th, come by the Philadelphia home show for an 80's themed night out with food, wine & prizes! The Home show is celebrating it's 30th year, so make sure you come dressed in 80's attire to join in the fun! There are lots of prizes to be won, including a Solana TX hot tub that we're giving away!

Read the Official Contest rules here and we'll see you on January 19th!

How to protect your Hot Tub from freezing.

2010-12-15T14:43:00.006-05:00

If you find yourself in a situation where the temperature is below freezing & your hot tub has suddenly stopped working or lost heat, follow this advice put together by our service manager, George Thomas, who is, in our minds, the brightest tech in the hot tub industry!

DO NOT DRAIN THE SPA! This is most important. If it has been drained refill it.
Periodically run the jet pumps to circulate the water. This also adds heat generated by pump motors.( If Jets Do not operate go to step #3)
Place submersible pump in center of foot well plug in the pump and allow to run in the spa without a hose, this will circulate water in spa and transfer heat generated by pump motor to water. See picture below
Place small Ceramic Heater or a 100 WATT incandescent light bulb in the Equipment area making sure that heater or bulb DOES NOT TOUCH any components or plumbing. Reinstall front panel to keep heat inside. NOTE: On SUNDANCE SPAS this is to be installed behind Front Right Side Equipment door Not Center Panel.
KEEP SPA COVER CLOSED AT ALL TIMES TO RETAIN HEAT.
If these instructions are followed the spa will be in NO DANGER of FREEZING.

Submersible pump in center foot-well of hot tub

**Little Known Fact: For a Full Foamed Spa to start to potentially freeze it needs to go BELOW 28 Deg.F for at least 36 Hours STRAIGHT.**

©George Thomas and Spring Dance Hot tubs. May not reproduce without permission

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T09:30:00.000-05:00

From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you have a wonderful day! (Yep- those are Turkeys in a "hot tub!")

The ABCs of water balancing

2010-11-16T15:04:00.000-05:00

Here at Spring Dance, we follow a simple rule to remember how to balance your water correctly! It's called the ABCs of water chemistry because it's best to balance your water in alphabetical order:

Alkalinity: Start with your Total Alkalinity before you balance anything else
Calcium Hardness: Your Calcium Hardness level is next. Quick tip about Calcium hardness levels- they are especially important to pay attention to if you're on the ACE Salt water sanitizing system. On other systems, if you find you have foamy water, you might want to raise your calcium a bit!
pH: If your pH is out of wack, balance that next.
Sanitizer: And last but not least, add your sanitizer to the water!

Following the ABCs of water balancing will ensure you balance your water correctly, every time!

Always make sure you add sanitizer after you balance your water. Otherwise you won't have an accurate reading in your water!

And stop in of our stores for FREE water testing!

Hot Tub User's Experience: Baqua Spa

2010-10-11T12:29:00.001-04:00

It's one thing for us at Spring Dance Hot Tubs to give you hot tub care advice & a whole other thing when a customer actually using his hot tub day after day shares a tip. This post was left as a comment on a post about BaquaSpa & has some GREAT tips from an actual Baqua Spa user!

"I initially had the common problems with Baqua Spa then began to read the experiences of other users on the Internet. I found I was using way too much Baqua Spa chemistry. I began to use 1/2 the recommended amounts and my water clarified, no scum and most important, no throat irritation.

I recommend before adding any of the Baqua Spa chemistry MAKE SURE YOUR WATER IS BALANCED FOR pH AND HARDNESS. This will make a huge difference in your success with Baqua Spa.

Start out using 1/2 the recommended start up and maintenance doses and keep testing. If your test show the need for more chemistry or you have a problem such as scum or throat irritation then don't hesitate to use more chemistry. Make sure you test after several hours or overnight before adding more chemistry because it is very easy to end up with more chemistry than you need which will cause you problems.

Too much Waterline Control I have found makes the spa milky. If this happens reduce the amount you use don't increase it. Add only as much as needed to keep the waterline clean of scum.

Only add Sanitizer (#3) if your tests indicate it is needed. If you use more than needed you will have throat irritation. Baqua Spa Sanitizer does not deteriate like clorine which has to be added nearly after every use.

Have patience and dial in your need for adding Baqua Spa chemistry, believe me it is worth it. Crystal clear water, no scum at all and no throat irriation; you skin will feel clean when you get out and Baqua Spa will not irritate or dry out your skin.

Once I figured this out, I have been extremely happy for over 3 years of use.

Good luck and remember to balance your water when you refill before you add Baqua Spa!"

Do you have any spa care tips that could be used in a feature blog post? Leave the tips in the comments or e-mail us with your tips!

Did that really happen!?

2010-09-29T10:00:00.000-04:00

What? You don't believe that we delivered an 19 foot Aquatic Fitness System by a huge crane, over a house and into a customer's backyard?

Well, we did!

And the roof didn't get a hole, the chimney wasn't knocked down and not a single rose bush was damaged!

Amazing isn't it!? Kudos to the Delivery department. And the tech running the really big crane!

Preventing annoying Cover mishaps

2010-09-24T15:44:00.001-04:00

This is NOT funny!

I was reminded today of hot tubs while stopped under a tree, sitting in traffic at a light on my way in to work, when an acorn, or maybe it was the guy next to me throwing an apple core or hey- it could have been a meteor falling from the sky- but SOMETHING hit the roof of my car and DENTED it-

:(

that things like that are not covered by my Volkwagon's warranty. And understandably why. It's not VW's fault that that acorn/apple/alien dropping an meteor hit my car, but it reminded me about things that can happen to hot tubs that manufacture doesn't consider "their fault."

For example, if there's a windstorm & your cover strap breaks- unfortunately, that was mother nature (and blaming mother nature doesn't always get us anywhere) and those sorts of things aren't covered under the warranty.

But the good news is there are a couple things you can do to prevent having to pay out of pocket for Mother Nature's faults. Like:

- Making sure your cover straps are tight
   Sometimes the straps aren't taut against the side of your hot tub. They're adjustable so adjust more or less until the strap feels tight against the spa cabinet

-Making sure the cover stays locked when not in use
   That way a big gust of wind won't sweep up under your newly adjusted cover straps and throw the cover open (and potentially all the way across your lawn- yikes!)

-Making sure to unstrap all the cover locks before using your cover lifter!
   Because there's nothing worse that getting ready for a relaxing soak and "Uh oh? What was that sound?" and realizing you left the back straps in the buckle & the pressure of the cover opening with the cover lifter ripped them right out. Way to ruin relaxation Mother Nature (wait.. can we blame that on Mother Nature? Ah- what the heck. Let's do it anyway!)!!

Don't let this be you!

All these things will prevent little mishaps & Mother Nature from ripping apart your cover & you shaking your fist just like I did, earlier today at that acorn or apple core or that alien throwing a meteor.

Hope that helps!

Big acorn found here

How many football players fit into a hot tub?

2010-09-09T16:25:00.001-04:00

A lot of them when it's as big as the Caldera Cantabria!

These are some of the guys from the Downington West High School football team!!! Good luck this season, guys! Thanks for enjoying the Cantabria with us!

Burlington County Farm Fair

2010-07-22T15:59:00.000-04:00

This weekend, join us at the Burlington County Farm Fair in Lumberton, NJ!

We love doing these local fairs & events- they are such great places to bring the family & see the community (and check out the hot tubs we have on display!)

See you there! We'll be there until Saturday July 24th

Fair Hours & directions

Plus they give me a great excuse to photoshop a cow into a hot tub!

What am I forgetting?

2010-07-20T09:50:00.000-04:00

Hot Tub Housekeeping Guide

Even the most seasoned hot tub owner calls us from time to time with questions about something common with their hot tub. And we don't blame them at all. In a world where everything seemingly needs to be maintained- light bulbs, fridge filters, A/C units, oil changes for the car, heel replacements on that expensive pair of Louboutins, bed pillows (I JUST found out I'm supposed to be replacing those once a year- I guess the pillow I have from college is probably past it's prime years, huh?!)- it's easy to forget hot tub maintenance.

But we make it EASY! Here are some quick reminders for your Hot Tub Housekeeping.

Change your water: A couple times of year is great. While our hot tub's filtration is the best on the market & we're sure our water care systems kill any potential bacteria, it's best to start fresh a few times a year!
Change your Silver Ion cartridges: If you're on a chlorine + ozone system, most likely you had a silver ion (also called SunPurity for Sundance) cartridge installed in your filter or filter area at some point! Those stop working after 3-4 months & should be replaced. Sign up for our auto-ship program & you'll never forget! Download the form here or order a few replacements online
Clean your filters: Because our filtration is so good, your filters will get extra dirty. Make sure you clean them according to the instructions for your type of filter. Forget what cleaning procedure is right for your tub? Download our Filter cleaning instructions!
Protect & Clean your cover: We suggest that every time you drain & refill your spa, you also hose down & clean off any dirt & debris from your hot tub cover. Then use 303 Vinyl Protectant which is like an SPF for the vinyl on your hot tub cover!

Download our helpful Hot Tub Housekeeping Guide & keep it with your hot tub chemicals!

2010 Retail Stars

2010-07-19T16:17:00.000-04:00

We're proud to announce that our owner & general manager Dan Sine and Jeff Bailey were featured as 2010 "Retail Stars" in SpaRetailer magazine- a prestigious publication for the hot tub industry.

Dan & Jeff were interviewed to talk about how we at Spring Dance have gotten through the recession. To recap the article, we don't have a magic answer, we've just maintained a positive attitude! Plus having great customers who believe in the power of relaxation in a hot tub doesn't hurt, either!

Scroll through the article below:
2010 Retail Stars

ACE in the news!

2010-07-16T16:37:00.001-04:00

Today we ran across this press release onilne for Hot Spring Spas's exclusive ACE Salt Water Sanitizing System! We thought it talked about the best features of this revolutionary watercare system much more eloquently than we have here on the blog! Check out a little teaser:

Vista, CA (PRWEB) July 15, 2010

Hot Spring® Spas, the world's number one selling brand of portable spas, has introduced the ACE™ salt water sanitizing system. The ACE system is the first and only integrated hot tub salt water sanitizing system using diamond technology, an innovation that allows consumers to more easily care for their spa with fewer bottled cleaners, which results in fresh, clean water. Hot Spring spa owners can enjoy a virtually maintenance-free hot tub ownership experience with the ACE system, helping to reduce the daily or weekly water care maintenance requirements of traditional systems to once a month. This more hands-free approach allows hot tub owners to spend more time relaxing and enjoying their spa, with less water care maintenance required to keep it clean.

The ACE system’s exclusive and unique diamond technology, which is used today to keep water purified in European breweries and international cruise lines, is a first application for the hot tub industry. The system’s diamond electrode, along with two titanium electrodes, increase the sanitizing power while using less salt than other salt water systems. It also automatically generates five different cleaners instead of just chlorine, reducing the amount of bottled products to measure and pour. Read the entire press release online

Have you been into our showrooms to check out the ACE Sanitizing System yet!?

Spring Dance Hot Tubs awarded coveted SpaSearch Award

2010-05-18T11:45:00.001-04:00

We are so excited to announce that all 3 of our locations have received the 2010 SpaSearch Certified Retail Store certification!

SpaSearch.org is the leading online source for unbiased, hot tub information. They collect & distribute facts on all sorts of manufacturers & retailers. They provide the information and YOU- the consumer- decide who is worth checking out!

Our company underwent a outside audit of our business practices focusing on our product, our showrooms, our sales procedures & customer service. And at the end they decided all 3 of our locations were worthy of this coveted award!

We are so excited to have the great honor of holding this certification! Thanks to all our customers who make it SO easy to love what we do- we sell big boxes of relaxation! How could we NOT love that!?

And if you're wondering, if our hot tub manufacturers, Hot Spring Spas and Caldera Spas, are certified, they are!

The Adventures of a Monkey in a hot tub store

2010-04-20T16:40:00.001-04:00

When people ask what I do and hear it is in the hot tub industry, they assume it's all fun & games! While we do occasionally get down to serious business, they are right- we do have a lot of fun!

On my daily walk from my desk to the soda refrigerator, I get to escape the back office & enter the showroom and even occasionally partake in leftover popcorn from the previous weekend's sale! There is always something new to see. Last week's walk wasn't any different.

Imagine my surprise, as I popped open my can of diet coke, when I saw a monkey... in a hot tub....

No no, not a real monkey (we're not THAT much fun), but a big, stuffed one nonetheless.

Here he is just hanging out in the Cantabria- I think he's hoping someone will turn on the wireless TV for him.

Have you been to our Jamison showroom lately? Have you seen the monkey in an odd place? Look for him next time you stop in to pick up some chemicals... You never know where he might be.....!

Regional Dealer of the Year

2010-03-11T15:25:00.007-05:00

A few weeks ago we found out that we were named the Regional Dealer of the Year for 2009 by Hot Spring Spas for the Virginia to New York region!

This award is such an honor for our company and is the 3rd time we've been awarded it since we opened in 1998!

Thanks to our employees for their great work over the past year as well as all of our customers- You make make working for Spring Dance so easy and fun!

(From L to R) Mike Dunn, VP of Sales & Marketing at Hot Spring,
Rebekah Decker, Marketing Manger at Spring Dance,

Jeff Baily GM at Spring Dance, Dan Sine President
of Spring Dance, FJ Higgins Store Manager at Spring Dance,

Steve Hammock CEO Hot Spring Spas, Chris Polito, Eastern US Sales Manager Hot Spring

Hot-tubbing in the snow!

2010-03-05T16:36:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who sent in pictures of your or your family hot-tubbing during one of the many blizzards we've had this season! The funny thing is when we first asked for pictures to be submitted, it was during the FIRST of those two snow storms we got back to back. Most of these pictures are from THAT snowstorm! We got another foot plus after these pictures were submitted!!!!

So beautiful and peaceful!

I bet he had a blast!

How did you GET to your hot tub is my question!?

No fair! You have an umbrella to protect you from the snow!

How fun for the kids!

It's been a few weeks I already forget how much snow we got! Look at that!

How fun! Invite me next time!

Thanks everyone! I've always said winter time in the snow is my FAVORITE time to be in a hot tub!

ACE Salt water sanitation system

2010-02-12T15:35:00.003-05:00

We are so excited to announce a revolutionary new product from Hot Spring Spas. The ACE Salt Water Sanitizing System is the spa industry's only fully-integrated natural spa care system -- a system that will save you time, save you money and give you crystal clear, natural water!

Hot Spring's exclusive "Diamond Technology" converts regular table salt into powerful (but natural) sanitizers and oxidizers such as Active Oxygen and Natural Chlorine. Natural Chlorine has no odor and does not irritate the skin or eyes, but it is the most effective sanitizer available. Active Oxygen is an oxidizer (similar to Ozone) that helps break down organics and destroy bacteria.

This system makes Hot Spring models virtually chemical free! No more dry, itchy, irritated skin...no more chlorine smell. Just clean, care-free water!

Other benefits:

Works through your existing Control Panel (on all 2010+ Hot Spring Models and select 2009 models).
Natural Chlorine has no odor!
Natural Chlorine does not irritate the skin or eyes (or fade bathing suits)!
Softer water feels better!
Softer water means less corrosion, prolonging the life of your spa and its equipment.

Cleaner, clearer, natural water...and less work! How great is that!?

Contact us for a quote on a new Hot Spring spa with the ACE Salt water sanitizing system!

Hot Tubbing in a Winter Wonderland

2010-02-05T11:32:00.002-05:00

With the East Coast about to be pounded with snow, we got to thinking about HOW MUCH FUN it is to be in a hot tub when it's snowy out!

Proof:

(brrr!)

After the cut, read some tips on Hot-tubbing in the snow!

Don't shovel the snow off your cover! Most likely you'll damage the cover. Try to brush off the snow gently (before it turns to ice!)
Don't Panic if your hot tub stops heating. Read what to do here
Send us a picture of you or your family in the hot tub! The first three people to send in a picture will get a $50 store credit! Email your picture here!
If we get a ton of wind like they're predicting, it's not a good idea to be IN your tub if you have a cover lifter. The lifter can snap if it's especially windy out!
HAVE FUN and be safe!!!

Not all hot tub covers are made the same!

2010-02-01T15:43:00.004-05:00

In fact, many of them are made badly! When looking for a new cover there are a lot of things to consider, but start with these questions:

Is the cover tapered, allowing for water to run off it instead of sitting on top?
What kind of vinyl is used? How about the thread to sew it all together? Do their materials ensure that your cover will be able to withstand harsh weather, chemicals and intense sunlight for years to come? That's especially important living in the climate we have in PA and NJ. We have it all- sun, heat, ice and snow!
What about energy efficiency of the cover? What do they have in place to make sure the heat from your tub isn't lost through the cover?
What about Safety? All the townships we work with require that your hot tub have a cover that is UL classified in something called "ASTM F1346-91 Standard for Safety Covers" and that it has child resistant safety locks with a key.

If you get a cover through our company, you can be assured that we meet all the above criteria plus much more (I bet you're NOT surprised! Wouldn't that be ironic if I wrote all that and then said "But we don't follow those guidelines! BUY OUR covers!") We get covers from two places:

If you have a Hot Spring or Caldera product, we order your cover directly from them (Watkins Manufacturing). They make all their covers in-house and use a superior marine-grade vinyl and a polyester thread that is treated so that your cover will last through years of intense sunlight, rough weather and chemical treatment. Watkins Manufacturing is one of the greenest companies in the hot tub industry and to keep their covers efficient they have this exclusive "shoe" in the hinge of the cover hinge that creates a tight seal that locks in heat so that your hot tub stays warm in the cold winter months and your electric bill doesn't rise! Read more about the Hot Spring cover!

For our Sundance or off-brand covers (yes- we can order a cover for ANY brand, even if you have NO idea what kind of hot tub you have!) We order through Sunstar covers. Sunstar ALSO uses marine-grade vinyl for all their covers and they have a taper in their foam of 4" thick in the middle down to 2.5" thick at the edges- perfect for water run off. Sunstar manufactueres each cover thinking "green" by using virgin foam cores (a stronger, more durable foam), a full length heat seal gasket to keep in the heat as well as a vapor seal to give you that added protection against heat loss in the cold winter months. Plus, we automatically order ALL our covers from Sunstar with 2lb EPS foam (instead of the standard, 1 lb) at no extra cost, giving you added energy efficiency! Read their 20 Reasons to Buy a Sunstar Cover!

Think you might need a new cover? Download this handy Cover Check Up Form to see how your cover is doing!

Finding Hot Spring spas in unusual places....!

2010-01-13T13:43:00.010-05:00

I love when I'm just browsing the internet during the day (Okay, I was on Facebook- but it was during my lunch break!) and I come across stuff that reminds me of work!

Take a look at this hot tub at the end of this advertisement:

That's a Solana TX with a different cabinet!!

I guess I can consider my Facebook surfing "work time" now, right!?

Speaking of Facebook, are you our "Fan" yet!? Become a Fan of Spring Dance Hot Tubs now!

Official hot tub of the Philadelphia Home Show

2010-01-08T16:59:00.000-05:00

This year we're the OFFICIAL hot tub of the Philadelphia Home Show!

The Philly home show is a GREAT show that we are a part of every year. Have you ever been to the show? Why not try it out this year for the first time!?

We'll be there from Saturday January 16th to Sunday January the 24th.

Check out their website for more details and all the times and you can even save $3.00 off the admission price by buying tickets online!

See you there!

Silk Balance: Get a bottle for free!

2009-12-11T12:52:00.001-05:00

This fall we introduced you to a revolutionary hot tub water care product called Silk Balance! If you are new to our blog or haven't checked out the product yet, catch up on what this product is all about here:

Here is what people are saying about Silk Balance:

Silk Balance give our hot tub the right balance effortlessly its so easy to use. We can get romantic now without a lot of problem bubbles and gunk, because Silk Balance keeps the water clean, soft and clear."
Thanks,
Jayne and Chris
York, Maine

To all those with a spa that do not like dealing with all the chemicals. This stuff is great!!!! Once a week all I need to is pour 4.5 oz. in and I am done. I love it!
Thanks
John G.
Colorado Springs, CA

Have you been using the product!? What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

If you're currently using Silk Balance, send us a your thoughts about the product along with a digital picture by your hot tub, holding the product, and you can get a bottle for free!! It's THAT easy! E-mail us your testimonial plus the picture at:
Relax@springdancehottubs.com

Don't try this at home

2009-11-24T10:34:00.001-05:00

I've always warned against eating KFC in the hot tub... This just proves I was right!

Source

Wintertime Hottubbing Tips

2009-11-12T14:40:00.001-05:00

Over the life of our HotTubs101 blog, we've written many posts offering tips and suggestions for hot-tubbing in the wintertime! We've compiled the tips here so you don't have to go searching high and low all over the site!

Should I winterize my hot tub and "Close up shop" for the cold season!? Read "To Winterize or Not to Winterize" here
How do I prepare for the cold weather this season? "Preparing for the cold"
What should I be doing once the cold weather hits!? "Winter Time Hot-Tubbing Tips"
Cover tips for the winter
What to do if your spa stops heating
And lastly, ENJOY your hot tub this winter! Winter is our favorite time to get in the hot tub! There's nothing like coming home from a hard day at work, pouring yourself a glass of wine (or hot chocolate!), running quickly through the cold and into your spa to relax and warm up while the air around you is frigid and snow falls lightly to the ground! Ah... bliss!

Hot tub image courtesy of Hot Spring Spas Installation Ideas!

What to do when your hot tub stops heating

2009-10-30T14:37:00.000-04:00

PANIC!

No.. just kidding. You don't need to panic. In the rare case that your Hot Spring, Caldera or Sundance spa DOES stop heating, know you're in good hands. First of all those 3 brands have the BEST warranties in the industry, and even if your hot tub is out of warranty, our service department has highly trained service technicians who can take care of your spa quickly and efficiently!

In the cold season, you do need to remember a few things if your hot tub stops heating:

Don't panic :)
Contact our service department if you're a Spring Dance Hot Tub's customer OR contact the service center where you purchased your spa if you're outside of our area
Do not under any circumstance drain your hot tub! Especially when the temperature drops below freezing, you could be doing MORE damage to your spa if it's empty and the plumbing lines are still filled with water. And freeze damage is not covered under ANY warranty!

After the jump, read some suggestions for hot tub heater fixes!

Why is my heater not working!?

Without a service technician checking out the heater element of your hot tub, it's hard to know for sure, but if you're experiencing intermittent heating issues or your spa is taking a long time to heat, it may just be a simple fix:

If your heater is cycling on and off continuously: You could have a dirty filter! Try cleaning your filter cartridge(s) or try our simple filter test. In rare cases, you could have a low water level. If your spa's water level looks unusually low, trying filling the spa a bit to see if the heater kicks on continuously.

If your hot tub is taking a long time to heat: You could have a bad thermostat or hi-limit switch in your spa, but it won't hurt to try the simple filter test here as well. This could also be the result of a dirty filter

Source

DID YOU KNOW: Cover straps

2009-10-12T10:26:00.002-04:00

Did you know that the most common complaint we hear from our customers about hot tub covers is that one or more of the straps & buckles from the 4 hot tub corners have broken?

9 times out of 10, this is preventable! Usually where we see broken straps & buckles is at the BACK of the hot tub, where the cover rests when the hot tub is in use. Do you know that handy-dandy cover lifter you have installed to help you lift your cover off your spa? Well, it's usually VERY helpful (especially for weaklings like ME who can barely lift off even the smallest hot tub cover!) except that- you must remember to unbuckle your cover straps in the BACK of your hot tub! If you forget, the lifter does it's job and lifts your cover smoothly & easily but will tear out the cover strap at the back because of the force.

So just a tip from us to you- unbuckle those back straps and you won't have any hot tub cover strap and buckle issues!

Want to learn more about caring for your hot tub cover? Check out the archives here

Funtimes at a hot tub store

2009-09-29T11:19:00.009-04:00

One of the best things about working at Spring Dance Hot Tubs is that we get to laugh a lot. Whether it's because of a mistake someone made, something funny our general manager says over the intercom when there aren't any customers in the store or a new picture posted on our "wall of funny pictures" in the back office, there's always room for laughs!

I just had a "laugh out loud" moment in my office after reading a recent e-mail. Lately we've been getting a lot of scam e-mails from people in foreign countries asking how much a hot tub would cost to ship to a place like Nicaragua. Usually I ignore them because it's an obvious scam, but sometimes it's not so obvious. Or sometimes I haven't laughed in awhile, so I play along

Yesterday we got a request for a quote on Cantabria model hot tub. My first clue that it was a scam was that it was signed:

Best regards,
Egidijus Grigas

#1 Someone needs to clue the foreign scammers in that NO ONE says "Best regards" in the US, but I decided to respond to this e-mail just in case it happened to be someone living locally. Writing a 2 sentence e-mail only wasted 30 seconds of my time!

I asked Egidijus where he lived so I could forward the request on to a sales rep in a store closest to him.

This morning I read this response:

HI,

I‘m understand, but I‘m interesting how much it cost in your country.

And if price will be lawer, maybe I move to your country.

Oh really Egidijus? You'd move to the United States because you can get a "lawer" price hot tub here!?

Thanks for the LOLs today!!! [And I won't be responding to him, obviously :) ]

It's Fall! Time to clean that Hot Tub!

2009-09-10T12:22:00.026-04:00

We think the best part about the chilly season ahead is relaxing in a warm hot tub while the air around you is brisk and cool (although, I'll admit, I like it more than warm- 102-104 degrees is best for me!) On the other hand, the worst part about the chilly season is cleaning your spa in the cold!

Why not do a thorough hot tub cleaning NOW so that you can enjoy the cold season without worrying about going out into 10 degree weather and scrubbing down your hot tub shell (because let's face it- you're not going to do that. So you'll probably just end up avoiding your hot tub all winter long- NO FUN!)

Last fall we introduced this Fall Hot Tub checklist. We've updated it a bit with some new tips:

Drain your hot tub water and before you do, run a Spa Purge through the water to get rid of any build up.
Clean or replace your filters
Clean & scrub down your hot tub shell
Clean your hot tub pillows
Clean your Spa Cover and condition it with our 303 vinyl protectant product!
Check to make sure your all 4 cover locks aren't brittle or broken. If they are, it might be a good time to replace them! Or take our Cover Check-Up test to see if it's time for a new cover.

If you know you aren't going to use your hot tub during the chilly months, you may want to consider winterizing your spa. Having this done professionally by our service department will ensure your spa won't freeze when the weather dips below 32 degrees.

Download our Hot Tub Housekeeping Instructions document for more detailed Fall cleaning instructions!

You may be the type of person who wants NOTHING to do with draining & cleaning a hot tub. If so, you're in luck! We've partnered with David Decker (a former employee) to offer our customers a great deal on "Drain & Cleans" for your hot tub. If you have David come out to your home, he will:

Completely drain the hot tub water
Clean & sanitize the entire hot tub shell
Clean and treat the cabinet
Clean and condition the spa cover
Refill the spa
Start up & balance the chemicals

Plus, David will pick up and deliver any chemicals or filters you need at no extra cost! Make sure to mention you are a Spring Dance customer when you call him to get a quote for your spa!

Phone #: 267-421-4371
OR
E-mail him at: DeckerCleaning@gmail.com

Let David do the work to get your hot tub
in top condition for the chilly months ahead!

Fall artwork Source

Warm Up in Your Hot Tub on Chilly Nights

2009-09-09T16:20:00.009-04:00

Our General Manager, Jeff, was interviewed for an article on PoolLifeMagazine about ways to increase the enjoyability of your hot tub in the upcoming chilly months! He was quoted as saying:

“People are tying their hot tubs in with their backyard sanctuaries,” says Jeff Bailey, Vice President of Spring Dance Hot Tubs. He suggests spicing up the scene by adding lighting or water features to the mix.

The article has some GREAT tips for chilly hot-tubbing nights!

Smell: Try Aromatherapy like Being scents for your hot tub. Just pour in a capful & relax while smelling the soothing scent of green tea, lavender, lemon cypress & basil and so many more! (Try my favorite Release- Chamomile & Clarky Sage!)

Sight: Add a few candles around your hot tub for a romantic ambiance!

Sound: Most likely, if you have a tub from Spring Dance, you have a water feature in your spa. Try turning off the jets but keeping your waterfall on. Lay back, enjoy the smell of your aromatherapy & the glow of the candles around your spas- Ahhh! Bliss! (and if you don't have a hot tub with a water feature, why not shop our virtual showroom to see what is available!)

If you have a stereo in your hot tub or an ipod hook-up, pop in your favorite tunes! By the way, what is your favorite type of music to listen to in your hot tub? Share it with us in the comments!

Touch: Nothing is worse than touching a dirty hot tub or dirty feeling hot-tub water! Make sure to keep your hot tub clean so you can enjoy the chilly fall nights. Read all about hot tub cleaning care here! And why not try our new product, Silk Balance, that our customers are RAVING about because it clears up your water while providing a silky, clean touch!

Taste: Our favorite! The article on PoolLifeMagazine has a great recipe for a Strawberry Sensation Smoothie that you can enjoy in your hot tub on those chilly nights! Read the entire article here for the recipe plus many more chilly night hot-tubbing tips! What is your favorite thing to drink while you're relaxing in your hot tub?

And just for YOU, our blog readers, enjoy a 10% discount through the end of the September in our online store! Maybe you can try out a few Being scents!
Use the promotional code: BEING10

Start Shopping now!

Silk Balance- further instructions

2009-07-29T16:16:00.003-04:00

We introduced Silk Balance a few weeks ago through our blog, on our website and via e-mail to our customer base (psst- are you on our email list? No!? Why not!? Join it here) and so far it's been flying off our shelves!

Have you tried it? What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

We've updated our instructions & changed them slightly- you can find them here. (Just a note- these instructions are for hot tubs with circulation pumps only! If your tub does not have a circulation pump or you are unsure if it does, please contact us for different instructions!)

Since you use the same amount of the Silk Balance product weekly (4 oz), we figure you'll need a new bottle every 15 weeks or so. By signing up with our Auto-Ship program, we'll send you a new bottle every 15 weeks with free shipping! Sign up here

Our General Manager, Jeff, recently took a bottle of Silk Balance home to try it out in his spa- he had a problem with "gunk" still in his spa from the old chemicals he used- his pipes seemed to be clogged with it, even after a purge with Natural Chemistry's Spa Purge. He suggests a DOUBLE purge before you start Silk Balance and here is what he did:

To purge the spa you need to use Borax (available at any grocery store in the Laundry Detergent Isle)

Remove the filters from the Spa
Poor the entire Box of Borax in the water
Run the jets for one hour (In the combo position)
Let it sit over night and then run again for 15 Minutes and then Drain
Clean out all the debris in the spa.
Refill the spa, run the jets in the combo position for 30 min. and the Drain the Spa again
Refill the spa and you have completed the purging process.

If you do not fill the spa and drain it a second time the silk balance system may not work properly

So....? How are you liking it!? What questions do you have for us? Leave us comments and questions below!

A buy your first bottle of Silk Balance here

Silk Balance

2009-07-07T13:27:00.005-04:00

We're so excited to introduce a new, revolutionary product being sold exclusively by Hot Spring dealers: Silk Balance

What is Silk Balance and why are you adding another water care treatment program to confuse me!?

Good question! And hopefully this will help answer it. Straight from their website:

SilkBalance® is a spa water care treatment program specially formulated to:
be soft and easy on your skin
be very simple to use
be a one step process, add one measure
provide crystal clear water
provide a refreshing scent
provide continuous pure water quality
be safer for the environment
prevent dangerous bacteria build up

Sounds great, right? But don't all water care treatment options promise to do those things? Yes. But they don't all do it. Sure, many of them provide clear water- but often times there is a chemical smell that goes along with it. And if you've been using BaquaSpa for years, you know that while it smells much better than traditional chemicals, the water is not crystal clear, due to the chemical make-up.

Again from their website:

SilkBalance® for Spas is specially formulated to be soft on your skin and keep water crystal clear and fresh without harmful chemicals.

You now will have more time to enjoy your spa, so do away with all those different chemicals, testing, mixing, adjusting, guessing, measuring and frequent trips to the dealer.

It really is as simple as 4 oz per week plus a little bit of chlorine & oxidizer/shock. That's it!

Download the instructions here

And for a limited time, the introductory price is $169.00 for a bottle that should last the average user about 4 months! Check it out in our online store here

Leave your thoughts, questions & comments for us in the comment section! We'll be happy to answer any questions!

What's in a name?

2009-07-01T14:09:00.001-04:00

What do you call your hot tub? A jacuzzi? A spa? A whirlpool spa? A hot tub? A big, warm box of water!?

We hear different names all the time, but have noticed a trend toward "Hot tub" in recent years. Is there a difference between any of the terms? Let's check it out:

What is a jacuzzi? Well, Jacuzzi is actually a name brand of a hot tub and kinda like with the "kleenex-complex" has become synonomous with the term "hot tub." Often times a customer calls us wanting to order a "new cover for my jacuzzi," and we go through the entire order process before we realize he/she doesn't actually have a jacuzzi-model tub!

What is a spa? A spa is another term used in place of "hot tub," and doesn't mean anything different! We like to use the term "hot tub" over "spa" because if you google "spa" (click that link- you'll like it!) most of the results will be for "Day spas!" Most people tend to think of a day spa before they think of a hot tub when the term "spa" is used!

What is a whirlpool spa? We don't hear this term too often anymore, but it seems to have popped up around the time the jacuzzi was introduced. Everyone is familiar with the Whirlpool brand for refrigerators, dishwaters etc., and they have a bathtub that is made by the company that owns jacuzzi hot tubs! This term generally refers to a hot-tub like tub in a bathroom!

What is a hot tub? Well, we think you already know the answer to this one, but we like to think of it as the perfect place for relaxation, enjoyment with your family, significant other or friends! This is our favorite term to use in our company, and you'll hear us refer to the products we sell as "hot tubs" most often!

We're pretty passionate about hot tubs, and love talking about them- no matter if you call it a jacuzzi, whirlpool bath, spa or big, warm box of water!

Party time in your hot tub!

2009-05-20T14:13:00.006-04:00

With Memorial Day coming up, no doubt you'll be somewhere with a volleyball net, bocche ball set, horseshoe throwing contest and many other fun, outdoor games! Why not start a new tradition incorporating your hot tub?

One of our employees came up with a great hot tub party idea: Soaker Poker! We've provided instructions on how to create your game pieces & the best way to have fun with a poker game in the hot tub! Download the instructions here

Check out our website for more Party-ideas or submit your own ideas to us via email! If we pick your entry, you will win $50 store credit!