Troubleshooting Pool Pumps

Plunge into splashy world of the new-generation spas

Tub after tub of bubbling blue water beckons fairgoers. What could offer a more refreshing seat on a summer afternoon?

It's spa season, annually heralded by splashy displays at the California State Fair. As the 2011 fair opens Thursday, new spas and hot tubs offer a lot more options than colored lights.

They're filled with fitness as well as entertainment and relaxation. They de-stress while working out more than kinks. Instead of taking a seat, how about swimming laps?

"The big change is the focus on aquatic exercise," said Tom Tapken, CEO of Rocklin-based California Backyard. "Before, spas were all about hot water and bubbles. It was a feel-good and social thing.

"Now, a lot of spa products are focused on fitness," he added. "(Olympian) Michael Phelps uses a swim spa for training. You can get a spa with a stainless steel treadmill or an exercise bike anchored to the bottom. The water supports your joints. It helps with arthritis – and we're all getting older. You can use it year-round for aquatic exercise; with a pool, you use it three or four months, then shut it down."

This emphasis on exercise has helped put some renewed sparkle into the spa business. Like many home improvement companies, spa and hot tub dealers saw their business decline 50 to 60 percent during the recession, they say. Many manufacturers went out of business or closed showrooms.

That may mean more spa dealers at this year's State Fair, spa sellers predicted. In recent summers, spa dealers had cut back on their Cal Expo displays due to high costs of space rental and staffing. But without a showroom, some dealers may attend the fair to attract new business.

Spa sales have started to trickle up. According to the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, sales of new spas and hot tubs rose 4 percent in 2010 to 182,000 nationwide.

Who's buying? The average spa owner is age 45, college-educated, with an annual income of $75,000, the association says.

"Business is going steady, which we like," said Shiva Noble, vice president of Cal Spas. "It's a good thing; it had been up and down."

California remains the spa leader with one in seven of all American-owned residential spas. Californians own almost as many spas as in-ground pools.

Summer really is California spa season, with most purchases between May and late September.

"People get into their backyard when the weather changes and they start thinking about how to update it," Noble said. "Instead of moving, they're staying in that same home and making improvements to their living space. A spa makes their yard feel more resortlike; it makes it more fun.

Troubleshooting Resources for a Pool Pump | china-net.org

If you have issues with your pool pump, there are numerous sources of troubleshooting available from Heritage pools pumps. There is a plethora of information online that answers questions all over the spectrum. There are answers about the pump itself, like, is it leaking or is not pumping water as it usually does. Heritage also answers a multitude of question in regards to the motor, like, is it noisy, why won’t it start and how long does the motor usually last before I need to buy a new one? You can also find installation instructions so you can properly hook the pool pump up to the swimming pool. This can save you time and money so that you do not have to call for a pool repairman to come out and do these things for you. It just takes a little patience to maintain your own swimming pool. Then you can spend more time actually in it.

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