Frequently asked questions and answers
Frequently asked questions and answers
Why does hot water make you feel good?
Immersing in hot water rushes blood to the skin, where it is warmed before penetrating deeper into the tissue below the skin This transports more oxygen, cleanses carbon dioxide and relaxes your muscles. Stimulation of endorphines in the brain also create a more pleasureable feeling of well-being Immersing in hot water also enlarges blood vessels, helping unclog nasal passages and increases body temperature thus increasing the number of virus and bacteria fighting white blood cells. :
What should I consider before buying a spa?
There are many, many different spas on the marketplace today. Relying on manufacturers such as QCA that have been in business for over 30 years - since portable spas first came onto the marketplace - will eliminate many pitfalls that can occur with newer companies. When evaluating the size and capacity of spa you want, consider that many manufacturers provide outside spa depth dimensions including the false floors that have been put underneath these spas to give them the appearance of being deeper. Only when you actually sit inside the spa, do you realize that your shoulder may not even go underwater - especially when seated in the loungers and shallow seats. When sitting in any seat or lounger, the water should reach at least shoulder level. If it does not, you will not get complete hydrotherapeutic value and expose upper body to different ambient temperatures. If you do not have the opportunity to sit in a filled spa, it is still recommended to sit in display floor model so you will note how roomy the spa feels from inside. If you were to sit in other manufacturers models that use the illusion of a false floor to provide more depth you will quickly see the difference before you buy.
We encourage this type of testing - keep your shoes on! - as our durable Aristech Quarite ABS-Backed Acrylic material is impervious to scratching, scuffing and staining and no harm can be done as the customer can easily compare different spa types and models. It is not so much the size of the spa as the capacity that needs to be considered. One way to check this, is to compare water volume ratings, as this may give you a closer indication of how much comfortable seating room you will actually have. QCA Spas does not use false-floors, and our depth dimensions more accurately reflect the actual depth of the spa.If the spa has a Lounger, it too should be deep enough to keep you in the seat. You will notice QCA lounges incorporate an anti-float design and provide leg / foot supports for various body sizes.
Can the spa be installed inside or outside?
Spas can be installed indoors or outdoors, although most spas in the world are installed outdoors. QCA provides models that will fit through European standard doorways. Many spa owners choose to locate the spa on a deck or terrace near the back door. For an easy solution to both privacy, comfort and visual appeal, a gazebo may be just the thing you need to provide a complete and easy solution to weather, comfort and privacy concerns. Is plumbing necessary,
Is the installation complicated?
No. All of our portable spas are easily filled from the top using a garden hose. The only thing required is the electrical connection. All of the spa features, plumbing, pumps are self-contained and all spas come complete with insulating cover.
How often do I change the water? :
Your spa should be equipped with an easy access top-loading filter. Avoid the lower priced front-loaded type that cause you to drag the dirty filter through the clean spa water every time you want to clean it. An integrated chemical dispenser avoids the hassle of the less effective "floating chemical dispensers" and provides an easy and adjustable method of sanitizing spa water automatically. It is recommended that the spa water be changed 3-4 times per year. A dedicated drain fitting integrated into the spa cabinet provides easy access for garden hose hookup to drain the spa without having to unscrew side panels or open up the spa interior. :
How is the temperature controlled?
Most quality spas employ digital thermostatic controls. Temperatures can safely be maintained to the nearest degree and readouts in Celcius for the European market. Integrated freeze and overheat protection as well as automatic power off makes owning a spa effortless. Balboa is the leading manufacturer of these type of controls. Utilizing a high end 3.0 kw heater instead of the lower priced 1.5 or 2kw heaters make sure energy is efficiently used and heating time can be significantly reduced. :
What about insulation?
Quality manufacturers consider the long term of spa ownership when designing spas.
Manufacturers that use advanced manufacturing methods which employ ABS-backed acrylic instead of older style fiberglass are able to provide a sturdier, longer lasting product.
Not only is the manufacturing process that does not use fiberglass more environmentally friendly, but the stronger more expensive ABS backed shell material allows for elimination of foam shell support.
Many manufacturers use the lower priced standard Acrylic that must be supported with fiberglass and foam. The foam is referred to as insulation, but actually supports this lower priced shell material. There are many disadvantages with spraying low cost expanding foam into the spa cabinet including lack of access to important plumbing parts and jet surfaces as well as the ability to quickly check for and fix a leak should it occur.
Many times a leak in a foam filled cabinet will manifest itself over many months and the result is a rotted out interior with odorous, soaked foam material that creates quite a mess. It does not represent a "clean" approach to long lasting maintenance, but is necessary for the support of lower priced shell materials. QCA utilizes ABS backed acrylic and completely insulates both the inside of the cabinet and the entire back of the shell while eliminating any need to cut "hole" or "vents" into the cabinet, required of foam supported spas, which lets all the warm air from the inside of the cabinet out again Easy access to all important areas of the spa should be guaranteed and not covered up with hardened, low cost foam. Out of experience it has been determined, that the foam some manufacturers must support their spa shells with actually expands and contracts over time. This movement and settling of the foam especially around critical jet areas and pipe unions can actually cause spa leaks in these type of spas. They refer to this shell support as insulation, even though 80% of the warmth escapes a spa through the top, as heat rises.
You will not feel heat when putting your hand on a properly insulated spa cabinet, as the heat will only escape through the top. A solid thick tapered hard cover placed on the spa when not in use is the best heat-saving item necessary for any spa. It is recommended to avoid products that use the foam type of shell support and prefer those that retain heat generated by the pumps, plumbing and reuse instead of vent off that valuable energy