Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
Spa Heaters While the ideal maximum temperature for a swimming pool is 78 to 82 degrees F., spa water is heated much higher--in some cases up to 104 degrees F.
Gas heaters are by far the fastest, warming the water in a matter of minutes. Among electric heaters, those that run on 110 volts heat water very slowly, while those that run on 220 volts are comparatively quicker. However, electric heaters are far more expensive to operate than gas heaters in most regions of the country.
Spa Controls Manual controls are ordinarily located right on the edge of the spa. They can be used to turn on the pump as well as the heater and the hydrojets, all with simple switches.
Increasingly, however, spas can be adjusted from afar. Wireless controls allow adjustment from any room in the home. Telephone connections make it possible to control the settings from virtually anywhere, so you can arrive home to a spa that is heated, bubbling, and ready for use.
No matter how sophisticated the controls, however, all spas have a manual override switch so you can make adjustments while you're in the spa.
Swimming Pools & Spas All you need to know about planning and installing a pool. Also, guides to pool equipment and components. Includes an idea gallery with breathtaking pool photography.
