Hot Tub FAQ
and
Hot Tub Instructions
Q. Will I need to pay a security deposit?
A. Not generally but we retain the right to request a deposit of £200 which will be returned to you after collection of the Hot Tub providing there is no damage to it and we have access to get it at the agreed time and date and it has not been stolen.
Any damage caused by gross misuse may include a the Hot Tub costing £1,500, a replacement filter charge of £5, and/or a cleaning charge of £75 if applicable.
If the hirer does not pay for damage or a stolen Hot Tub willingly then we will pursue for lost monies in a small claims court and if it has to lead to this stage then we will also claim for lost hire time.
Q. I can't seem to book online?
PLEASE NOTE due to limitations in our booking system during periods of high demand we may switch off online booking.
In the event please text us with the date on which you wish to hire, the duration you require it, the number of people that will be using the Hot Tub and your postcode and we will respond with a definitive price and availability.
We aim to respond promptly.
Q. Prices
PLEASE NOTE that advertised prices are OFF PEAK prices and are subject to demand and seasonal variations. PEAK times normally include but are not exclusive to school holidays, public holidays and festive/celebratory days such as Christmas, New Year, Valentines Day, Easter, Good Friday, Fathers Day and Mothers Day etc.
Q. Do you require a booking deposit and when do I pay?
We ask for a non refundable deposit of between £50-£100 at the time of booking to secure the Hot Tub with the remaining balance being due prior to installation.
Final payment can be made by cash to the driver, credit card (if a mobile network signal is available in your area) or bank transfer the night before delivery.
Failure to make payment will result in the Hot Tub not being able to be set up and you losing the booking and your deposit.
Q. How old do I need to be to book a Hot Tub?
You will need to be of legal age responsibility being 18 or have permission from an adult who agrees to take responsibility for the hire.
Q. Are these safe for children?
A. Absolutely but as with any situation with water and children YOU MUST be observant and never leave your child unattended in the Hot Tub. You should also be sure that you child has no allergy to the chemicals we add to the water. Please ensure the temperature gauge is set to below 38 degree as children are prone to overheating.
Q. What do we need to provide and are there any limitations?
A. You will need to have a flat, clean and level surface measuring approximately 3m by 3m. Depending on the model the Hot Tub occupies approximately a 2m by 2m footprint but you need space around the Hot Tub to be able to get in and out of it.
You will need to provide a hose long enough to reach the Hot Tub to allow for filling. This can be connected to either cold or hot water supply.
You will also need a safe electricity supply (this can be internal or external) but should be no further than 15m away from the Hot Tub and capable of accepting an RCD Socket Adaptor. It is also expected by us that your house wiring will already have compliant RCD breakers at the fuse box from whence the Hot Tub will be connected.
If you have any doubts please seek professional advise from a competent electrician.
Q. Are chemicals provided?
A. Yes we will treat the water before leaving and provide you with a chemical floating device containing Bromine tablets which should remain in the water when not in use. This should be adequate for short term weekend use.
If the Hot Tubs are used heavily such as parties or weekly hires then you will need to use the unique and comprehensive chemical pack we will have given you. Follow the easy to use instruction found inside the box and in the 'Maintenance' guide shown in the FAQ page on this website.
Please remember however that these are leisure Hot Tubs NOT communal baths so the more people that use them the more problems you'll have with water quality. We take NO responsibility for such misuse and you may be liable for the cost of the Hot Tub in the event of its misuse.
YOU are responsible for maintaining the chemical levels within the Hot Tub and providing any additional chemical treatment. If you require us to attend a £75 fee will be chargeable plus a delivery fee of £2 per mile.
Q. Does the ground need to be flat?
A. To ensure that the Hot Tub remains stable and clean it is imperative that the surface that it is assembled and used on is both flat, level and clean. It doesn't need to be completely flat as we provide rubber matting but should not slope.
If you have any doubts as to the suitability of the ground please ask us first before booking as in the event the ground is not suitable deposits are non refundable.
Q. What surfaces can they be installed on?
It can be installed on grass (see below), concrete, tarmac (not newly laid) and decking surface (see below).
Grass - During the winter and autumn periods (October to April) grass is NOT deemed suitable for Hot Tub installation due to the mud that will be created.
Decking - Hot Tubs can weigh 1500 kg or 1.5 tons in addition to any occupants it is ESSENTIAL that the hirer is sure that the location in which the Hot Tub is to be placed is capable of supporting such weight. If you are unsure you should seek the advise of a structure engineer before hire.
PLEASE NOTE: 'Rental Hot Tubs' or it owners will NOT be held responsible for any damages to your property through hiring any of our Hot Tubs. This includes any water damage or weight damage to structures, fixtures, fittings, and garden or grass areas as a result of the Hot Tub location.
Q. How long does it take to heat up?
A. Your Hot Tub can take between anywhere 10-30 hours to warm up depending on the model and the ambient temperatures. i.e. During Summer they will take much less time than in Winter, however, in Winter we provide 'unique' custom made insulation which will improve heating times.
They should gain between 0.5 -2 degrees celsius per hour. Please MAKE SURE the heating button is activated and left on constantly...DO NOT SWITCH OFF! Periodically check that it is still operating.
Please NOTE that the thermostat reading on the pump is NOT particularly accurate so don't rely solely on this reading. Ideally your looking to attain a comfortable temperature between 35 to 38 degrees celsius.
In BOTH cases you MUST ensure the lid is replaced and that you do NOT use the bubbling function until it has reached temperature. Using this function or leaving the lid off will GREATLY increase the time it takes for the water to reach temperature.
ALL our Hot Tubs have inbuilt thermostats and so switch themselves on and off to maintain the temperature and we suggest you leave the water heater / filter on all the time. If your planning on NOT using the Hot Tub again you can of course switch it off.
As the temperature the Hot Tub can reach is dependant on the ambient temperatures and the amount it is used 'NO' refund is offered if the Hot Tub does not reach a particular required temperature.
TIP: You can dramatically improve water heating by adding hot water to the Hot Tub via a hose connected to your hot water tap or by bucketing water in. Great way to keeps the kids entertained. You can then effectively use it straight away...otherwise you may have a long wait :(
Q. Delivery costs
A. Delivery is FREE within 5 miles radius of our location in Uckfield TN225PW. We charge just £2 per mile for distances beyond this to cover fuel costs and time travelled.
Q. When will my Hot Tub be delivered?
A. We try wherever possible to be accommodating as to time slots for delivery BUT we cannot always guarantee a specific delivery time. Traffic, customers not being present when scheduled etc, etc all inact on delays throughout the day.
We will endeavour to give you a 4 hour time slot for delivery the day before delivery and we will attempt to call you when the Hot Tub is on its way so please be sure we have a contact number for you for that date.
Please NOTE that failure to be present at an attempted delivery will forfeit all deposits paid and you will be invoiced for the full cost of the rental. If you require redelivery then a fee of £75 is payable.
Subject to availability 'IF' you insist on a specific delivery time slot (within an hour) or an after hours time slot then we MAY be able to provide this service at an additional fee of £45. This is to cover the additional delivery time and fuel costs of re routing.
Q. What if there is a hosepipe ban?
DON'T PANIC - Hosepipe bans RARELY affect Hot Tubs which are usually EXEMPT from such bans but take a look at your suppliers website for details. This will be either www.southeastwater.co.uk or www.southernwater.co.uk. You will usually find the section regarding Hot Tub exemptions hidden amongst the FAQ.
Regardless the ban is on a hosepipe NOT a Hot Tub or Pool so you can still use them. Filling them however is a bit more of a challenge because, unless you have your own well, you would need to do so via bucket from your kitchen/garden tap.
Depending on which model you have the Hot Tubs are approx 1000l so with a 15l bucket you would need to do the journey 66 times.
We have many customers who choose this method over a hose, even without a ban, as it has the distinct advantage of meaning that the Hot Tub can be filled with hot water and then used straight away!
It's also excellent exercise for the kids :)
We appreciate not everyone will be happy with this solution so if you prefer we will allow you to change the booking to an alternative date subject to availability and any premium date cost variations (Bank holidays/Christmas etc)
If you decide to cancel then I'm afraid we would need to retain the deposit paid to cover loss of business.
Q. Can I rent one for use at a holiday home or AirBNB?
Many of our customer are owners/landlords of holiday homes providing this service to their customers so yes absolutely you can BUT you would need to:
a. Seek the permission of the owner/landlord before booking.
b. Make sure that yourselves or the owner/landlord are available to provide access, take delivery and instructions and to ensure the water is turned off when full and that the motor is started.
c. Make sure that the water and electricity supplying the Hot Tub is safe and within 15m of the Hot Tub and that we have access to both.
d. Make sure a hose is available.
Q. What is you cancellation policy?
A. You can cancel at ANYTIME, however, you will forfeit your deposit payment.
Q. Our rights of cancellation
A. In the event that we are unable to fulfil the order, due to circumstances beyond our control, we will endeavour to contact you as soon as we possibly can and offer either a FULL refund of any monies paid and as way of apology for the inconvenience we will offer a 10% discount on your next booking.
Q. What if the Hot Tub breaks down?
A. Very occasionally the Hot Tub might stop functioning or a fault might occur. While we appreciate this must be extremely frustrating and annoying obviously we have no control of when and where it happens :(
We have provided comprehensive instructions on the Hot Tubs use on our webpage FAQ page and links to the manufacturers own websites for details of the error codes you might get and what to do about them.
Please NOTE that call outs are at 'Rental Hot Tubs' discretion. Dependant on the circumstances it is not always practical or worthwhile for us to come out to a faulty Hot Tub but we will of course refund the time lost in the hire in accordance with our refund T&C's. While we will endeavour to help please DO NOT 'expect' calls outs at weekends or after 6pm at night.
Rental Hot Tubs and its subsidiary business takes no responsibilities for associated losses for your event as a result of the failure of the equipment:
Common Problems
70% of the error codes will be due to a blocked or dirty filter. Normally caused by the fact that people have not adhered to our water cleanliness rules regarding showering, makeup etc. If the filter becomes blocked then the flow of water is restricted and the pump will switch off and display a Lay-Z-Spa 'E02' or Canadian Spa 'E6' error code as the flow of water is not sufficient enough for the water heater - follow our steps on personal cleanliness and cleaning the filter shown in the 'Maintenance' guide shown in the FAQ page on this website.
10% is due to user damage (glass, chairs too near the liner, jumping into the Hot Tub, people adding bubble bath etc). In this case the hirer will be responsible for replacement or repair.
10% off the calls we receive are because the heater unit is in direct sunlight and has overheated. The heater units have thermostats and if the temperature of the heater on the outsides exceeds a certain temperature it will assume the water is that temperature and switch off - If this is the case then simply shade the pump from direct sun and let it cool down a while and restart the pump.
10% are due to genuine faults with equipment in which case the hirer will receive a refund at the rate set out within our T&C's.
Q. What happens if it rains or cold
A. You're wet already...so enjoy the warm water.
Although demand is generally highest in summer Brits haven't worked out yet that in Scandinavian countries (where they originate) Hot Tubs are enjoyed more during autumn and winter.
Note that Christmas and New Year bookings are the busiest periods.
Q. What do we do at the end of the hire period
A. Please empty the Hot Tub the night before pick up by taking out the stopper at the bottom of the Hot Tub. The water will seep out slowly and should not cause damage to your grass.
FAILURE to empty the Hot Tub will result in an emptying fee of £25.
Hot Tubs which are left excessively dirty may be subject to a £50 cleaning charge.
On the day of collection please ensure that the driver will have access to collect the Hot Tub. It is not essential that you be present for collection but please make sure that he has access to all the equipment.
Set-Up & Maintenance
Our driver will set up your Hot Tub and connect the tubes from the Hot Tub into the pump, however due to the amount of time it takes to fill up the Hot Tub, we require all of our customers to fill up the Hot Tub with water and comply with the following instructions prior to use.
(We require a responsible adult to be present at the time of delivery who can sign the hire agreement, accept verbal instructions and make payment. Failure to have anyone present will result in the delivery driver not being able to make installation and you will lose your deposit.)
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Fill up the Hot Tub with clean water (Hosepipe is adequate) until it reaches the operator explained fill level or orange line on liner.
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Remove hose pipe. Ensure that nothing is blocking or no caps are screwed onto the inlets inside the hot tub and that all pipes connected to pump are straight, tight and not kinked in any way. Check the connections regularly, especially after use, to ensure no water loss and tighten connections as necessary.
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IMPORTANT: Purge the air from the pump by opening the knurled knob above the filter housing until all the bubbles stop (approx 1 cup of water). Tighten the knob.
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Press the up arrow (Button 'B' on the Diagram below). Hold button until required temperature (MAX 38 degrees celsius)
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Check around the connectors for any leaks and tighten as necessary, if leaks exist then please phone us. If not then press the HEAT button on the Pump (Button 'E’ on the Diagram below)
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Put on the Hot Tub lid to help retain the heat. NOT doing so will greatly extend the heating time.
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Your Hot Tub will now take around 18-24 hours to heat up to 38 degrees celsius , it is good practice to check your hot tub regularly to ensure the temp on the display is slowly increasing (approx 1 to 2 degrees celsius every hour during summer/autumn and 0.5-1 degree celsius every hour during winter/spring).
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When your Hot Tub is hot and ready to be used just press the JET MASSAGE button (diagram ‘C’) and when not in use please ensure the LED on top of the HEAT button is illuminated.
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On the evening before pick up please ensure you take out the drain stopper on the Hot Tub or that the tubes to the Hot Tub are unscrewed and the Hot Tub is slowly draining ready for collection the next day.
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Please wash Hot Tub briefly with a hose pipe or bucket and wipe the Hot Tub before collection.
Canadian Spa
CANADIAN SPA PUMP
Lay-Z-Spa
Keeping Your Hot Tub Clean
Water quality is determined by how much the Hot Tub is used and by the cleanliness of the users of the Hot Tub. YOU as the hirer are responsible for maintaining the water quality and safety of the Hot Tub and NO claim for dirty, unclear or unsafe water will be entertained. If we are required to attend due to dirty water then we will charge you £75 per visit.
Hygiene and Cleanliness
You need to follow some basic rules in order to ensure water quality within your Hot Tub.
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It is ESSENTIAL that anyone using the Hot Tub showers before use and that before they enter the Hot Tub they use the Foot Baths provided to prevent a transfer of debris into it.
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It is important that you remove any debris such a leaves and insects that may have landed on the surface of the Hot Tub - a kitchen sieve works well for this.
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DO NOT enter the water wearing makeup, sun creams, fake tans and or body creams as this will permenantly clog the filter, contaminate the water, cause 'foaming' and prevent the pump from working. In the event of this a £15 filter replacement fee will be charged as well as a call out fee of £75 if required.
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DO NOT add anything other than the recommended chemicals to the water such as aromatherapy oils or bubble bath. This will damage the filter and the pump. We have provided a range of aromatherapy salts within your customer box which are Hot Tub friendly. Each sachets costs £3.99. Please put the money in the box if you use them.
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It is ESSENTIAL that the Hot Tub is not positioned on or near muddy ground or that the ground around the Hot Tub becomes muddy.
Filters
IMPORTANT: At LEAST every day your filter will need thouroughly cleaning. This is to prevent contamination of the bathing water.
Canadian Spa (Refer to above instruction diagram)
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SWITCH OFF the pump at the mains
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Place the stop caps on the inside of the Hot Tub and ensure they are secure - this prevents the water from draining out of the Hot Tub. (See NOTE below if caps missing)
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Unscrew the filter housing cap shown in the diagram as the larger of the 2 caps on which the air purge valve sits (not just the air purge valve...the whole cap)
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Remove the paper filter
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Rinse the paper filter with a hose both inside and out making sure you get rid of all the debris (if necessary hold your finger over the end of the hose to increase pressure) not forgetting to wash in-between the fins.
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Replace the filter making sure it is housed centrally
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Replace the filter housing cap
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Remove the stop caps on the inside of the Hot Tub and open the air purge valve until water leaks out and then close the valve.
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Switch on the pump at the mains and restart the pump.
NOTE: If the stop caps are missing don't worry just remove the filter housing cap as normal take out the filter and put the housing cap back on. Clean the filter as normal and replace. Water will overflow from the unit but not much.
Lay-Z-Spa (Refer to above instruction diagram)
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If you wish switch off the pump (although you can do this with the pump running)
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On the inside of the Hot Tub is a grey filter housing - unscrew this housing to reveal the filter.
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Rinse the filter with a hose both inside and out making sure you get rid of all the debris (If necessary hold your finger over the end of the hose to increase pressure) not forgetting to wash in-between the fins.
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Replace the filter.
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Screw the filter housing back onto the inside of the Hot Tub.
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If you've switched off the pump then restart it.
Chemical Guide
Water quality and safety is the responsibility of the hirer. This is intended as a guide only and you are advised to seek your own advice about the use of these chemicals. Rental Hot Tubs or its owners take no responsibility in their use or in the advise given.
We have provided you with some chemical which if used correctly should ensure that your Hot Tub should remain clean and safe during your period of hire. You MUST read these before using your Hot Tub as they provide IMPORTANT additional information about filter changing, cleanliness and troubleshooting help on the use of your Hot Tub.
CHEMICALS ARE DANGEROUS PLEASE ENSURE YOU TAKE ADEQUATE PRECAUTIONS BEFORE HANDLING THEM AND KEEP ALL CHEMICALS AWAY FROM CHILDREN.
PLEASE NOTE ONLY SMALL QUANTITIES OF THE CHEMICALS YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH ARE REQUIRED…YOU SHOULD NOT NEED TO USE ALL OF THEM!
PLEASE NOTE THE CHEMICAL QUANTITIES IF MENTIONED ARE BASED ON 1000L OF WATER (CANADIAN SPA SWIFT). PLEASE ADJUST THE AMOUNT ACCORDINGLY FOR THE HOT TUBS SHOULD THE VOLUME BE LESS OR MORE THAN THIS.
Essential Chemicals
Day 1: Startup
We would have already added the chemicals required for Hot Tub start up (shocking) and provided you with a floating Bromine dispenser which should be left in the Hot Tub when it is not in use. For short term rental this should be adequate but we have provided Bromine test strips for you to check the water remains safe. DO NOT USE THE TUB FOR AT LEAST 12 HOURS AFTER SET UP TO ALLOW IT TO HEAT UP AND LET THE CHEMICALS WORK.
Day 2-3: First day of use
Maintaining PH
It is important to maintain the PH of the water for the chemicals to work efficiently. This is especially true of longer hire periods. Please ensure you maintain a PH level of 7.2-7.6. by adding 10gm (2 teaspoons approx) of minus or plus PH granules dissolved in some water in a clean receptacle and added to the water with the motor running. Retest the water after 2/3 hours and adjust accordingly until the correct PH has been reached.
Bromine
Check the Bromine levels in the Hot Tub using the Test Strips provided and ensure that the Bromine levels remain between 2-5mg/l. If the levels are HIGH then reduce the Bromine Floater opening by turning the knurled nut. If the levels are LOW then Take the ‘BLUE’ capped ‘Bromine Infused Granules’ and add 3-5g (1 teaspoon) of the granules to warm water in a clean bucket. Once the granules have FULLY dissolved add these to the Hot Tub while the pump is running. Test the water again after 12 hours and adjust as necessary.
Day 3-5:
Non Chlorine Shock
Depending on how heavily the Hot Tub has been used, especially if the water looks dirty, it is possible that it will require ‘shocking’. Remove the Bromine Floater from the eater and take the ‘RED’ capped ‘Non Chlorine Shock Granules’ and add 15g (1.5 tablespoons) of the granules to warm water in a clean bucket. Once the granules have FULLY dissolved add these to the Hot Tub while the pump is running. Do this once only once in any 7 day hire period. DO NOT USE THE HOT TUB FOR 4 HOURS AFTER ADDING THESE CHEMICALS.
Check that the floating dispenser still has Bromine tablets in them and add more ‘if’ needed. There should be 3 present at all times.
Additional Chemicals
These chemicals ONLY need to be used in certain RARE events AND assume that you've undertaken the basic chemical checks shown above:
Water has gone green - Algaecide
Take the ‘GREEN’ capped ‘algaecide' from the chemical tub and add 5ml (1 teaspoon) direct to your HOT TUB. ‘If’ the water is already green then you will need to add 20ml (4 teaspoons) of the solution to the Hot Tub. DO NOT ENTER THE TUB FOR 4 HOURS AFTER ADDING THE CHEMICAL.
Water is foaming - Antifoam
This will happen ‘IF’ you don't follow the rules about personal cleanliness found on our website. The foam is made up of a build up of detergents, shampoos, body lotions, fake tans etc reacting and creating foam. Ensure that you do not enter the pool with ANY lotions on and shower without using shower gels etc. If your swim wear contains heavy detergent residue rinse before entering or just leave them off :)
Take the ‘PURPLE’ capped bottle and add 50ml to the effected area while the pump is running.
Changing Water
Sometimes, despite your best endeavours, the water may remain cloudy. The reason is usually because the Hot Tub is being used a LOT and people are in and out of the tubs often with sun cream on which clogs the filters and makes the water cloudy.
If this happens to you then you need to undertake a water change.
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Turn OFF the pump at the mains
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Unscrew the plug at the bottom of the Hot Tub and let the water drain
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Wipe the inside of the tub with hot water and distilled white vinegar or a weak bleach if there is heavy contamination.
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RINSE the inside of the tub to remove any residual dirt or cleaning product
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While its empty if you haven't done so already clean the filter (see instruction above)
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Screw the plug back in to the tub
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Fill the Hot Tub up to the correct water level
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Restart the filtration/heater pump
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Add the Bromide chemicals provided and put the floating dispenser back into the Hot Tub
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Leave for 4 hours before you re enter the Hot Tub.
Gazebo Hire
PLEASE READ THESE NOTES CAREFULLY when choosing to have a Gazebo for your Hot Tubs.
All Gazebos are given to our hirers are only intended to be erected during the use of the Hot Tub and not the duration of the hire.
Our Gazebos require 2 people to install. With each person holding one end pull gently until the Gazebo pops up. N.B. You may need to gently lift the middle section of the Gazebo to assist assembly. Once the tabs have clicked into place on the legs set the desired height. NEVER force the gazebo open or closed...doing so will break it. Although NOT our gazebos this video shows how the installation is done...there are plenty of other videos showing other techniques none of which are difficult.
Where side panels are given, these are fastened using Velcro’s and then tightened onto the legs for extra support
We recommend using anchors, weights or tying the gazebo to a structure to avoid any light gusts of wind during hire. You will have been supplied with either rope tethers and anchors for grass installation or gravel bags for patio installation.
For safety reasons our Gazebos are NOT set up or installed by our drivers so that our customers can use them only when and if needed.
To avoid damage we recommend that you NEVER leave the Gazebo erected overnight or leave it unsupervised.
IMPORTANT: TAKE DOWN the Gazebo if weather forecasts state that winds are likely to reach or gust over 30mph.
ALWAYS dismantle gazebo after use each day.
Failure to take care of the Gazebo causing damage to it will incur a fee of £200 for a replacement.
Any damage to property of the hirer or venue will be assumed liability of the hirer. Rental Hot Tubs or its owners take no responsibility for any damage caused.