|
Freezing temperatures can cause havoc with your Sole Bowl Foot Spa.
The most common damage is to the filter canister, which is made of thick plastic that surprisingly can split wide open. Fortunately is can be easily repaired by buying a replacement canister. The AOSmith brand filter system is available at most hardware stores. A serious freeze can cause the pump or heater to be damaged. These repairs are more serious and require some replacement parts and probably a service call. Worse yet, the pipes underneath the bowl can fracture (as shown) requiring a rebuild of the whole assembly. This happens most often on spas placed on elevated decks. |
|
An ounce of prevention
The surest way to prevent damage is to drain the spa if its outdoors. Attach a garden hose to the faucet, open the spigot and activate the pump by pressing the "set" button. After it drains, use the blue filter canister wrench to unscrew the canister and empty and replace it. To be completely safe, disconnect the bowl by unscrewing the two pipe connections and tip the bowl over to drain the water in the pipes. |
|
Another Option:
Setting the temperature to a low level can keep freezing away without alot of trouble. Press and hold the "up" arrow, press the down arrow to decrease the temp (around 60F should do it) and press the "set" button. Its going to use some electricity, and there is a risk of the power going out. Consider throwing a tarp over the spa to keep it out of the wind. |
|
Fine print: Last winter I put a blow dryer in our cabinet to protect the spa. I just ran it for ten minutes every couple of hours. It's not an ideal approach, but it worked. Or you could use a lamp on an extension cord placed inside the cabinet can help.
Worst case, you will need some repairs next spring. This re-plumbing job cost $300, with some other updates.
But a few minutes of TLC will keep your spa from being damaged. Call us if you need to at 971-344-3730. |
