Site Selection
Picking the location that suits you…

Inside location

Most Hot Tub/Spa brands are designed for operation outdoors during all seasons, some owners choose an indoor installation. Special considerations must be met for indoor installations, especially in a heated room or solarium. The room should be properly ventilated to allow moisture and excess heat to escape. Using your hot tub for 15-20 minutes releases the equivalent moisture as a shower of the same duration. Installation of a bathroom fan or other venting system is a good idea to prevent excess condensation in the room.

Unless placing the spa on a suitable concrete slab, you will need to verify that the supporting floor structure will accommodate the filled weight of the spa with occupants. Your local building department or a structural engineer can help you in determining that requirement. Check your spa's specifications for the estimated weight of the filled unit. (A gallon of water weighs approx. 8.35 lbs.)

Outside location

Most spa owners will put their new spas outdoors, and our Site Prep section following assumes that choice. You will need to provide a firm level surface, and various options for that are described below. Keep in mind that installing your spa in a lawn or on dirt without a perimeter boardwalk, pavers, stone, slab or other suitable walkway will result in an increase in the amount of debris that is inadvertently brought into the hot tub on user's feet. If you are in and out of your Hot Tub/Spa it will help to place a pan with water on the outside that users can step into to wash feet, and reduce the debris carried into the Hot Tub/Spa. The perimeter walkway can of course be added later.

Site Prep

Getting that special spot ready...

Once you've picked the spot where you will be setting up your spa, unless you are locating the spa on an existing patio, the next step is to prepare a firm, level surface on which it will sit. It's important to get the foundation as level as possible for proper operation of the spa, but it does not have to be perfect.

We'll talk about deck installations a little later, but if you are going to install the spa in your yard, the first step is to remove any sod, to get down to firm soil. Then, adding a layer of sand can make surface leveling easier. Check your spas dimensions so you'll know what size plot to lay out.

• LX5000 79” x 79”
• LX7000 85” x 85”
• LX9000 85” x 85”
• LX11000 95” x 95”

With sod removed, there are several options to choose from:

Spa Pads( $295) and EZ Pads ( $595 ) are an alternative to poured concrete. This system is quick and easy to set up, maintenance-free, and can be a lot less expensive than a poured concrete slab. Especially if the spa is going next to a deck, where you will enter the spa from the deck. Gravel is sometimes used. Pea gravel is simple to level by using a straight 2 x 4 and carpenter's level to check. Crushed rock is another choice. If installing your spa below grade, ensure that there is sufficient drainage for rainwater runoff.

If there are power lines or telephone lines above your Spa area consult with an Electrician that has experience with installing spas for code requirements.

If planned location is to be on a deck, consult your local building department, licensed contractor, or structural engineer for advice or assistance on load requirements.

Delivery Access

Clear the way...

Prior to the arrival of your new spa, you should ensure that there is clear access for moving the spa from the truck to the setup location. It may be necessary to remove a section of fence, trim tree branches or shrubs, move a doghouse, firewood stack or any other protrusions that might be in the way. Check also for overhead clearance. If there is no access or the deck is high off the ground a spa crane service could be needed. This usually costs about $150/hr dock to dock, 2hr minimum . If this is needed Whitehouse provides a one man drop off delivery for $50.

Receiving your Delivery

Depending on the logistics of placing your spa you, and possibly a couple of friends, will need to be on location to help with placement.

If the spa is being lowered into a deck more people will be needed. If the trailer can be backed up to the spot, no extra people are needed. Be sure to discuss the specifics of the delivery with Whitehouse Direct if there is any question.

Contact Whitehouse Direct...651-251-8509

Positioning the Spa

Using a Spa Dolly makes it easy Our professional delivery team is equipped with a Spa Dolly Trailer System. Moving your spa on sidewalks or other hard flat surfaces should be easy with the dolly.

Regardless of where you bought your spa, the electrical connections must be wired in accordance with all applicable local electrical codes, by a licensed electrician. You can save some expense by doing any necessary trenching required for buried cabling yourself, if you so desire.

If you purchased a Gulf Coast Spa, you will have a choice of locations for power service to the spa's control system. Your spa pack is located below the top side control and the electrical comes in on the left side of the spa pack. Your electrician will need to drill a hole in the cabinet on any side of the spa and the wire will run through the spa to the spa pack or your electrical wiring can come up from the bottom of the spa through the deck, concrete, or EZ-Pad. Other brands may require some cabinet drilling, or restrict the connection to one location. Consult your owner's manual.

• If installing your spa below grade, ensure that there is sufficient drainage for rainwater runoff.
• If there are power lines or telephone lines above your
• Spas area consult with an Electrician that has experience with installing spas for code requirements.
• If planned location is to be on a deck, consult your local building department, licensed contractor, or structural engineer for advice or assistance on load requirements.

Electrical considerations

The National Electrical Code requires that a manual disconnect device for your hot tub be installed at least 5 ft. away, and within 15 ft. (line of sight) of the spa for safety.

We recommend this disconnect to be the GFCI breaker.

All 2006 and later Gulf Coast Spas require:

• 50 amp GFCI
• 6/3/1 Wire
• Electrical service must be a dedicated GFCI protected circuit.
• Proper grounding and bonding must be provided.
• Circuit must be rated at appropriate amperage per spa power requirements and electrical codes.
• All electrical connections should be preformed by a licensed electrician in accordance with local codes.
• Completely read and understand your owner's manual prior to installation or operation of spa.

Consult with your building department for local electrical code requirements.

Startup

Filling your spa for the first time...

With your spa in its final location and wired correctly, you can begin with startup. Make sure you have read your owner's manual before proceeding:

• Turn off all electrical power to the equipment at the circuit breaker.
• Make sure that the spa's gate valves are open (consult owner's manual).
• Check to see that drain valve is closed.
• Clean interior of spa with suitable mild, non-foaming, non-abrasive cleaner.
• Check to see that the filters are properly seated. Do NOT OVERTIGHTEN.
• Using garden hose, fill spa with clean cold water to level specified in owner's manual. For Gulf Coast Spas 1” below the waterfall. Low water levels can cause damage to the pump and heater element.

In Eagan we have very hard water. The #1 thing I have done to make my water easer to manage :

• Fill the spa with 1/2 soft water and 1/2 hard water.This takes some extra steps now but is worth the effort.
• If not already open, open equipment door and observe for any leaks around union fittings. Tighten if necessary.
• Turn on power at the circuit breaker.
• Turn all pumps and blower on high and take another peek for leaks.
• Leave the panel off for an hour to make sure everything is heating properly. The spa should heat about 3-4 degrees per hour.

If there is any problems Call Gulf Coast Tech Support

1-727-573-9888.

• If there is any quirks with heating or such resetting the spa pack is easy takes care of that 95% of the time. Just Call Gulf Coast Tech Support 727-573-9888
• They will be happy to walk you through this simple process.
• Just remember the panel below the topside control must be off to reset the spa pack.
• Operate your spa's controls per owner's manual instructions.
• Balance your water chemistry and use a sanitizer system and the instructions with the Aqua Clara Natural.

Please Note:

Crush or dissolve 2 extra Aqua Clara Tabs (Bromine Tabs) on start up, and put into filter area with jets on high, to create a good reserve of sanitizer in the water. Each week when you ad extra Clara tabs if you see there are 2 halves still in the filter area dissolve those and add 2 more.

Heating

Do not expect to immediately feel hot water from the jets. Initially, the hot tub may take approximately 7-8 hours to heat, depending upon its size and other factors.

The information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is neither a substitute nor a replacement for information contained in your owners manual. Consult with your local building department for

Structural and electrical requirements.
Some Things needed that are not provided with the Aqua Clara Natural:

1. Bromine and ph test Strips
2. PH Up and Down Powder
3. Bromine Powder
4. Defoamer
5. G–String for late night dips.

Gulf Coast Tech Support:
727-573-9888

Whitehouse Direct:
651-251-8509