By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

Hot tubs are fun, and on occasion, you might notice one in your favorite movie or sitcom. Here are The Spa and Sauna Company’s top 5 favorite characters, sitcoms, and movies that have featured hot tubs. Mind you, not all of these are approved for General audiences. Enjoy!

1) Hot Tub Time Machine – 2010 – In this comedy from MGM, four down-on-their luck, depressed friends, played by John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duk, are transported via hot tub into their past. The changes that are made in the reliving of their lives result in new futures where they are all successful and happy. While this movie isn’t my usual taste in movies (and certainly is for adults only), the premise of having a hot tub as a time machine was too funny to skip. The movie was such a hit it inspired Hot Tub Time Machine 2, which was released in 2015.

2) That 70s Show – 1998-2006 – In this 1970s based sitcom that aired on Fox, Kelso, played by Ashton Kutcher, sits in a hot tub and states “I feel like Warren Beatty in a movie about a hot tub.” True to 1970s style, Kelso is in a round hot tub, while square hot tubs are more popular today. The 1970s and pretty much any time since then wouldn’t be the same without hot tubs.

3) Saturday Night Live – sometime in the 1980s – Eddie Murphy appears as James Brown in NBC’s Saturday Night Live – James Brown Celebrity Hot Tub Party – A jazzy, glittery, 70s style, singing, dance party. What more could you ask for!? Maybe you’ll be singing that tune next time you get in your hot tub.

4) Legally Blonde – 2001 – The classic Reese Witherspoon movie, from MGM Studios, about a California sorority girl, Elle Woods, who chases her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School attempting to win him back. Elle gives her Harvard Video Admissions essay, about why she would make an amazing lawyer, from her family’s hot tub! Hot tubs come up again later after she has discovered her passion for law and says winning a prized internship was better than some hot tub time she spent with her ex, now that she’s over him, of course. Legally Blonde has become such a cult classic that Legally Blonde 2 was made in 2003 and Legally Blonde 3 is now in the works. The movie, based on a novel by Amanda Brown, has also been spun off in to a Broadway musical.

5) Dumb and Dumber – 1994 – In this classic 90s movie, from New Line Cinema, best friends and roommates Lloyd Christmas, played by Jim Carrey, and Harry Dunne, played by Jeff Daniels, go on a trip to return a briefcase to a woman Dunne has met. During the comedy hit, the two men sit in a heart-shaped hot tub/bathtub combo while Dunne and Christmas have a conversation.

We hope you’ve enjoyed The Spa and Sauna Company’s picks for Hot Tub appearances in television and movies.

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

In this article, we will take an honest look at the kinds of swim spas and pools available on the market today. We encourage you to look at your budget and your dream backyard plan and decide what’s best for you.

At The Spa and Sauna Co., we sell new Swim Spas from Endless Pools, in 3 different series.  We realize these might not be the best choice for you but would like you to have as much information as possible in your search for a swim spa or pool.

Swim Spas

Swim Spas offer the best of both worlds – an environment to swim in water around 80 degrees, and an area to soak with contoured, jetted seats. Endless Pools can be installed indoors or out, semi-in-ground or above ground.

Swim Spas start around $20,000 and going up to about $60,000, depending on options and features added. Some models offer enhanced exercise equipment, including underwater treadmills. They are great for family fun, for water therapy, or as a training resource for athletes of any level.

Unlike an in-ground swimming pool, an Endless Pool can be taken with you if you move. Also, you don’t need to have a fence around it, as it comes with an ASTM Accredited Locking Safety Cover, unlike inground or above ground pools. Also, due to their smaller surface area, there is less evaporation than there is with an inground pool, which means less water care usage and maintenance. Endless Pools can also be drained easily, one or two times a year.

However, installation can be tricky and may even require a crane. This is often the case with inground pools too, though.

The Endless Pools E-Series (Fitness Systems)

The Endless Pools Fitness Systems or E-Series provides the opportunity for low-impact exercise, with features such as an optional underwater treadmill, rowing bar, and strength training equipment. The E-Series offers a swim-in-place experience, that feels like swimming in open water, due to its custom-made hydraulically powered propulsion system. In addition, you will also have three comfortable jetted seats for relaxation and hydrotherapy. The E-Series is available in three different lengths, including 15 feet, 17 feet and 20 feet long. As the highest-end option, with the most elective features, and add-ons, the E-Series starts around $34,999 and goes up from there.

The Endless Pools X-Series (SwimCross Exercise Systems)

The Endless Pools SwimCross Exercise System features five air-free swim jets and exercise opportunities, with rowing and resistance exercise. The X-Series is designed to make it easier for swimmers to stay centered and afloat, due to the jet configuration. The top jets provide resistance, while the bottom jets provide lift. The X-Series also offers comfortable jetted seats with hydrotherapy benefits. The X-Series comes in sizes including 12, 15 and 20 feet long. Pricing starts in the in the mid-$20,000 range.

The Endless Pools R-Series (RecSport)

The RecSport Recreational System by Endless Pools offers a high-quality swim spa at an affordable price. This value-line of swim spas features three airless swim jets, seating for the family, hydromassage jets and ample room for recreation. The RecSport is 12 feet long. It starts under $20,000.

Inground Swimming Pools

The Spa and Sauna Company does not sell in-ground swimming pools. Inground swimming pools can be fiberglass, concrete, or vinyl lined. Pricing can range from $35,000 to $95,000. Pools also require a fenced in yard, unlike Endless Pools, which come with a locking cover that conforms to safety requirements.

Fiberglass Inground Pools

Fiberglass pools are the most popular in our region of Reno/Lake Tahoe. Of the three inground pool options, they are the easiest to maintain. When they are installed they are lifted with a crane and concrete is poured around it.

A few of the drawbacks of the fiberglass pools include, fiberglass pools require a fence around them and can not be moved. The resin is known to fade and scratch over time. They never empty fully in the winter and are not suitable for low lying areas, which are common in the Reno/Tahoe area. If they are set below the water table, they can pop right out of the ground.

The initial cost to install can range from $45,000 to $85,000. This type of pool also has substantial yearly maintenance costs.

Concrete Inground Pools

Concrete or gunite inground pools are not the best suited for our geographical area because of our extreme weather conditions. While the concrete is durable, it requires more maintenance and care because of our weather. If it isn’t properly winterized and partially drained in the winter, the concrete can crack. Concrete pools can be repaired with plaster. Every 3 to 5 years, a concrete pool requires an acid wash to keep algae from forming. As a result, the shell will have to be re-plastered at some point. Concrete pools are a higher maintenance option, requiring more chemicals and electricity because of their size. They also are the most expensive inground pool option to install, ranging between $50,000 to $100,000.

Vinyl Inground pools

Vinyl inground pools can be custom designed. They also have a non-abrasive surface. Of inground pool options, they are the easiest to maintain. The initial cost for a vinyl inground pool can run anywhere from $35,000 to $50,000. There are also yearly maintenance costs. In some cases, over time, they may require a liner replacement.

Above Ground Swimming Pools

Above Ground Swimming Pools are typically made of vinyl and require a fenced in area for safety reasons. Also known as steel frame pools, these pools are certainly the least expensive and least permanent option when it comes to swimming pools. Above Ground Pools can be completely above ground or recessed, for an inground look on a on an above ground budget. Available from big box stores or professional installers, the price range for an above ground pool can range from about a thousand dollars at a big-box store to about $20,000 from a professional swimming pool dealer.

Whatever your vision for your backyard oasis is, we hope this swim spa vs. pool overview has made your search for a bit easier.

For more information about the Swim Spas offered at The Spa and Sauna Co., Click Here to find your perfect Swim Spa or Click Here to learn more.

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

Mark B. of Sparks recently completed The Spa and Sauna Company’s 30 Soaks in 30 Days Personal Challenge. He completed more than 20 soaks in 30 days.

He bought his Hot Spring hot tub, a TX model, in April, after owning an inflatable hot tub that he had to program the day before he wanted to use it, so it could reach ideal temperature.

“It’s a lot nicer to be able to lift the cover and get in,” said Mark, of his new spa, which he purchased from The Spa and Sauna Shop in Sparks.

Mark used his hot tub through the hot summer months by typically getting in it late in the evening for star gazing and quality time with his wife.  He also enjoys soaking by himself and using that time to meditate.

Although Mark experienced back pain prior to owning his hot tub, he no longer needs to visit the chiropractor for relief. He attributes that to the time spent in his hot tub.

He also noticed changes in how he is sleeping. Now, after consistent hot tub use, Mark easily gets a full night’s sleep.

“It was nice soaking, even when the weather was not ideal. I always feel better and relaxed when I soak,” Mark wrote on his 30 Soaks in 30 Days Personal Challenge Form.

If you own a Spa and Sauna Company hot tub or spa and would like to participate in our Personal Challenge, Click Here to visit our Personal Challenge page on our website.

We are excited to announce that The Spa & Sauna Company has ranked for the third year in a row on the Inc. 5000 List! The 2018 list recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in America.

Editor in Chief of Inc. Media James Ledbetter writes “This is your third time on the Inc. 5000, which is a truly extraordinary accomplishment. Needless to say, making the list gets harder every year as your starting base grows. Of the tens of thousands of companies that have applied to the Inc. 5000 over the years, only a fraction have made the list more than once. A mere one in four have made the list 3 times.

Congratulations to you and your team. You should be proud of all The Spa & Sauna Co has achieved to date.”

Well-known businesses that were seen on the Inc. 5000 in their early days include Yelp, Pandora, Timberland, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, LinkedIn and Zillow.

“We are thrilled to have been selected for a third time as an Inc. 5000 recipient,” says Spa and Sauna Company President Scott Clark. “We take pride in providing our community with the best sales and service experience for hot tubs, swim spas, saunas, pool tables, and BBQs. I would like to take this time to thank our team, our customers, and the review board at Inc. 5000.”

The Spa and Sauna Company thrives on offering its customers an outstanding experience, from purchase onward. We work hard to keep our customers happy and earn their referrals, both word of mouth and on review sites. Thank you again to all involved in making The Spa and Sauna Company a third-time recipient of an Inc. 5000 ranking.

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

Today is National Relation Day, according to the great minds at the NationalDayCalendar.com. It’s in this spirit that we invite you to consider the top 10 ways you can relax in a hot tub!

1. Take a soak by yourself.
2. Do a little bit of Hot Tub Yoga. If your intrigued by this idea, visit https://spaandsauna.com/wellness/hot-tub-yoga-exercises-where-to-start/ for a blog article called “Hot Tub Yoga Exercises – Where to Start.”
3. Read a book while soaking in your hot tub.
4. Invite a friend to join you in your hot tub and have a nice conversation.
5. Enjoy a beverage of your choice while in your hot tub. Don’t forget to use the convenient cup holders!
6. Bring your journal with you and write down how you are feeling.
7. Kick your feet up while in your hot tub and give yourself a pedicure or a foot massage.
8. Use those jets to your advantage and relieve all those sore muscles.
9. Turn on some music to enjoy.
10. Add some aromatherapy, such as Spazazz crystals, to your hot tub for a pleasant experience.

We hope this list has given you some ideas for how to use your hot tub for relaxation, not just today, but every day of the year!

By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator

There are a few common hot tub service issues that we hear about frequently at The Spa and Sauna Co. that you can fix for yourself, if so desired. Why not save yourself those charges? This is the final installment in a three-part series.

1)  I am showing a Locked Display Screen.

Solution: Since every brand and model has a different set of controls and specific instructions used to unlock your screen, you should consult your owner’s manual for instructions. Click Here for Hot Spring Spas Owner’s Manuals; Click Here for Sundance Spas Owner’s Manuals; Click Here for Caldera Spas Owner’s Manuals; Click Here for Freeflow Spas Owner’s Manuals. Please be sure to select the correct series and year, as directions may vary.

2) I need to do my ACE monthly reset – to prevent a build-up of salt in Hot Spring Spas with the Ace Salt System.

Solution: As a bit of background, when you first fill up your Hot Spring spa with the Ace Salt System you put in a set amount of salt, depending on your hot tub model. You only need to add salt when you add water. Over time, as the water evaporates, the salt level in your spa increases, so when you top off your hot tub, you need to add salt based on the size of your hot tub. Please consult your owner’s manual for more information or the instructions on your jar of salt. Click Here for Hot Spring Spas Owner’s Manuals.

Every 30 days, the green logo light on your Hot Spring spa with the Ace Salt System will light up and a water drop symbol will appear on the display of 2017 models and older. This is your Ace monthly reset. Simply go into the Ace Setting, select Ace Water Care Systems. Normally this area will show Functioning. During your Ace monthly reset, it will say Confirm Output. Hit the Output button and it will be reset.

Tips for Ace Settings (especially important for our customers who are on vacation or do not reside where their spa is): You can set your Ace output anywhere from 0 (off) to a high of 10. If you use your spa a lot, feel free to set it high. But if you are away, you may consider turning it off by setting it at 0 or setting it very low at 1-2. If the output is not confirmed at 30 days, the Ace Salt System will automatically reduce the setting on day 35, and on day 40, it will turn itself off.

We hope this information has helped you feel more confident handling some routine maintenance and minor service issues. If you need support or would rather we handle these issues for you, we would be glad to assist! The Spa and Sauna Co. has an award-winning Service Department and can help you with any issues or concerns you may have. Call us today at 775-852-3838 or email service@hottubsreno.com.

If you missed earlier installments of this three-part series, Click Here to read them.