Preparation for Delivery

Please Note:

• If you plan on building around the sides of the spa, please come in for a consultation. Your salesperson will be able to show you the things you will need to consider.
• We recommend that you consider the view from the various seats in your spa when planning the spatial orientation. Cutting a photo of your spa from the Caldera brochure and placing it on a sketch of your site is helpful. Remember that the cover lifter will hold the cover in a manner that will block your view from inside the spa - on the side opposite the controls.
• When your site is ready, we will perform a pre-delivery site inspection. This helps us with our planning. You will probably not need to be present for the inspection.
• Unlike most spas, our spas come with the necessary electrical subpanel included ($200 value). (See instructions for electrical preparation.) Alternately, we offer to handle all of the electrical preparation for you. Ask your salesperson about this option.
• Make sure wiring does not stop at the subpanel. At delivery, we run your wires through the holes on either the left or right side panel (shown as opt. 1 and opt. 2 above). Conduit should be no greater than ¾" in diameter. Make sure the electrician leaves enough wire to make the connections to the control panel inside the spa (5 feet inside the spa is a good estimate).
• The ideal surfaces for setting your spa are 4"reinforced concrete and decks built or reinforced to hold the spa's weight. There are other acceptable options, including popular "Do-It-Yourself" projects that your salesperson can discuss with you. Charlottesville Aquatics offers free deck inspections, deck support services, and 8 X 8 concrete pads poured for you.

• We recommend that you bring us a water sample prior to delivery. Take the sample from the hose you will be using to fill your spa. Put the water in any small glass or plastic container. Do not let water sit for more than 48 hours before giving the sample to us. We will analyze your water and tell you exactly what your water will need at start-up. (This information can be reused every time you refill your spa.)
• Plan to be present on the morning of the delivery.
• If you are financing a balance on the spa, signatures of applicant and co-applicant are needed at time of delivery.
• If you have arranged for your own electrical preparation, have everything ready before the delivery day. We will wire the spa controls at time of delivery.
• If we are arranging the electrical preparation for you, the work is usually done right around the time of delivery. Our electrician will be in touch with you.
• We have found that a complete orientation (on hot tub ownership, water care and operating the spa) is very valuable to the customer and is included free of charge. All necessary parties should be present and not need to rush back to work. We do orientations before or after delivery day. PLEASE NOTE: ORIENTATIONS ARE NOT DONE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE SPA DELIVERY. Someone will call you during the week following the delivery to schedule this orientation, or you may call anytime to schedule.
• WE DO NOT FILL YOUR SPA. At your convenience, fill the spa with your hose. Put the hose into the filter compartment. When the water level has risen 1 inch above the highest jets, the spa is full.
• At this point, it is safe to turn on the power to the spa.. Make sure the breaker in the main service panel for your house is in the "On" position.
• Go to the spa's subpanel (which at this point should be mounted in the vicinity of the spa.) Turn the breaker on. IF YOUR SUBPANEL HAS 2 BREAKERS, turn the 30 amp breaker on first. Wait 5 minutes. Then turn on the 20 amp breaker.
• If the spa does not turn on immediately, turn off breakers, wait a half hour and repeat the above. (Water and air temperature variations can sometimes make this necessary.) Call us if you have any concerns.
• Depending on outside temperatures, it can take up to 24 hours for spa water to fully heat. Keep the spa cover closed while heating.