FAQs

According to the science, the sweet spot appears to be a 10-15 minute soak at 37F. This grants you all the benefits of cold water immersion without forcing you through the discomfort that comes with an extended soak. It should be noted that taking a soak in water that is cooler than 37F is risky.

Ice baths are an effective way to reduce muscle soreness and speed up recovery from exercise. Furthermore, it has the potential to enhance mental clarity and moods. Your tolerance and health objectives should determine how long you spend in an ice bath. Aim for two or three sessions of 10-15 minutes each week.

We recommend cold plunging in the morning to wake your body up, which kicks the sympathetic nervous system into gear and synchronizes your circadian rhythm’s “start” phase. Anecdotal evidence indicates that this more sudden and clear start to your day may make it easier to wind down and rest at the end of the day.

Cold Shock Therapy

A brief dip in some cold water (or snow!) after your hot tub session can invigorate you, give you more energy, help relieve muscle soreness, and reduce swelling in inflamed areas.

We recommend timing your ice bath at least 1-2 hours before the time you want to go to sleep. Many people find that taking an ice bath boosts their alertness and energy, which is a valuable benefit earlier in the day but not ideal right before bedtime. With that in mind, everybody is different.

Slow re-warm — Unless you are practicing contrast therapy, resist the urge to immediately jump in a hot shower after your ice bath. You’ll get the most benefit if you slowly and naturally warm your body.

Why you should use your swim-spa all year.

When the winter months arrive, most of us tend to pack away our swimsuits and retire our outdoor pools for the season. However, what if we told you that you could enjoy the benefits of water exercise, relaxation, and therapy throughout the entire year? That’s right, with a PDC Spas swim spa, you can transform your backyard into a winter oasis. In this article, we’ll explore the numerous benefits of using your swim spa in the winter, from soothing sore muscles to beating the winter blues, spending quality family time, and enjoying a winter staycation without leaving home. We’ll also provide you with some valuable tips for maximizing your winter swim spa experience.

Benefits of Swim Spa Winter Use

The typical outdoor pool season is about four months. However, a swim spa allows you to extend the season to 12 months. With Thermo-Shield insulation and a quality cover, you can enjoy the benefits of water exercise and therapy even on winter’s coldest days.

For many, the thought of swimming or soaking in a spa during the winter months might seem questionable, but it’s time to reconsider. Swim spas are designed to make year-round use not only possible but enjoyable. Here are some reasons to embrace the winter chill and utilize your swim spa during the coldest season:

Soothe Sore Muscles

A swim spa is more than just a place to exercise; it’s a haven for relaxation and therapy. Our swim spas are equipped with hot tub jets that work wonders in reducing aches and pains. The flow of water from these jets helps knead away knots and release tension, making it an ideal remedy after a long day of shoveling snow. The captain’s chair and lounge, found in many models, specifically targets high-tension areas.

It’s not only the jets that ease muscle tension. The combination of water’s natural buoyancy and warm water temperature creates a soothing effect. If you’re planning to use your swim spa for hydrotherapy, consider setting the temperature between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The warm water increases circulation, triggering the body’s natural production of endorphins, leaving you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

Beat the Winter Blues

The cold, dark days of winter can have a significant impact on your mood. Many people experience seasonal mood changes to some extent, and it’s essential to find ways to manage these winter blues. Regular exercise and relaxation can be your allies in this battle.

Research has shown that regular exercise can help improve mood, release endorphins, and increase body temperature, all of which have calming effects. In addition, exercise can boost your confidence and sense of self, helping you combat the winter doldrums. A swim spa provides a unique space for both exercise and relaxation, making it a valuable asset in your fight against the winter blues.

Family Time

As the temperature drops, finding enjoyable activities for the whole family can be challenging. A swim spa, however, provides something for everyone. You can activate the continuous current system and let the water simulate a wave pool for the kids. Teenagers might find the hot tub seats just as inviting as you do. No matter the activity, a swim spa is an excellent place for family members of all ages to gather, have fun, and reconnect, without the distractions of technology.

Winter Staycation Ideas

Your swim spa can turn your backyard into a winter wonderland, allowing you to enjoy a winter staycation without leaving your home. Invite friends and family to share in the warmth, relaxation, and fun that your swim spa can offer during the colder months. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a simple evening escape, your swim spa can be the centerpiece of your winter staycation.

Tips for Using a Swim Spa in Winter

To ensure that you make the most of your swim spa during the winter months, here are some valuable tips to consider:

• Keep Your Swim Spa Covered

Invest in a high-quality spa cover designed to increase energy efficiency. The cover locks in the heat and keeps out the cold, making it easier for your swim spa to maintain the desired temperature. Additionally, it acts as a shield against natural elements like snow, branches, and debris, preventing them from entering the spa.

• Stay Warm

While the water in your swim spa may be delightful, it’s essential to bundle up before heading out in the winter. Ensure you have an ample supply of towels, heavy robes, and easy-to-slip-on shoes to keep yourself warm when you’re not in the water. Staying warm is vital for an enjoyable winter swim spa experience.

• Keep an Eye on the Water Level

Draining and refilling your swim spa during the winter may not be the most convenient task. To maintain clean and clear water, consider changing it when the outside temperature is more comfortable. If you need to top off your swim spa water, do so during the warmest part of the day, and remember to disconnect the hose when you’re finished.

Summary

Using your swim spa during the winter months offers a multitude of benefits, from soothing sore muscles to beating the winter blues, enjoying quality family time, and even creating a winter staycation at home. With the right precautions and maintenance, your swim spa can become the ultimate winter oasis. So, don’t let the cold weather keep you from experiencing the joys of your swim spa all year round. Embrace the chill and make the most of your swim spa this winter season.

Everyone is different, this depends on several deciding factors, including your age, health, climate, water temperature, and personal preference. As a general rule of thumb, it is suggested to soak in a hot tub for anywhere from 15-30 minutes at a temperature of up to 102°. Ideal temperature ranges are from 98° – 104°. Some manufacturers provide cool-down seats to allow longer bathing times. This allows your body to get above the water level to temporarily reduce your body temperature.

If you are new to using a hot tub, we suggest starting with shorter soaks until you gradually build your tolerance, adjust to the environment or find which suits you best. If you have a pre-existing health condition, we suggest that you first speak with your physician to ensure the safest way to enjoy hydrotherapy.

Cleaning hot tubs is the best practice for ensuring your hot tub time is pleasurable. How often and in what manner you clean your hot tub will depend on three factors: how often the spa is used, what type of chemical program do you use, and the filtration that the manufacturer provides.

• Program There are multiple chemical programs to use with each one having different clarifiers.
  • FROG @ease by Frog products.
  • Broadcast by numerous manufactures.
  • Generators
    • NOTE: all the above products can provide Chlorine or Bromine.
• Test your hot tub water at least once a week.
  • Test strips
  • Digital meter
• Treat your hot tub water accordingly based on the readings from the test strips or meter.
• Clean the filter every week with water from the hose or sink sprayer. Check on the cover and wipe down with a mild soap and water. 303 Protectant is a nice cleaner & conditioner.
• Drain, clean, and fill
  • Once every three to four months if using a broadcast or FROG @ease.
  • Once a year if using a generator. 30% drain and re-fill will extend the life of the fill.
    • NOTE: Do not use any detergent on the filter. This will cause a tremendous amount of foam.

Cold Shock Therapy

A brief dip in some cold water (or snow!) after your hot tub session can invigorate you, give you more energy, help relieve muscle soreness, and reduce swelling in inflamed areas.

In order for the delivery crew to complete the best installation possible we recommend the following tips:

• The delivery coordinator will go over all the prep work and site evaluation prior to scheduling the delivery. If there was any prep work for your site, be sure to have this completed prior to arrival. The delivery company is not required to assist in the removal or replacement of any of the prep work. Wait time for Delivery Company’s can play havoc with a schedule. All wait times will be billed directly to the customer @ $75/hour.

• Make yourself aware of the size of the product you just purchased. Take numerous measurements to verify your new product will fit in, around, through, under, beneath any obstacles. You will need to have 4” minimum side clearance and 12” overhead clearance due to the dolly used to deliver your product. One of the most common mistakes is the overhead clearance, I/E – gutters, roof lines, decks, stairs, trees, and bushes. These are some of the most obvious but may be others at your location.

• If access to you location is limited due to side and/or overhead clearance or exceeded height restrictions, we offer the ability to deliver your product with a crane. Understand that this service is an extra cost to you the customer, not the retailer or the delivery company. The costs for this service ranges from $150 to $1000 depending on height, distance and location. In many cases this is the safest way to deliver your product.

• The delivery coordinator will give you a 3-4 hour window when to expect the delivery. Understand that delivering heavy awkward products can cause delays in the schedule. Asking for an exact time is nearly impossible to accommodate. We suggest that you plan an entire day to expect delivery, due to the unforeseen delays that may happen throughout the day.

• As the customer, please have all necessary financing completed prior to delivery. This will ensure the delivery is completed to your expectations and in a timely manner.

• During your delivery, expect 30-90 minutes to complete delivery on most items. Understand that gazebos and pool tables may take a little longer to complete, be patient, this is a major purchase for you and we would rather take our time to do it right the first time. Old saying goes, “haste makes waste”

• Upon arrival the delivery manager will introduce himself and go over any paperwork required prior to delivery. At this time you should instruct the delivery manager of the final placement of the product. This is a good time to ask general questions, but realize that each and every person has a different opinion of how things will look the best. Our suggestions are just that, a suggestion and to our knowledge there are no wrong answers outside of the obvious.

• For Spas, there should be a little more time spent on the placement, taking into consideration the location of the control panel, seating preferences, entrance to the spa (steps & handles), drain, filter, and the limitations of the cover lifter and/or cover before committing to the placement of the spa.

• Your spas electrical connection should be finished in some sort of electrical conduit. This can enter the spa from any location on the exterior and some areas thru the bottom of the spa. Don’t be fooled by an electrical contractor when he tells you that you need it the way he wants it. If the connection will enter from the bottom of the SPA you will need to get a blueprint of the Spa from your dealer in order to have the conduit placed in the correct spot.

• You should ask the delivery company to compare the spa being delivered with your paperwork. This will prevent the wrong spa being delivered.

• Feel free to drop us an email with any suggestions or comments about your delivery experience as we are continually working to enhance the delivery process.

Delivery includes:

• Delivery of hot tub to ground level (up to 30”) or through one ground level doorway.
• Electrical hook-up and fill if an electrician has run the wiring properly.
• Delivery within 65 miles of our retail stores. (Our delivery fee is $3 per mile over 30 miles, one way.)
• Attachment of any accessories purchased from Galaxy.

Delivery does NOT include:

• Supplying electrical work or material to bring power to the hot tub location.
• Difficult to access location (fence removal, decks, rock walls, stairs, etc)
• Hauling off of any existing hot tubs.
• Does not include the use of a crane or material handler/forklift.
• Does not include hot tub pad (concrete, wood deck, pavers or portable pad) that is needed to place hot tub for delivery.

The options are almost endless when it comes to exercising in your swim spa. One of the best exercises to improve your cardiovascular health is swimming. In a swim spa, the adjustable current stream allows you to challenge yourself, no matter what your fitness level. But swimming is not the only cardio workout available. Jogging and aerobics are also great workouts, and the current stream can be used to make the moves more demanding as needed.

Hot Tub Benefits that impact your Health and Wellness

• Improved Sleep. When you spend the evening relaxing under the steamy water of your hot tub, your body temperature slowly rises. …
• Reduce Anxiety & Stress. …
• Better Circulation. …
• Less Inflammation. …
• Pain Relief. …
• Weight-loss. …
• Faster Recovery. …
• Lower Blood Pressure.

Check out the Health Benefits of Cal Spas Saunas

Hydrotherapy Benefits

Hydrotherapy is a therapeutic technique that harnesses the healing properties of water. What is hydrotherapy? The combination of heat, buoyancy, and massage helps to relax muscles, ease sore joints, improve circulation, and reduce muscle tension. Used by healthcare professionals all around the world, hydrotherapy can help to improve sleep patterns, reduce stress, ease aches and pains, aid in post-injury recovery, and soothe sore joints. There are many additional health benefits as well.

• Recovery & Performance
• Cardiovascular Health
• Boost in energy
• Immune Boost
• Stress relief
• Better sleep
• Skin health
• Pain relief

Reduces Lactic Acid Build Up

Ice baths and cold water therapy helps reduce lactic acid build up, reduces swelling, and normalize adrenaline production so the body can recover faster than normal.

Less Pain & Reduction of DOMS

Ice baths and cold water therapy helps reduce Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) by helping reduce the inflammation and muscle spasm that causes it.

Faster Injury Recovery!

Using a cold tub or ice bath reduces injury recovery time. Cold therapy is already used to treat acute sport injuries. A COLDTUB™ is much better than an ice pack or cold compress in many ways.

 Reasons You Should Get an Ice Tub for Your Home

The potential benefits of taking an ice bath may make you question whether or not you should subject your body to such severe temperatures. The good news is that taking an ice bath has been proven to produce positive effects, especially for people who exercise often or are competitive in sports.

So what are the six reasons you should get an ice tub for your home?

Reduce Muscle Soreness and Inflammation 

It’s crucial to give your body time to recover after a strenuous workout. Taking an ice bath can help reduce swelling and discomfort from sore muscles more quickly. Submerging in an ice bath after a workout can also help repair tissue damage.

The cold causes one’s blood vessels to narrow, then widen after they emerge from the tub. This mechanism aids in the removal of metabolic waste products after exercise, particularly in the lymph nodes, which contain lymphatic fluid that can build up.

Faster Recovery from Intense Cardio

After completing a strenuous cardio workout, taking a bath in ice water can help the body recover more quickly and effectively. In a study that was conducted in 2010, 41 high-level, male athletes were asked to participate in 20-minute sessions of intensive intermittent exercise at maximum effort.

After each of these high-intensity cardio sessions, a recovery period of 15 minutes was performed. Participants who underwent cold-water immersion therapy over 15 minutes were found to recover significantly quicker than those who didn’t.

Lessen Cardiac Stress

Immersion in cold plunge tub after your workouts may be able to assist in reducing the stress that exercise puts on your heart, which is especially helpful when you’ve been working out in the heat.

Physiological stress and hormonal recovery could be boosted by CWI, according to a 2019 study. The participants’ heart rates were found to drop more quickly with CWI than with passive recovery methods after cycling for 45 minutes in a hot environment.

Builds a Stronger Immune System

Metabolic health and weight maintenance can both benefit from a process called thermogenesis. Immersions in plunge ice baths have been proven to stimulate this process. Submersion in a cold tub combined with various breathing techniques has been shown to stimulate the immune system’s adaptive response.

It’s a technique known as controlled hypoxia, which promotes the release of adrenaline. cold plunge therapy directly influences immune function by exposing the body to physiological stimuli that force it to perform at levels outside its comfort zone.

Alleviate Pain

Ice bathing or taking a cold shower after a single intense workout provides brief pain relief and may assist recovery, or at least the athlete’s perception of a speedier recovery.

A study conducted in 2016 on athletes who participated in jiu-jitsu found that immediately after a workout, a plunge in cold water resulted in less reported muscle aches and helped decrease lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels.

Results in Healthier Skin

Plunge ice bath therapy helps to momentarily tighten pores and minimize redness by constricting cutaneous blood flow in the skin, unlike hot water which can dry out your skin by removing its natural oils.

Cold immersion, whether in cold showers or part of an ice bath routine, is a great way to rejuvenate your skin by removing the top layer of dead skin and encouraging new, healthy skin to form in its place.

Cold water immersion can help your skin in a few different ways:

• It can make your skin firmer by strengthening the contractile fibers.
• It can make your pores smaller, temporarily reducing the pollution that gets into your skin.
• It can make your blood vessels stronger, which can help your skin heal faster after an injury.
• Those who make ice baths part of their beauty routine report feeling younger and more refreshed afterward.

Just like breathwork and mindful meditation, cold exposure calms our mind by distracting it and refocusing it on other factors. Cold exposure also lowers our heart rate, allowing us to be calmer and, therefore, less anxious.

It’s easier said than done, but the fact remains that stress is a major part of everyday life. There is always something new to stress about, whether it be traffic, your career or family, to name a few. 

Being under this constant pressure has negative effects on the body that can affect your health, and particularly your heart. It would be wise to find a healthy way to relieve this stress. 

Some people find relief in physical exercise, like jogging or swimming. Yoga is another great tool when trying to find a way to relax. An article in the American Heart Association by Dr. Glenn Levine proposes meditation as a way to reduce stress in patients and lower the risk of cardiovascular illnesses. It is a safe and low-cost activity that could bring many health benefits to your life.

Have you tried traditional saunas before and couldn’t bear how hot it was? Thankfully nowadays there’s another option: infrared saunas. 

These use infrared waves to transfer heat directly to your body without drastically modify the air temperature as much as a traditional sauna would. Some studies have shown that infrared saunas can help with chronic problems such as high blood pressure by promoting blood vessel dilation, decreasing overall cardiovascular risk.

Infrared saunas can also help patients with congestive heart failure, where treatment is sometimes limited. There are also no reported side effects with infrared treatment, so why not consider implementing one in your daily today?

Visit your doctor

One of the most important things to do to maintain a healthy heart is to go to your doctor for regular checkups.  A doctor can determine cardiovascular risk on an individual basis and recommend any necessary lifestyle changes. It’s always important to consult with your doctor when determining what path would be the best to follow for maintaining a long-lasting, healthy heart.

Get a jump start on your cardiovascular health by adding a personal infrared sauna to your home today!

Do Infrared Saunas Help You Lose Weight?

Infrared saunas are not a stand-alone weight loss machine, but they can be used in conjunction with exercise and a healthy diet as a catalyst to reach your goals. Anyone who claims that an infrared sauna is all you need, should be treated with caution.

Yes, you may see some weight loss after one session, but what you lost is mostly water weight. This short-term weight loss will more than likely be replenished once you start drinking water again immediately after your session. (We recommend drinking a glass of water prior to entering the sauna, a glass during, and follow up with another post-sweat. Electrolyte drinks can be substituted as well.) It is highly important to rehydrate yourself after using your infrared sauna. Unless you are also maintaining a balanced diet and consistent exercise, even 100 sauna sessions will not help you burn actual fat.

Based on a study published in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, women who suffer from obesity were tested with near infrared low-level laser therapy in combination with exercise to help lessen their cardiometabolic risk In this research, they combined a form of infrared therapy with exercise, more specifically aerobic exercise with resistance training. 

By doing so, the women who participated experienced a, “…decrease in neck and waist circumferences; percentual of fat; [and] visceral fat area…”. In short: Yes, infrared saunas can help you lose weight when you integrate your sessions with a healthy lifestyle regimen.

During your weight loss journey while using an infrared sauna, you may notice other increased benefits that can increase weight loss:

• Increased blood flow: Saunas have been proven to increase tissue repair and blood flow which brings more nutrients and oxygen to your muscles. This leads to a faster recovery after exercise.
• Boosted metabolism: An increase in core body temperature can boost metabolism for the time that you are in the sauna session as well as up to 60 minutes after.
• Improved mental health: Infrared sauna wavelengths increase the brain’s serotonin levels and endorphins. Dedicating at least 30 minutes a day can elevate and relax your mood. When you feel better about yourself mentally, it likely can result in more weight loss.

(Printable PDF)

This page will give a brief overview of the electrical requirements for your Spa needs.

• All 220v spas require a 4 wire connection from your main circuit breaker panel.
• There must be a GFCI disconnect breaker panel at least 5′ from spa and within line of site of spa.
• Most spas will run effectively on a 50amp 2 pole main circuit breaker.  Some spa manufacturers require a 60amp breaker.
• Although some manufacturers state their spas can use 8 guage wiring for a 50amp circuit, we recommend 6 gauge wiring on all 50/60 amp installations.  Below is a chart suggesting proper wire sizing for different breaker applications.

Breaker Amperage	Wire Size
20	12 gauge
30	10 gauge
40	8 gauge
50	6 gauge
60	6 gauge

• If a 50amp breaker application is used, some manufacturers state that if all pumps and/or blowers are running, the heater may be disabled temporarily until the pumps and/or blowers are reduced from high speed. In this instance you may notice a drop of 1-2 degrees in temperature. In most cases, manufacturers have designed their spas to recirculate motor heat preventing this occurance to happen.
• All wire should be installed in conduit, (rigid, pvc or flexible).
• All electrical work for your Spa should be installed by a licensed electrician.
• Two Men and a Spa Dolly takes no responsibility for electrical installations or requirements.