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 Heat: Family enjoying a hot tub!

Everyone knows that a hot tub is hot - it's right there in the name!  But not everyone knows of the great benefits to the body when you spend a few minutes in your spa.

 
When your body absorbs heat, several subtle physiological processes occur.  First, as your body warms up, blood flow is increased.  The warming of your blood causes your blood vessels to dilate.  Blood pressure is subsequently reduced - often in as little as 20 minutes. 

Additionally, the hot water also causes muscle relaxation as heat from the water is carried deep into your muscles.  Normally, your body tries to cool itself by carrying heat to the surface via your blood.  Unlike a bathtub, a spa can maintain a hot water temperature indefinitely.  So while you are soaking in a hot tub, your blood doesn't recalculate at a reduced temperature.  It returns deep within your body at a warmer temperature than before, delivering therapeutic heat where other treatments cannot.

Furthermore, the central nervous system's sensitivity is muted, as your body focuses its attention on the heat gain.  This brings about temporary pain relief.  This neurological effect can happen with any gradual increase or decrease in your body's temperature - but soaking in warm water sure sounds nicer than the alternative!

Buoyancy:

Even the fittest among us have a lot of weight on our joints.  Think of your feet and ankles - they support almost all of your body's weight - every day, all day long.  Other joints are constantly in motion - your knees, elbows, and wrists, for example.  And unfortunately, everyone either has experienced some sort of back pain or knows someone who has.

When we are sitting in a spa, the natural buoyancy of the water supports approximately 90% of our weight.  This reduces the strain on our joints, by giving them a little "down time" from the daily grind.  Pressure is greatly reduced on all of your joints and muscles while you are relaxing in your hot tub.

 Hydrotherapy:

Anyone who has used a hot tub before is familiar with the relaxing effect of the jets themselves, and their obvious benefits. Focused streams of water - with warmed air mixed within the flow - can provide a therapeutic massage that you can control, depending on how gentle or intense you want it to feel.

Hot tubs are equipped with nozzles of various sizes, pressures, configurations, and quantities - all designed to target particular portions of your body.  Smaller groups of jets will hit pinpoint muscles around your neck.  Many jets will focus on certain portions of your back.  Larger flow jets will sweep up and down your entire back, just to the sides of your spine.  Tiny jets will spin around your wrists.  Other jets will aim for your calves, feet, or arms.  Like a trained masseuse, the spa's jets can soothe sore muscles any time you need.

Simply put, people are traveling less and spending more time at home. And as we all know, the more we find enjoyment through staying home, the more money we save on the natural expenses that come with any type of travel.

That being said, I've come up with a list here of the top ways swimming pool ownership can improve one's happiness, health, and family. Although many pool shoppers may be aware of most of these benefits, I think it's important that each is considered and recognized as an incredible benefit to such a worthy investment. So here goes:

Family Time: I can personally attest to this benefit of pool ownership maybe more than any other. With all the new technology of the information age, families are being constantly pulled apart by a mountain of activities and ‘distractions'. Whether it's TV, computers, cell phones, etc.; it can be tough for a family to truly share quality time. Such is the beauty of swimming pool ownership-no distractions. Only smiles, games, and the sound of laughter. I can definitively say that my family has a stronger relationship because our swimming pool brings us together.

 Fitness: Although many adults buy swimming pools for the fitness component, most don't realize that their children will likely benefit much, much more in this area. Every summer, the children undergo a physical transformation from the end of spring to the end of summer. This is because they've usually gained a little bit of extra weight due to being inside so much during the winter and then they find themselves playing in the pool 3-5 hours a day once the summer is in full effect. Instead of being bored and looking for a snack in the pantry, they instead turn their focus to creating new and exciting games and activities in the pool. And the beauty is that EVERY activity they do in the pool involves exercise of some shape or form.

Stress relief: When customers debate over whether or not a pool will be a good investment, they need look no further than the fact that being in and around a pool is easily one of the most natural stress relievers in the world. There have been many times when people been under pressure from the typical stresses of daily life has shed away as I relax and enjoy the family as they splash into the water.

Aquatic Therapy: Similar to fitness, aquatic therapy can be a major benefit of pool ownership. In fact, swimming pools have blessed the lives of many with such issues as fibromyalgia, cerebral palsy, as well as other illnesses to mention only a few.

Home Improvement Value: The National Association of Realtors recently came out with an article discussing the fact that inground fiberglass and concrete pools increase the value of homes on average 5%. In other words, on a $500,000 home, a swimming pool will typically add about $25,000 worth of value. I mention this because some people think that pools will deter from the value of a home. Although this can be true in some cases, it is generally not the case.

Product
Care & Service

Rintoul's Pools & Hot Tubs wants our customers to use the products we sell to create the perfect outdoor living experience. And we want you to enjoy your purchase for years to
come. In this section you’ll find some useful tips and advice.

Beachcomber Hot Tubs are covered by
the most comprehensive guarantee in the industry. Rintoul's Pools
& Hot Tubs offer a wide selection of Water Care Products.
They ensure clean, healthy water, while enhancing the lifetime of your hot
tub. All of our products are protected by their manufacturer’s warranties.

Rintoul's Water
Care Products

Rintoul's Pools & Hot Tubs has
a full-line of water treatment products. All our Water Care
Products are specially designed to work together as a simple and easy to use
system – ensuring a friendly, safe and inviting hot tub environment for family
and friends.

We are proud to offer a fully computerized
water testing service to all of our customers, FREE of charge. We recommend
you bring in a water sample every time you drain and refill, as well as every
30 days the hot tub is in use. We stock a full range of test kits which can be
purchased for day to day testing needs.

FAQs

Q.       
Why is my water cloudy?

A:       
In 90% of cases this is caused by a lack of sanitizer or disinfectant. Once you
can get your sanitizer level at the 3-5ppm range, and maintain this level for a
couple of days, it will clear up.

Q:       
Why does my water foam when I turn on the jets?

A.       
Foaming is caused by a lack of sanitizer or disinfectant. Test your chlorine or
bromine levels and be sure it is in the proper 3-5ppm.

Q.       
Why does my water have a funny, musty smell?

This odor is normally caused because
the water needs to be disinfected, or the pH level is off. First, try
‘shocking’ the water with 2-3 tablespoons of disinfectant. If that does not
work, test your pH level to be sure it is in the proper range of 7.2-7.8. If
your pH level is not within this range, adjust your levels as recommended
by the Rintoul's professional.

Q.       
Why are there white flakes/particles floating in my water?

A.       
These flakes are ‘biofilm’ that has grown in your water due to lack of
sanitizer or disinfectant. Start by adding 3-4 tablespoons of sanitizer and
remove your existing filter. If the problem persists please bring a water
sample into the store.

Q:       
Why does my pH seem to always drop? Is there an easier way to keep it in the
recommended range?

A.       
The reason your pH is constantly dropping is that the products you are
putting in your hot tub are low in ph. The best way to keep it in line is to be
sure your total alkalinity level stays between 100 and 120 ppm to hold
the pH in its proper range. See your Rintoul's professional for exact
amounts of chemical to add.

Q:       
My sanitizer level is too high, how can I bring it down to the proper level?

A.       
There is more than one way to bring your sanitizer level down. First, try adding
fresh water to dilute the sanitizer. If this does not work, bring in a
water sample to Rintoul's Pools & Hot tubs for analysis and advice.

Q.       
How often should I be changing my water and replacing my filter?

A.       
We recommend changing your water every 6 months with regular hot tub usage (3-4
times per week). If you have two filters and you are cleaning them monthly they
should be replaced every 18-24 months. If the band in the middle of the filter
comes detached, it needs to be replaced.

Q.       
What is the difference between the water care products at Rintoul's Pools
& Hot Tubs and the Big Box Stores?

A.       
Most big box chemicals contain high percentages of fillers and binders to keep
the price down. You have to use much more of their products to get the desired
results – plus you end up adding unwanted by-products into your hot tub which
can lead to other issues in your water and mechanical equipment.

THE MAGIC OF WATER

Water has a density greater than our bodies. Water literally "pushes" back against us, providing buoyancy (we float) and a natural resistance to movement. These special properties of water create a perfect environment for practicing non-weight bearing (low impact)exercise that is also resistive in nature.

Swimming is the most obvious form of low- impact water-based exercise, but shallow and deep water walking/running, dynamic movement exercises, yoga, stretching, etc. can also be practiced in the water. Your pool is your personal gym - start your membership today!

DO MORE WITH LESS

Swimming offers something that most land-based activities don't - the ability to work your body without the harsh impact on joints, ligaments and connective tissues associated with typical land based movements. The low-impact environment of water is thus ideal for those who are managing osteoporosis or arthritis, rehabilitating injuries, recovering lost functional capacity or in need of recovery from high-impact exercise training.

INCREASED MUSCLE TONE & STRENGTH

Water-based movement is a great way to increase muscular tone and strength. Every kick and every arm movement in the water becomes a resistance exercise. However, unlike the weight room - where the load is equal to the amount of weight you hold - the load in the water is equivalent to the number of reps you perform. Therefore, the longer you move in the water the more benefit! Aim for 30 minutes per day!

IMPROVED FLEXIBILTY

Swimming puts the body through a broad range of motion, especially at the shoulders. The act of moving a joint through its full range of motion helps to increase and maintain the mobility and strength of the joint. Any joint of the body can be exercised in the water in a safe non-weight bearing way. Try taking some of your favorite stretches to the water!

A HEALTHIER HEART

Because swimming is an aerobic exercise, it serves to strengthen the heart and to make it more efficient pump - which leads to better blood flow throughout your body.

WEIGHT CONTROL

Swimming is an immense calorie burner. To boost the calories-burning effect of swimming. consider using intervals in which you work to increase your intensity for short bursts and then recover with slower swimming or rest and then repeat.

LOWER RISK OF DIABETES

When it comes to preventing and managing diabetes, there are a few prescriptions as powerful as aerobic exercise. According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, diabetics should strive for a minimum of 150 minutes or aerobic activity per week to improve and maintain glycemic control. Swimming and other water-based movements are an essential component of any long-term aerobic fitness plan.

LOWER STRESS, HIGHER SPIRTS AND A BETTER BRAIN

A release of natural endorphins is one of the most pleasant side effects of swimming. In addition to the endorphins high, swimming can also evoke a relaxation response. This is similar to the way yoga works on the body through rhythmic contraction and stretching of your muscles underpinned by deep rhythmic breathing. Swimming is also a meditative exercise supported through the rhythmic sound of your own breathing and splash of the water as mantra of sorts.

Aside from the metaphysical benefit of swimming, research shows that it can change the brain for the better through a process known as hippocampal neurogenesis, whereby the brain replaces cells lost through stress.

SWIM YOUR WAY TO BETTER HEALTH

Given all these benefits of swimming, along with the fact that better health leads to a longer life, why not dive in and get started to a lifetime of good living? Start slowly, have fun and enjoy the magic of water by swimming as part of your healthy lifestyle today.