Durable enough to withstand the strength and weight of an elephant; no matter the weather—sun, rain, frost, or snow—the Leathertex exterior of Softub hot tubs has been created for long life and durability. Q: Can I have a new liner installed on my Softub?The Softub can have its skin removed and replaced with another to make the unit look like new again. This should be performed by a certified technician, as the jets and drain holes will need to be cut out of the vinyl during the installation; one wrong cut would make the new liner leak. Please contact one of our service centers covering your area to set up an appointment to get a new liner installed on your tub. The service center will be able to provide you cost and availability. Q: I have a stain on my liner. What can I do to clean it properly? A: We have three levels of cleaning that we recommend for stains and markings. 1. Simple Stains: Wipe the area clean with a damp washcloth; doing so will remove any build-up.

Wipe the area clean with a mixture of baking soda and water. 2. Tough Stains: When the tub is drained, use a soft soap and sponge to wipe the area clean. 3. Inks and Heavy Stains: When the tub is drained, use a rag with Naphtha to wipe the surface of the inner vinyl clean. Naphtha can only be used on the inner vinyl as Naphtha is too harsh for the outside skin. If Naphtha is used on the outside skin of the tub, it will be permanently damaged.Hardwood Floor Repair Companies Q: My Softub liner has wrinkled on the inner vinyl. Lab Dogs For Sale VaWhy did this happen and how can I fix it?Best Way To Clean Nike Canvas Shoes A: This type of damage is seen with tubs that have had higher than normal chlorine levels or lower than recommended pH levels;

however, other chemical mismanagement issues can cause this to happen. There may be an issue with the hardness level of the water that could have caused the expansion of the inner vinyl causing wrinkles. The vinyl is made up of PVC with additional plasticizers to make the naturally hard PVC soft and pliable. Soft water or low pH will leach these plasticizers out of the vinyl causing unsightly wrinkles, and with an extended period of time can make the vinyl hard and brittle. It is best to re-skin a tub if this damage occurs.   We would recommend first to work on correcting the water chemistry before installing a new liner to insure the new liner is not damaged as well. We would also suggest contacting a service provider for assistance with chemicals and a relining. Q: My Softub’s liner walls are slimy/slick- what is happening? A: Slick or slimy walls are a sign of low ‘sanitizer’ or chlorine levels. When you add chlorine for the first time, you’ll want to add 1 or 2 tablespoons of chlorine to a tub being filled.

Once filled test the water again to see if the levels are still low and add another tablespoon if it is low. After 15 minutes check the levels again. If the color of the test strip matches the ‘OK’ colors on the side of the bottle, you are all set! If the color matches the ‘LOW’ colors, add another tablespoon of chlorine. If you add more than 4 tablespoons, please check that your test strips have not expired as this is an excessive amount. If you happen to add too much chlorine, run the jets with the air control open and the cover of the tub off. This will let the chlorine evaporate out of the water. Test after 3 hours to see if the levels have dropped to the ‘OK’ levels of 2-3ppm. Keep in mind that chlorine evaporates out of the water naturally, so you will need to add one table spoon every few days to keep your levels up to par. Please keep a close eye on your water chemistry to ensure you maintain your sanitizer at the correct level. Test your water chemistry after each use of your Softub, but no less than twice a week.

Allowing your water chemistry to get out of balance can cause permanent damage to your liner and pose health risks to users of your tub. Please read the Water Treatment Guide that was included with your Softub. If you need new copies of this, they are available from your Softub dealer. Q: The black floor plate at the bottom of my tub is coming off. How do I fix this? A:   At the Softub factory, we weld the wall of the tub to the floor plate with heat guns. This can be performed by one of our service centers covering your area. You may also use an adhesive to attach the materials together. Do not apply adhesive to the inner vinyl of the tub as it may adhere to the wrong area inside the tub.We came across this article written in January and think William makes some excellent points. Note: we always suggest buying new so you are covered by our incredible 5-year warranty. Believe it or not, hot tubs can be energy efficient AND economical By William L. Seavey | Special to The Cambrian |

We’ve covered solar power, electric vehicles and rainwater harvesting so far. Now most of you probably think of hot tubs as essentially wasteful and hardly “green,” but I’m here to tell you that they don’t have to be. Years ago, I actually made a hot tub out of a 300-gallon stock watering tank. Cost then: maybe $500. I set it up on concrete blocks and put a three-burner portable propane “stovetop” under it. It heated up fairly quickly, although draining and cleaning it posed a problem because the drain hose was very narrow. About five years ago, I started looking into Softubs, which I’d seen demoed at home shows. The advantage of Softubs is that they are easily portable (can be rolled when the external motor/pump is removed) and they are not heavy at all, because they are mostly made of vinyl and foam. But the new cost was $3,000 to $4,000 for units between 6 and 8 feet wide, and I couldn’t afford that. So I started looking at Craigslist for a used one and, lo and behold, I saw two available for around $1,000 to $1,300 each and bought them both.

I later sold the extra one and got most of my money back.) Softubs are heavily insulated (the sides are about 4-inches thick). When they get to the desired temperature (104 degrees max), the electric pump motor shuts off (there’s a thermostat). Now, I’m sure you’re saying, “Well, electricity is expensive,” and it certainly is, but the company advertises that keeping a Softub hot may only cost around $25 a month. I’ve found that to be true, and mine is in the woods! [Note: It is even less!! $15/mo] I’ve added extra insulation on the bottom of the tub and 1.5-inch foam over the cover, which can be slid off conveniently. I also have a floating plastic “solar” blanket underneath the lid. Overall, these strategies really keep the water toasty. Recently I went away on a one-week trip, turned the tub off (which was 100 degrees), and a week later the water was still at 78 degrees (and again, it’s outside)! I think that’s simply amazing, don’t you?