Operation Manual

Page 6
Getting Started
• Know the "Hardness" of your water, contact your dealer to help you
with this information. See Water Quality and Maintenance for more
information.
IMPORTANT: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation does not
recommend that the spa be filled with “softened” water, as this may
damage the spa’s equipment.
• Purchase the Clean Screen
®
pre-filter to remove unwanted
contaminants from the tap water. This is recommended, not required.
DON'T:
• Power up the spa until it has been filled with water! Power to the
spa automatically activates critical components within the spa, such
as controls, heater, circulation pump, and other systems. If power
is supplied to these components prior to the spa being filled, the
components will be damaged, and this may result in a non-warranty
component failure.
• Fill the spa with hot water or cold water with cold water temperature
below 50º F (10º C)! Tripping of the high-limit thermostat may result
causing your spa to stop functioning.
DON'T:
• Use your spa after filling until all of the steps listed below START-UP
are completed!
• Add chlorine if treating your spa with polyhexamethylene biguanide
(Biguanide, PHMB, eg. BaquaSpa
®
) sanitizer.
START-UP
Your HOT SPRING spa has been thoroughly tested during the
manufacturing process to ensure reliability and long-term customer
satisfaction. A small amount of water may have remained in the
plumbing after testing and, as a result, may have spotted the spa shell
or the spa siding prior to delivery. Before filling the spa, wipe the spa
shell clean with a soft rag.
The following instructions must be read and followed exactly to ensure
a successful start-up or refill.
1. CLOSE ALL DRAINS AND FILL THE SPA with water through
the filter compartment. Your HOT SPRING spa water level should be
maintained approximately 1½” above the top of the highest jet.
2. AFTER THE SPA HAS BEEN FILLED with water and the
equipment compartment door is secured, power must be applied to
the spa.
• 115 volt models: Connect the GFCI to the waterproof receptacle
and push the RESET button on the GFCI.
• 230 volt models: Open the door of the electrical subpanel, If
your spa is a GRANDEE ,ENVOY, VANGUARD OR ARIA model
reset the 30 amp GFCI breaker first, verify the system is primed,
then reset the 20 amp breaker. If your spa is a SOVEREIGN, or
converted PRODIGY or JETSETTER model reset the 20 amp
GFCI breaker first and verify the system is primed (see step 3), then
reset the 30 amp breaker. Close and secure the subpanel door.
3. TO CHECK THE OPERATION OF THE JET SYSTEM and to
purge any remaining air from the heating system:
GRANDEE & ENVOY Models:
• Push the JETS icon on the Home Screen.
• Push the double jet icons to run the jet pumps on high speed for
one minute.
• Press the OFF icon (far right) once the jet system is fully operational
(as indicated by strong, non-surging jets), priming of the spa is
complete, to shut the jets off.
VANGUARD, ARIA, SOVEREIGN, PRODIGY & JETSETTER Models:
• Push the JETS hardbutton once.
• Push the JET MAX soft button to make both jet pumps run on high
speed for one minute.
• Press the ALL OFF soft button once the jet system is full operational
(as indicated by strong, non-surging jets), priming of the spa is
complete, to shut the jets off.
Weak or surging jets are an indication of a low water level condition or
clogged filter cartridges.
IMPORTANT: Be sure the COMFORT CONTROL Levers (see
illustration in Spa Features section) are open by turning each one
clockwise and checking to see that the SMARTJET lever is pointing
in the position.
4. USING A TEST STRIP AND APPLICABLE CHEMICALS,
adjust Total Alkalinity (TA) to 80 ppm, Calcium Hardness (CH)
to 100 ppm, then spa water pH to between 7.4 and 7.6. These
procedures are listed in the “Water Quality and Maintenance”
section.
IMPORTANT: Always add spa water chemicals directly into the
filter compartment with the jet pump on high speed for at least
ten minutes. Adjusting the Total Alkalinity (TA) as the first step is
important, as out-of-balance TA will affect your ability to adjust the
pH correctly and will prevent the sanitizer from operating effectively.
5. SUPERCHLORINATE THE SPA WATER by adding 1½
teaspoons of chlorine (sodium dichlor) per 250 gallons (950
liters) of spa water. Press the Clean Cycle icon (on home screen)
for GRANDEE & ENVOY models and press the soft button
next to CLEAN (on the home screen) for VANGUARD, arIa,
SOVEREIGN, PRODIGY & JETSETTER models to circulate the
spa water for a ten-minute period.
6. DURING THE SUPER-CHLORINATION PERIOD, rotate the
SMARTJET lever(s) through both operating positions, letting the
spa water circulate (with jets on) for equal periods of time. The HOT
SPRING spa's SMARTJET levers are designed to operate in the 3
o’clock and 9 o’clock positions.
7. SET THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL, the spa is
pre-programmed to reach 100°F (38° C ), and will normally do
so within 18 to 24 hours. You may raise or lower the water
temperature by:
GRANDEE & ENVOY Models:
• Press the temperature window in the Home Screen to display
the Set Temperature Screen.
• Press or to change the water set temperature.
VANGUARD, ARIA, SOVEREIGN, PRODIGY & JETSETTER Models:
• Pressing the OPTIONS hard button on the control panel.
• Pressing the soft button next to Temperature.
• Pressing the soft button next to TEMP ▲ button on the control
panel to raise the temperature.
• Pressing the soft button next to TEMP ▼ button on the control
panel to lower the temperature.
Place the vinyl cover on the spa and allow the water temperature
to stabilize. Make sure you secure the cover in place using the
cover locks. Periodically check the spa water temperature. When
the water temperature climbs above 90°F (32°C), proceed to the
next step.
To prevent tampering, you can lock your desired temperature
setting. Refer to the Operating section for details.