Putting your jacuzzi into use: first start-up, controls and daily use

Short answer: you put a Q-cuzzi into use in four steps: level and connected (power installed by a certified installer), filled to the prescribed level with a leak check, only then switching on the heating and pump, and immediately starting the weekly water treatment. After that, operation is simple: leave the heating at 37 to 38 °C, switch on the jets and LED when you bathe, and put the lid on when you get out. Below is the complete start-up procedure and daily use.

Specifications

All versions: a thick layer of insulation all round, a maintenance-free surround, LED lighting, heating via an internal or external stainless steel 316 wood-fired heater, electric, hybrid or heat pump, and an optional sand filter system. Jets, control panel, drain and filter connection are positioned per tub as required; keep the assembly manual for your specification to hand.

Step 1: placement and connection

• Base: level, load-bearing, water-draining; filled with bathers, a Q-cuzzi weighs well over 2000 kilograms.
• Level: in two directions; a tilted shell causes jets on one side to come above the waterline.
• Power: an earthed circuit with a residual current device for the pump, lighting and filter, and heavy-duty power for an electric element or heat pump. Always installed by a certified installer.
• Technical components accessible: the pump, filter and control unit must remain accessible without moving the tub.
• Crane: a jacuzzi is always placed using a crane; see preparing for delivery and placement.

Step 2: filling and leak check

1. Ball valve closed, drain plugs of the pump and filter closed, multiport valve set to Filter.
2. Fill with the garden hose to well above all jets and above the heater connections; the exact level is stated in the assembly manual.
3. While filling, check all connections: jets, heater couplings, pump, filter, ball valve. A drip usually just needs a quarter turn tightened; report a leak that persists before switching anything on.
4. Check that the jets are under water; jets drawing in air sputter and put strain on the pump.

Step 3: switching on the heating and pump

• Wood-fired: water first, then fire; light it according to wood-fired heater use and maintenance and allow 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
• Electric, hybrid or heat pump: power on, setpoint at 37 to 38 °C; see electric heating and heat pump.
• Pump and jets: switch on only when the tub is full. Let the pump run for a few minutes the first time and check that all jets deliver water; bleed it if needed according to the manual.
• Filter: multiport valve set to Filter, pump on; note the starting pressure on the gauge.

Step 4: starting water treatment

1. Measure and set the pH to 7.2 to 7.6; see setting the water balance.
2. Dose the first weekly dose of AquaFinesse straight away, tablet in the dispenser, and run the pump and jets briefly at full power so it circulates through the entire jet circuit.
3. Wait 30 minutes before the first bath.

This is more important for a jacuzzi than for a hot tub: the jet circuit contains metres of pipework where biofilm readily settles.

Controls in daily use

• Heating: leave the thermostat at bathing temperature or park it around 30 °C on weekdays; heating from cold is the most costly action.
• Jets: pump on, air controls open for more power (air mixes with water for a firmer massage), closed for a gentler flow. Turn the jets off when you get out: running jets cool the water quickly and use electricity.
• LED: ambience lighting for the evening; works independently of the pump and heating.
• Lid: put it on as soon as the tub is not in use; see insulated cover.
• Filter: run it for at least 8 hours a day, longer with intensive use.

The routine for the first weeks

Maintenance of the jets, pump, pipework and lighting is covered in maintaining jets and technology.