How to Properly Install a Whirlpool or Jacuzzi Bathtub

The importance of the bathroom in the life of any family is enormous - it is a place of rest and solitude after a hard day's work. And if you are a fan of quality relaxation, then without whirlpool bath (Jacuzzi is indispensable. But before you choose any model, you should get acquainted with the options and additional functions of baths.

All whirlpool baths are arranged similarly and consist of the following basic elements:

• pump;
• water inlet;
• nozzles;
• control system (pneumatic or electronic);

The pumping equipment draws water through the intake pipe to the nozzles, in which a mixture of water and air is formed. The resulting mixture under pressure flows into the bowl of the bath. It is the type of nozzles that determines the type of massage: aero- or hydro.

The jets can be, for example, bottom, side, foot or back massage. Some whirlpool baths are equipped with a drainage system, so the water circulation in the bowl is smooth. In addition, whirlpool baths can be equipped with additional accessories, with which you can enjoy music or your favorite movie. Also the additional functions include the therapeutic effect of light (chromotherapy), scents (aromatherapy) and oxygen (ozone therapy).

Before installing the Jacuzzi, the bathroom must be prepared. In the room to finish all repairs, including wall cladding, as well as remove all construction debris.

It is very important that the finishing work is carried out taking into account the accessibility of plumbing, sewage and electrical networksAs well as the ability to remove the bathtub without violating the integrity of the finishing materials.

It is also necessary to level the floor and ensure adequate ventilation in the room where the whirlpool bath will be located.

In accordance with the place of installation, shape and size of the future of the bath to make a tap water supply to the faucet and drain outlet, to conduct a power line and install the socket that has grounding.

Sometimes people put a Jacuzzi in the yard of a private home. Buy a model with a special coating, and find out how feasible it is in the climate in which you live.

To connect the Jacuzzi pump you need:

• 220V electrical circuit,
• three-core power cable,
• circuit breaker,
• safety switch,
• earthing
• Voltage regulator (if desired).

Electrical wires must be at least 3 mm in cross-section.

The water supply system to which you connect the Jacuzzi must have a pressure of no more than 5 atmospheres and water without impurities, or it must be installed water filters that purify water.

It is desirable to put and pressure reducer.

The drainage system should have a hole diameter of 4 to 5 cm. These requirements will be discussed in detail below, but now stop directly at the installation.

To avoid damage, it is not recommended to remove the protective film for the bathtub until the installation is completed. Do not touch any pipes, nozzles, pump or other whirlpool system components when moving it to the installation site - This can cause damage to them. Only the supporting frame must be touched.

When installing the bathtub, adjust the support feet so that its sides are horizontal. This is easy to check with a construction level.

Then you need to install a frame or brackets that will support the bowl, without them it will sag. By the way, you can determine the quality of the bath by this sign - the more supports it needs, the less strong it is.

After installation, the space under the tub is covered with the decorative panels that come with the tub. This leaves uncovered the distance from the floor to ventilate the whirlpool equipment. Usually it is 20-30 mm.

The technical parameters of the bathtub are designed for operation in the water supply system with a pressure of 4-5 atm. However, for greater reliability it is recommended to additionally install a pressure reducer.

Jacuzzi jets are very sensitive to the quality of incoming water, so the mandatory condition for connection is the installation of filters of coarse and fine purification. This will protect the expensive system from breakage. After all, rarely any citizen of our country can boast of the quality of tap water.

It is better to bring the pipes as close as possible to the device-water consumer. It should be taken into account that they do not block access to the nodes connecting the pipes and bathtub. This is very important if necessary to carry out revision or repair.

The installation of the faucet and connection to the water supply in Jacuzzi bathtubs is not different from their installation and connection in regular bathtubs. The only difference is that faucets in whirlpool baths are installed directly on the bathtub, not on the walls, like in regular bathtubs. The system "drain-overflow" of such bathtubs is usually semi-automatic: the drain valve is opened by a handle located on the overflow hole.

When water reaches a critical level, it begins to overflow through the drain hole, which is located below the handle. The connection itself is made by means of a flexible water supply line. The length is taken taking into account the possible movement of the bath relative to the wall for a distance of at least half a meter.

At the conclusion of the water supply pipes are put on a mixer with a thread diameter of 1/2". During the works, it is important to monitor the tightness of connections, if necessary using gaskets.

As you know, water is a conductor of electricity, so connection of the power supply during the installation of whirlpool baths is the most responsible work and requires particular care, skill and strict adherence to the requirements of electrical safety.

Before installation, it is necessary to de-energize the area where the work will be carried out. The socket to connect the Jacuzzi should be located so as to prevent water from getting on it. It is better to remove it from the bathroom. In addition, it should be grounded (the so-called "Euro socket").

The socket (or switch) is connected to the electrical panel through the safety switch and the circuit breaker. A three-core cable with three colored wires is used to connect to the power grid.

Yellow and green wire means ground, bluish means zero, and red, brown or white means phase. These colors are fixed by an international standard, so confusion is avoided.

When connecting the hot tub cables to the mains wires, the ground must be connected to the ground, the phase to the phase, and the zero to the zero.

It is recommended that voltage regulators be installed to protect against power surges, which can cause electrical failure of the hot tub.

To connect the whirlpool bath to the drainage system, a drain with a hole diameter of 4-5 cm is used. It is convenient if the sewage pipe will be in the floor or wall. In the latter case, the distance from the floor should not be more than two centimeters.

In the final stage, the siphon from the Jacuzzi is connected to the drain with a corrugated pipe. After connecting the tub to the utilities, it is necessary to check all connections for leaks. To do this, fill the bowl with water and carefully inspect the joints. Then you need to seal the joints of the Jacuzzi to the walls. Water from the bowl is drained only after curing the sealant.

After installation work is complete, you need to fill the bowl with water so that the whirlpool jets are below its level and turn them on by pressing the ON button on the remote control.

The water pressure and its direction is controlled by the nozzles. Before turning on the equipment would be a good idea to check their opening. To do this, turn the nozzles counterclockwise to the end. In order not to splash water into the bathroom, the nozzle tips should be directed downwards.

The Jacuzzi pump should not run for a long time without water circulation - it is fraught with overheating and leakage of the pump shaft. If you bought a bathtub with lighting, you can not turn it on when the bowl is empty. The fact is that the water is a cooling element and does not allow the lamp to overheat. But turning on the backlighting of the bath, where there is no water can cause burns of the skin of the human body, as well as deformation of the bath itself.

To ensure that the whirlpool bath will serve you for a long time, you need to follow certain rules.

How to clean your acrylic bathtub? All abrasive cleaners, as well as those containing acid, alkali, chlorine and other aggressive chemical elements are strictly prohibited for its cleaning.

Bathing pets and putting solid objects in it, especially with sharp edges, is also not necessary. All this can cause damage to the surface.

Only soft sponges or cloths and gel cleaners should be used for maintenance. You can also use folk remedies to remove water deposits. For example, you can moisten a sponge with a 3% solution of acetic acid or citric acid.

If, nevertheless, small scratches appeared on the surface of your bathtub, they can be scraped with sandpaper with the finest grit (M9800-1200) and then car polishing paste can be applied to restore the shine.

To prevent rust stains, the tub should be wiped dry with a clean, dry cloth after each use. It is better if it is linen, woolen fabrics are not recommended.

Once every one or two months the whirlpool bath needs disinfection. To do this, add 1 cup of disinfectant to the filled tub, which can be purchased at bath stores, and turn on the pump for 2 minutes. This is enough time to fill all areas of the system with water. Then the whirlpool should be turned off and the water in the Jacuzzi should be drained after 20 minutes. During this time, the piping system will be cleaned of microorganisms. After a second cycle of pouring and draining water into the bowl, the tub can be used.

If you have "hard" water, the whirlpool tub system needs cleaning at least twice a year. The procedure is as follows:

• fill the bowl with water at a temperature of +40°C, pour detergent into it (about 2 grams of detergent per one liter of water) and turn on the pump for a short time;
• turn off the pump, drain the water from the bowl;
• fill the bowl this time with cold water and turn on the pumping equipment for 2 minutes;
• Turn off the pump, drain the water, and wash the Jacuzzi as usual.

The procedure of cleaning and disinfecting together is not recommended, as mixing of the two liquids can lead to failure of the whirlpool equipment.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated. Whether you call a specialist or install the tub yourself is up to you to decide. I hope this article will help you make the right choice.