Bannon Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 We've been offered an unused hydro massage bath complete with all the fittings, the thing is I've always fancied one but the Mrs tells me they are difficult to keep clean and that the jets and pipes can get blocked. All sounds a bit yucky.Has anybody had this or other sorts of problems with them as I do not want to go to the bother of plumbing it in only to find out that it's a problem for us.Cheers guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderhorse Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 [quote user="Bannon"]...the Mrs tells me they are difficult to keep clean and that the jets and pipes can get blocked. All sounds a bit yucky...[/quote]No idea, but - Where does she get the information from that they are difficult to keep clean? What do the jets and pipes get blocked with? How? Who is telling her this?Are you sure that she just isn't trying to put you off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bannon Posted August 4, 2008 Author Share Posted August 4, 2008 You may be right, she had the information from an unknown friend of our daughter :-/ It seems that the pipes get blocked with can be best described as 'detritis' and that you need to flush out the system once a month with a special fluid of sorts in which case, the problem is going to be - can this be allowed to go into our septic tank? Maybe it's not worth all the bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil & Pat Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I don't think you can "flush out the system" any more than you can flush out a tap, the jets are all connected to the mains water. The jets on ours are all of a rubber/plastic material so removing any limescale is just a case of wiping over with a cloth. The nozzles flex and the scale falls off.Cleaning is the same as for any shower, just more of it.EDITIgnore the above, on re-reading the original post you are almost certainly talking about a spa bath/jacuzzi and not a shower cabin with hydro-massage jets. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me0wp00 Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 we've had a hydro bath for 4 years now and never had any problems with blockages, if the jets havent been used for a while we do get a bit of a whiff when we start it up but then it disappears Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ps Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Most manufacturers of these types of products try to build them without any risk of standing water being left in the pipes but some are better at this than others and the good ones sometimes get it wrong. Also, you will find over a period of time you will get a biofilm build up (this is what smells) on the pipe walls which is created by soap residue, skin debris, urea (sweat mainly) and other organic materials. Bacteria will feed off this and breed; making the smell worse and the biofilm also protects the bacteria.The solution to this is to flush the system every so often depending on use but it should be a minimum once every six months (frequently in letting properties). You can do this with a product called Spa Flush which contains natural enzymes and is perfectly safe to use. A bottle should last, depending on tub volume, 3 or 4 times. To use it you would fill the bath (warm water), apply the Spa Flush, activate the jets for half an hour, stand back and think how horrible all the brown gunge is that comes out (that you have been bathing in) and then when you have finished you drain the tub down and clean the inside in the normal way.It is worth filling the tub and turning on the jets to dilute any residue left in the pipes before cleaning out and if you have a wet an dry (Aquavac or something) vacuum cleaner, putting the nozzle up against the jets and sucking residue out. Don't worry though if you don't have a wet and dry vacuum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bannon Posted August 10, 2008 Author Share Posted August 10, 2008 Thanks for the info guys. Just what was needed!Where can we get the Spa Flush from John? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicos Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 My brother used to have one- and it was REALLY noisey.Is it one you can just fill like a normal bath and not have the jets going??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ps Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 They are similar to regular baths. Don't be put off but look after them. The noise level varies from installation to installation and type to type. The best way round this could be to sing in the bath.You can buy Spa Flush on line to be posted to you at www.spashop-france.com or if you have a spa specialist near you they may stock it but not all do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Couple of things to be aware of........1) Use the correct type of cleaning agents for both the bath and yourself.......If you dont like someone pop some bubble mixture into their spa bathing gel....Oh how they will laugh as the foam comes down the stairs!2) Often the pump is mounted on a stand under the slope of the bath or bath seat. the hard connection between the pump and the building can cause transmission of noise. I find mounting the stand on rubber bobbins (Engine mounting rubbers) or placing a section of car rubber matting (Thr pimply type if you know what I mean) under the pump can help greatly. If the bath is in a room adjacent to the eaves I have extended blower tubes before and sited the motor in the eaves and insulated it using a polystyrene fish box.........be creative I say!3) French electrical Regs I haven't a clue as to what their requirements will be may be worth checking before installing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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