Emerald Spas. Installation.

Before your spa is delivered there are some considerations you must weigh to ensure a safe and secure installation of your Emerald Spa. These issues are outlined below:

The Owner's Manual: Be sure to read thoroughly your spa owner’s manual and fill out your warranty card. Both the owner’s manual and warranty card are provided by the dealer upon delivery, however we have placed our owner’s manual on-line for your convenience. To download a copy simply click here.

The owner’s manual is an invaluable resource of information that assists and instructs users into smart operation of an Emerald Spa.

Permit Requirements: If you are building an addition to your home, running additional electrical lines or building a deck to rest your spa on, you may be in need of a building permit. Consult your local municipality to determine if you are required to have one before your spa is installed.

In addition, a few local municipalities may have fencing or barrier requirements before you may install your spa. Although an Emerald Spa's factory cover meets the ASTM standard for safety covers and usually complies with most requirements, your local municipality may in some circumstances require additional safety measures. Consult your local building department for these requirements.

Outdoor Installation: There are many things to consider prior to locating your spa. The following list covers some of the more common factors involved in choosing the ideal location.

The view from your house.
Your ability to supervise the spa.
Wind direction and exposure to sunlight.
Location relative to trees (falling leaves and shade).
Dressing and bathroom location.
Storage area for maintenance equipment and chemicals (storing chemicals inside you spa will void the warranty).
Landscaping and evening lighting.
Spa must be placed on a flat, level surface. Emerald strongly recommends either a wood decking material (the deck must support 100 lbs. per sq. ft.; consult a qualified builder) or a concrete pad. Other materials that may work are crushed rock, garden "pre-cast" stones and railroad ties. However these materials are not officially recommended and MUST be able to secure the spa and keep it level to work. Otherwise damage may occur from too much torque on the spa due to the unevenness of the ground material. In this case, warranty on the structure would be voided. (As is the case with most if not all manufacturers). Your local dealer will be happy to supply you with consultation on your proposed location.

Indoor Considerations: If you are planning to install your spa indoors, you should consider the following points to plan for the excess moisture introduced with spa usage.

Walls, ceiling, flooring, and woodwork must be able to withstand high humidity.
You may need cross-ventilation fans or oversized dehumidifiers (or both) to remove excess humidity.
Spa chemicals in the air may corrode certain metals in your home.
Floor drains are needed to carry off water splashed from the spa.
Recessed spas must be positioned to permit servicing from above or below floor.
Water is heavy. If a spa is placed on flooring or decking, be sure the structure is strong enough to support the added weight.
Due to the many precautions that must be taken to avoid damage to the surrounding environment from humidity and water inherent with spa use, it is usually prudent to avoid a second story location that may be above finished living space.

Electrical Considerations: A Diagram illustrating the proper way for an electrician to wire an Emerald can be found here. Otherwise the diagram below illustrates the proper distance the spa should be away from a suitable rated switch or circuit breaker to shut off the power supply. This mandate is found in section 422-20 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70-1996.

Note: All metal surfaces within 5 feet should be bonded.

Assisting your Dealer: Although your dealer may have been hired or is responsible for delivery, you may want to consider the following tips to make the delivery as effortless for the dealer as possible. A well mapped out delivery insures no damage to either the delivery men or the spa.

Be sure that you plan out a good movement route to your desired location. Please take into consideration the dimensions of the spa you have chosen.
Look to determine if there will be any impending permanent obstacle such as trees, a narrow gate, or other man-made devises in the way of the spa.
Look to move any temporary and/or movable object(s) before the delivery occurs such as grills, patio furniture, temporary fences, etc.
Be sure to consider how the spa will get back to the area you wish to place it. Unexpected costs such as cranes or a call for additional delivery men is not necessarily the fault of your dealer and determining whose responsibility it will be to pay for this additional cost will only damper the excitement you have been building for your spa’s delivery.

By helping provide the dealer with a map of your home and the area you want to place it, noting the perils or pitfalls (if any) that a delivery man will encounter along the way, will help everyone on the actual delivery date.