Hi Alice

Just wanted to let you know, we started using SilkBalance in our Hot Spring Envoy Spa last week, and boy, can we tell the difference!  Attached is a picture of my husband Dave. I heard about SilkBalance about 4 months ago, right after I had just drained/refilled my hot tub and cleaned the filters. Jon Hutter at the Issaquah Olympic Hot Tub Company store gave me a demonstration of the difference between a hot tub with SilkBalance and one without. I was hooked.  When it was time to drain the hot tub this month, I took my husband Dave into the store. Jon demonstrated the difference. We switched to SilkBalance that day. Many thanks to Jon for walking us through the drain/purge steps and getting the water balanced to add the SilkBalance.

Our skin is truly silky after getting out of the hot tub, even the next day.  We are so glad we made the switch, and would recommend it to any Olympic Hot Tub owners. And again, kudos to Jon for all of the help!  He is #1 in Customer Service.

Janet & Dave Rinn

Sammamish, WA 98075

Want to find out all about SilkBalance? Go to Olympic Hot Tub Company’s estore. I use it in my own hot tub and am so thankful I no longer have, dry itchy skin after soaking and SilkBalance makes it so much easier for my husband to care for the hot tub   Try it you’ll fell the difference!

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Did you know that relaxing in a hot tub can help ease your body into a deeper sleep? The National Sleep Foundation (NSF), a non-profit organization promoting sleep education, advocacy, and research, has declared March 3-9 National Sleep Awareness Week. According to a recent poll by the NSF, approximately 132 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders more than one a night a week. This number is rising! The growing number of sleep disorder centers across the nation (approximately 3,000 in the U.S. today) is proof that more people are sleepless and want to do something about it.

Sleep researchers believe that many cases of insomnia can be traced to our hectic, stressful lifestyles. Even though you may enjoy perfect health, sleep deprivation can soon lead to a variety of ailments. The results of sleep deprivation are varied and can include battered nerves, grogginess, lapses in memory, depression, and even erratic mood swings. Rather than reaching for over-the-counter sleeping aids, prescription drugs or giving in to insomnia,  the first thing to do is relax in a hot tub before bedtime.

The Pool & Spa News magazine (July 1998) reported that a Gallup poll found bathing to induce sleep common among the 1,000 adults surveyed, and a Consumer Reports survey reported that readers with mild sleep disorders listed a warm bath as one of the most popular remedies.

Studies suggest that immersion in hot water (such as a hot tub which has a constant temperature) before bedtime can ease the transition into a deeper, more restful sleep. This may be due to a temperature shift, since the body’s core internal thermostat drops after leaving the water, which signals the body that it’s time to sleep. Or, the sleep improvement may be related to hot water’s relaxing properties – the buoyancy of water reduces body weight by approximately 90%, relieving pressure on joints and muscles, creating the sensation of weightlessness. The hot, swirling water leaves you feeling both mentally and emotionally relaxed.

In addition, hot tub-induced sleep is a natural remedy, unlike alternative sleeping aids such as prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies and alcohol – all of which can make you feel groggy and have other adverse side effects.

Just how much can a hot tub enhance your sleep? Researchers are still finding out.  Check out the following sources:

• National Sleep Foundation
• The Sleep Medicine Homepage
• The Sleep Well

Getting in my hot tub 2-3 hours before bed and “re-setting” my body temperature for sleep plus getting rid of the aches and pains of the day really helps my sleep. It’s nothing short of a miracle waking up feeling refreshed before the alarm goes off. The quality of my sleep is so much better-even priceless!

Come take a FREE test soak in one of our Olympic Hot Tub Company showrooms and test the better sleep theory for yourself.  I know you’ll enjoy better sleep. Getting a new mattress is only 1/2 of the answer to better sleep. Your body holds the key to the other 1/2.  Soaking in a hot tub before going to sleep on a new mattress-wouldn’t that be a great thing?

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

The New York Times has discovered that expert witnesses retained by parties often are partisan. (Note: This is NOT science. It’s a “Duh!”) This certainly is fit to print, but is it news? Not to anyone who has been reading law reviews and opinions written during the past century or two.

Still, the Times revealed that the Australians have discovered a way to improve expert testimony.  Australians have dubbed it “hot tubbing” as in “we’re all in hot water together”:

In the courtroom, Australian judges require that opposing parties’ expert witness must present their cases in what’s  called concurrent evidence or “hot tubbing”. Experts are still chosen by the respective parties, but they testify together at trial — discussing the case, asking each other questions, responding to inquiries from the judge and the lawyers, finding common ground and sharpening the open issues.

Interestingly, “Australian judges have embraced hot tubbing.” According to UCLA law professor Jennifer Mnookin, “the future … may belong to Australia. ‘Hot tubbing,’ she said, ‘is much more interesting than (so called) neutral experts.’”

“Hot tubbing” legal term or no, it’s a great way to get together.  Will it catch on in the U.S.? Will opposing expert witness be required to present ther cases together aka “hot tubbing”?

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Choose any of the services listed below or select one of our on-going valet packages. Tired? Busy? Save your valuable time and energy. Have it done right with Olympic’s Valet Service.

We can:

· Drain and Refill including cleaning water lines, detailing your hot tub shell, cleaning and/or replacing filters, cleaning and conditioning your cover and pillows.

· Give a water care lesson.

· Do Spa Openings when you’re ready to use your spa in the spring.

· Perform a Complete Spa Inspection.

· Provide complete Valet Maintenance: weekly, bi-monthly, quarterly or yearly.

The weather has been so nice that interest in Valet Services has begun early this year. We’re calling it our

“Almost Spring Special” : Save $50. on one time Valet Service. Save $100.all Valet services. Use the code word: “BLOG” when you call to receive the special. Good through Friday, March 5th.

Makes a thoughtful gift for a busy spouse.  We service most Puget Sound area locations.  Call Olympic Hot Tub Company’s Service Center today to schedule or stop by or call any of our stores.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

He selected a model and arranged for delivery. But first had to think of a way to have his father out of the house when the spa was delivered.  Exelane found a restaurant gift certificate from a past promotion which she gave to Tim. Tim arranged to take his father out for lunch while the spa was being delivered.

Exelane was there to photograph the red bow delivery on Saturday, February 13th as father and son hugged.  She had gone to Arnold’s home earlier in the day and attached balloons to the spa to really make it a party. Arnold was totally surprised and immensely touched by his son’s generosity and thoughtfulness. Now he has his own Hot Spring Jetsetter with a MotoMassage jet for a full back massage to use every day.

What a great story! What prompted you to buy a hot tub? I’d love to hear your story.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Hi Alice:

My family and I have enjoyed our Hot Springs, Grandee Hot Tub for over 10 years.

On a trip my family and I took to Uganda, East Africa, we took the infamous “duck” along with us.  We had the pleasure of touring the country and having the “Olympic Duck” travel with us all the way. The attached picture exhibits the duck at the Equator in Uganda. (Note: The duck is the yellow bump just to the left of the “A” in Equator.  How did he get the duck up on the sign?)

Thank you.

Abe Mouracade

Auburn, Washington

Take your hot tub duck with you on your next trip! Send a photo and brief description of the trip and setting to alice@olympichottub.com. Where will the duck go next?

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

My husband called for service yesterday and Reg Akright, Olympic Hot Tub Company’s Head Service Technician, came out this morning and had the new heater installed in under 20 minutes.

We didn’t need “a brain surgeon” to do the job.  Reg was the Service Technician with an opening in his schedule.   Reg celebrated his 20th Anniversary with Olympic in October.  He is known as the most knowledgeable and skilled technician in the entire Hot Spring network.  Reg could probably replace a heater blindfolded.

Thanks to Reg for all he does for our Olympic customers and for being an integral part of  our company and a major contributor to our success for 20 years. We appreciate him more than words can express. That’s a photo of Reg holding the 20 year plaque we awarded him.

By the way, Reg’s avocation is stone sculpting. He was honored as the Snohomish Arts Council’s Artist of the Year for 2008. And as his peers have observed: “He is a regionally known and well respected stone sculptor who is actively creating wonderful works of art that enhance our cultural lives. His work is in private and public collections up and down the Pacific Coast. ”

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Hi Alice:

Some say “Got Milk”. We say “Got Silk”. We are on our second Hot Springs hot tub. The first one did not use the Silk Balance program. (That’s because It wasn’t available then) Now, using Silk Balance, we can hot tub each night and not end up with dry, cracked skin.

So, take your choice on how you want to get smooth skin – Got Milk, or Got Silk!

Dennis Fleck, Bellevue, WA                                                                                                 2009 Hot Spring Prodigy Owner

Thanks, Dennis, for writing.  Take a tip from a Hot Spring owner and SilkBalance user: you’ll enjoy your tub more and not end up with dry, cracked skin that you’ll spend a fortune to soothe.  SilkBalance is “worth every penny” for the convenience and peace of mind. Find our more about SilkBalance. When you take the time time to learn about it, you’ll join the thousands of hot tub owners who’ve made the switch!

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

.

January 22, 2010
Dear Olympic,
Hard to believe that we were approaching our 5 year anniversary for our Olympic Spa! I was reminded of that fact by your postcard alerting me that we were nearing the end of our manufacturer’s warranty. That postcard exhibited great customer service on the part of Olympic, but it was your service technician, Ron, who defined what great customer service is all about.

Less than a week after we responded to your postcard, Ron showed up to perform a thorough spa check-up, and identified several issues that needed attention. His experience and expertise allowed him to pinpoint two issues that had not yet resulted in a problem, but, in his opinion, were likely to become a problem in the near future. Both were corrected and covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Olympic Hot Tub Company has always stood above the crowded field of spa retailers,and I have recommended you to some of our friends with confidence. I now have a renewed passion for your company based upon the excellent service provided by Ron. I hope you will honor him with a little praise for a job well done.
Congratulations,
Rick & Kellie Lawton
Redmond, WA 98053

Thanks to Rick & Kellie  for taking the time to write and expressing their appreciation for Ron and Olympic.  Of course we “threw a party” for Ron and continue to tell him (and our other techs) what a great job he’s doing.  We sent him on a trip to the Hot Spring factory ahead of his scheduled time.  The Service Center staff was  really “blown away” by this letter.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

We’ve got a Jetsetter- one of the smallest spas that Hot Springs makes. Our 5 year old cover had started to become a bit of a wrestling match each time we went to flip it open.

It was also beginning to harbor some nasty odors, which we suspected were mold or mildew. Even after a water change out, the smell from the cover just didn’t seem right. So, time for a replacement!

I’m not a particularly big guy, but wrestling our 5-year-old cover
off the spa, across the yard and into the car was quite an
interesting challenge. I was surprised to find it weighed in at “only” 87 pounds. It sure felt heavier than that in transit- I suppose it was just awkward trying to carry it because of its shape and size. Very glad there was no one around to take pictures during that process. Although, had there been, they could have helped carry the beast!

When I picked up the new Sunstar cover from the Tukwila Service center, Chris helped put it in the car. He also spent a generous amount of time answering my questions about proper cover and water care.

I was amazed at how light the new cover was, and weighed it upon arrival at home. The new cover weighed just 33 pounds- more than 50 pounds lighter than the monstrosity it replaced! It was a dream to carry around the back of the house and to the spa.

The new cover was a breeze to install and I’m amazed at the difference it’s already made. The start of a soaking session is no longer a wrestling match- the new cover can be lifted with one finger instead of a clean and jerk weightlifting effort. There’s no smell other than
the fresh water revealed with the cover opened, and water beads on the top- something I don’t remember seeing for years.

We’re looking forward to many years of enjoyment from this new Sunstar cover replacement!

Craig Weindling
Bothell, Washington

2004 Hot Spring Jetsetter Owner

Thanks for writing, Craig! If you need a new cover, call the service center today! 206 431-2876

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.