CalderaSpas PALATINO, Owner'S Manual

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nStallatIon

SITE PREPARATION

You probably have a spot picked out for your new spa, whether it’s indoors 

or outdoors, on a patio or on a deck. Please make sure you check the 

following:

•  Always put your spa on a structurally sound, level surface. A filled 

spa can weigh a great deal. Make certain that the location you 

choose can support the weight of your filled spa.

•  Don’t forget to level your spa before filling it. (See the Spa Leveling 

Preparation.)

•  Locate your equipment compartment, which houses all of the 

electrical components, in a place where water will drain away from 

it. Allowing water into the equipment compartment can damage the 

electronics, or may result in tripping your house’s circuit breaker.

•  Leave yourself easy access to the circuit breakers in the subpanel.
•  Leave access to the equipment compartment for periodic spa care 

and maintenance.

WARNING: Damage to the spa’s equipment compartment 

components or internal plumbing as a result of rodent  

      infestation is NOT covered under your warranty!

OUTDOOR AND PATIO INSTALLATION

No matter where you install your new spa, it’s important that you have a 

solid foundation to support it. Structural damage to the spa, resulting from 

incorrect installation, or placement on an inadequate foundation, is not 

covered under the spa’s limited warranty. 
If you install the spa outdoors, we recommend a reinforced concrete pad 

at least four inches thick. The reinforcing rod or mesh in the pad should be 

attached to a bond wire.  

DECK INSTALLATION

To be certain your deck can support your spa, you must know the deck’s 

maximum load capacity. Consult a qualified building contractor or structural 

engineer. To find the weight of your spa, its contents and occupants, refer 

to the Spa Specification chart on back cover. This weight per square foot 

must not exceed the structure’s rated capacity, or serious structural damage 

could result.

INDOOR/BASEMENT INSTALLATION

Be aware of some special requirements if you place your spa indoors. 

Water will accumulate around the spa, so flooring materials must provide 

a good grip when wet. Proper drainage is essential to prevent a build-

up of water around the spa. When building a new room for the spa it is 

recommended that a floor drain be installed. The humidity will naturally 

increase with the spa indoors. Water may get into woodwork and produce 

dry rot, mildew, or other problems. Check for airborne moisture’s effects 

on exposed wood, paper, etc. in the room. To minimize these effects, it is 

best to provide plenty of ventilation to the spa area. An architect can help to 

determine if more ventilation must be installed. 

CALDERA

 spas are equipped with a jet pump shroud to remove excessive 

heat from the equipment compartment. Find this vent and be sure the vent 

is not blocked by anything, including carpeting.
Your 

CALDERA

 dealer can help you with local information such as zoning 

regulations and building codes.

WARNING: Please keep the area around your spa well ventilated 

when it is installed indoors or in a confined area.

Inadequate ventilation around the spa could cause a build-up of a higher-

than-normal concentration of spa chemicals and/or bacterial fragments. 

These dispersed spa chemicals and/or bacterial fragments can be 

inhaled, and may result in breathing difficulties or lung damage in certain 

people suffering from a compromised immune system or respiratory 

infection. If you or other bathers are affected by this condition, please 

seek medical attention as soon as possible.

In addition to the above, properly clean and maintain your spa as follows:

•  Follow all procedures in this owner’s manual and printed 

instructions on all water care (chemical) products packaging.

•  Test the water regularly to ensure proper levels of sanitizers, pH, 

and other water care requirements.

•  Drain, clean, and refill your spa with fresh water on a regular 

schedule, and in accordance with this owner’s manual.

•  Clean the filter(s) at least once per month.
•  Check to make sure you have proper circulation throughout your 

spa water system.

•  Have spa users bathe before entering the spa water.

SPA LEVELING PREPARATION

Concrete sloped at 1.5 cm per 3 m is preferred so that rain water and water 

spillover will run off and not puddle underneath the spa (water under the spa 

for long periods of time may cause the wood to deteriorate). Other options 

are brick, stepping stone, or blocks. 
It is important to note that soft surfaces, even when stepping stones are 

used to evenly distribute the weight of the spa, will have a tendency to 

settle, thus resulting in an unleveled spa.

NOTE: 

Placing the spa on grass or dirt may increase the amount of debris 

which is inadvertently brought into the spa water and may cause harm to 

your equipment as well as the spa surface, which is not covered under 

warranty.

Installation