Hello, I'm Jim Darrach, owner and technician of Jim's Spa Service. I started my business in February 1998. Spa repair and service is all I do, so you can count on a focused craftsman with years of experience and knowledge to do the job right.
Affordable, quality service is not just a slogan, it's a work ethic I have believed in since day one. I provide service to Lancaster, York and Lebanon counties, as well as the Harrisburg area. Travel rates depend on location and travel time. Please call my office. I will be happy to answer all of your questions and schedule a service call.
Thank You!
Spa Tips and Repair Advice
Spa Winterization
I don't recommend closing a spa for the winter months. It's hard on the plumbing and equipment. Problems can still occur when the spa goes from hot water to a cold winter then back to hot water. I suggest running the spa year round.
If you want to close your spa for the winter it should be done properly. Simply draining the spa from the included hose bib is not good enough. There will still be a good amount of water left in the pluming lines that will freeze and potentially cause pipes and fittings to break.
I do have a method of winterizing a spa by blowing the water out of the lines. This is a solid method that has served me well for many years. I do not add antifreeze. Price can vary based on the size of the spa and difficulty getting to all of the equipment.
Buying a Used Spa
A lot of people buy used spas without any problems, but too many people are misled into a used spa purchase (or a free spa) being told it works great. I have inspected some of these spas and have to tell a customer the spa is beyond reasonable repair. It's unfortunate but it happens.
To avoid a bad spa purchase, ask the seller to have the spa filled and running so you can see it working. Then you can look for signs of water leaking and go through the control panel to make sure everything is working properly. You wouldn't buy a car without test driving it. Don't buy an empty spa. If a seller refuses to fill the spa and turn it on, don't bother with it.
Spa Parts
As a business I make money on labor and parts. I will not install parts bought through another source.