FAQs

You can download the manual here. Download

1. 1. 1. Wrong bottle size: SUPA is so powerful, it needs a minimum propane bottle size of 19 kg to work effectively, anything lower that this and there is insufficient volume of gas able to be drawn to fuel the burners and you are likely to see the E1 error code. Please change to a 19kg or 47 kg bottle (the larger you use the better value per kWh).
      2. Low gas: When you are running very low on gas, there may be insufficient to power SUPA – it can start, but after a few seconds the gas symbol goes out and the E1 symbol is seen. You can check how much gas you have left in the bottle by using this simple but effective trick: by pouring hot water down the outside of it and, after a few seconds, run your finger down the face of the bottle. When your finger feels a change in temperature from warm to cold, that is the level of gas remaining in the tank.
      3. Old gas: If the gas in the bottle is old, i.e. it is one you had for a barbecue you no longer have and you haven’t used it for a long time – change the bottle.
      4. Old regulator: Old regulators can under-perform, and your SUPA is the equivalent of a top performing athlete – changing the regulator for a new one will improve performance and resolve the E1 issue if this is the cause.
      5. Length of gas hose: Your gas hose should be a maximum length of 3.2 m in total, beyond this the gas pressure supplied to the heater may drop sufficiently to cause the E1 code to appear.
      6. Low water flow: If the water flow is too low, then SUPA will either not ignite, or the temperature of the water will be raised so high and so quickly that its internal sensors cause the E1 symbol to appear. When switching on check that the temperature does not continue to rise rapidly above your desired set temperature towards 70°C – above this temperature SUPA will automatically shut down. Another potential reason for low water flow could be that over time the filter on the front of your pump is clogged up – simply unscrew the clear container containing the filter, remove the filter and rinse it out thoroughly before reinstalling and trying again.
      7. Poorly constructed quick-coupling: Rare, but not impossible. Check that the male fitting of the coupling is fully unobstructed by looking though it – there should be a clear circular hole right the way through. We have occasionally seen issues where this is not correctly drilled by the manufacturer causing the flow of gas to be significantly reduced. Under these conditions, change the coupling.

During colder times of the year, after you have used SUPA, it is very important to remember to remove the water from inside the heater. You can do this by leaving the cold and hot hoses out of the water and switching on the pump for 5-10 seconds until no water is coming out of the red hose.

After this, tilt SUPA sideways left and right when viewed from the front for a 10-15 seconds, so any remaining water flows out of the hoses.

Remember to use the cover to protect your SUPA from the elements and store in a warm dry place where it cannot freeze.

Note: The freezing of any water in the internal pipes could cause major damage to your SUPA which is not covered by your warranty so please take care during this process.

Unfortunately, no you can’t. Because SUPA is so powerful, it needs a minimum propane bottle size of 19 kg to work effectively, anything lower that this and there is insufficient volume of gas able to be drawn to fuel the burners and you are likely to see the E1 error code. Action: change to an 19kg or 47 kg bottle (the larger you use the better value per kWh).

If you need a gas connection we have the perfect kit available on our shop.
To see how to connect your gas to the the SUPA heater watch this video.

No, for best performance please do not use a variable flow regulator – balancing to get the correct flow to match the burners is difficult to say the least! Please use a standard, screw in, non-variable gas regulator.

SUPA heater can be used with any hot tub or small pool as the hoses are simply placed over the top of the side wall.

OK, so this depends on the volume of water to be heated, its start temperature and the target temperature to be achieved. Typically, a 4-person hot tub is 800 litres and 6-person 1,000 litres. A 4-person hot tub heated from 20^oC to 40^oC takes about 40 mins and around 60 mins for a 6-person hot tub. That’s a massive improvement on the 12 to 15 hours to heat using their built-in electrical heaters.

If you want to calculate the exact time it will take to heat your hot tub, use the calculator page, here.

A major benefit of using a SUPA heater is that you only need to use it when you want to use your hot tub. This is because it’s so fast. By switching your hot tub off when it’s not needed, you will save £££s on heating bills, and you will also reduce the amount of chemicals you need to use to keep your water clean and safe – SUPA will quickly pay for itself.

Yes! and it’s really easy! By connecting your mains water using a garden hose with a ‘Hozelock’ type fitting into the front of the pump (there is no need to switch the pump on as the water pressure is more than sufficient on its own to push through the heater at the required flow rate), you simply set your SUPA to Mode 2 and set the temperature you want (be careful as you should not go above 40^oC for hot tubs on safety grounds). Make sure your gas is turned on then open up the water supply tap and your SUPA will start and heat your water instantly to the desired temperature.

Note: When the water from the mains supply is exceptionally cold during deep winter months, even SUPA won’t have the full power to heat the water to high desired temperatures close to 40^oC and above (for other purposes). Under these conditions you can turn the flow of water down slightly to achieve the temperature you need, or alternatively, fill your tub as quickly as possible and once full switch to Mode 1 and recirculate your hot water up to the desired temperature.

No! The heater won’t fire up, in fact if you are using the correct minimum sized gas bottle you shouldn’t be able to use this fitting at all. You must use a screw-in type gas regulator as shown and available in the shop section.

Yes! Propane produces 43% fewer greenhouse gases than electricity generated for the national grid. It emits no sulphur dioxide, methane or nitrogen oxides and is classed as a clean fuel in the Clean Air Act, 1990. Also, SUPA wastes very little fuel in the combustion process (92% efficient), so you use less energy. Importantly, the propane sector is developing “renewable propane”, working towards a zero-carbon emissions future.

Yes, it is and to the latest certification – it is UKCA approved. To avoid confusion all water heaters in Europe need CE approval, but from 1st January 2023, all water heaters sold in the UK need to be UKCA approved. CE approval does not mean it is automatically UKCA approved, as it did pre-Brexit. This certification means it has been tested for performance, quality, efficiency and emissions to ensure it is approved for use in the UK. Any heater that doesn’t have this is not approved, even if it is sold through what you believe to be a reputable supplier/retailer.

No! The SUPA pump is self-priming, simply put the hoses in the hot tub and switch on.

Yes, really easy, but please read the instruction to make sure you haven’t missed anything important!

NEVER sit in the hot tub when SUPA is operating, as the water going back into the hot tub could be as high as 65^oC, which could badly scald skin if left in contact for too long. Please heat the water to 40^oC (when the temperature of the water passing out of SUPA shows 65^oC, it will automatically switch off and your tub will be at 40^oC). Always allow the water to be circulated for 30 seconds or so to ensure the hottest water is evenly dispersed.

NEVER use SUPA indoors. SUPA may exhaust carbon monoxide. This is a poisonous, flammable gas that is colourless, odourless and tasteless. Breathing this gas can cause injury and even death. Always use SUPA outdoors in a well-ventilated space.

SUPA has been designed to be used with legs to ensure it is easy to move, and store away when not in use. However, it can also be hung on a wall. Simply remove the legs and mount the pump to a shelf (still using the anti-vibration feet). However, whilst SUPA is water resistant it is not waterproof so prolonged exposure to heavy direct jets of water could penetrate in the electrics and pump, so please ensure it is covered over when not in use and when it is being used offer some form of rain protection above. It can be exposed to light rain for short periods, but if you look after your SUPA, then SUPA will look after you! Additionally, never use SUPA in a closed and unventilated space.

Well really, it’s up to you. We recommend you shower before using your hot tub to keep the water clean and if you want to rinse off after getting out your hot tub to rinse away chlorine. It also comes in handy if you need to wash your dog, or if you fancy a spot of camping.

This should be your preferred temperature, but no hotter than 40^oC for a human or 34^oC for your dog. SUPA heater will control the temperature consistently at the ‘set-temperature’ but can naturally vary by 1 or 2^oC as it attempts to balance the temperature of the water in use. Wait for the temperature to stabilise before use on yourself, child or dog.

You can simply plug SUPA into your normal electricity sockets using an extension lead or you can plug it into an outdoor wall socket. This must be weatherproof and have an RCD fitted. A Residual Current Device (RCD) is a lifesaver; it’s a fast-acting, safety trip switch that reduces the risk of a fatal electric shock. We do not recommend using standard electrical extension cables.

SUPA is fitted with an automatic cut-off switch for when it falls over. The burners will simply stop.

No it doesn’t but we have tried to simplify the colours to make assembly easy and practical, i.e. blue for cold and red for hot.

We DO NOT recommend that you use other hoses for hot tub heating, especially in Mode 1 where water temperatures can reach 65oC. If you want to use other hoses from the mains or for the power washer, then yes, of course. Just make sure that threads/connectors match perfectly, and the components used are suitable for the range of desired temperatures.

Be careful with garden hoses and hot water – most are not designed for high temperatures. So for example, if you are using warm water to wash your car, please make sure it is no hotter than 40^oC.

This is not specifically required as we have designed the fittings to work without leakage. However, changes in ambient temperature can affect these fittings, so if any drips are seen when using your system then we suggest the use of PTFE tape to stop these. Please ensure that all threads are aligned properly when fitting hoses and connectors, and do not over-tighten! We do not recommend the use of PTFE tape for the ‘gas in’ fitting and take care to ensure that the green fibre seal is on the top surface and not positioned under the gas pipe insert (an easy mistake to make and we have done it ourselves).

No, not waterproof, but it is water-resistant – so it can’t be exposed constantly without risk of water penetrating the cover into the electrics and motor but it can be exposed to light rain and showers for short periods.

We recommend that it be used in dry conditions and stored away when not in use. If it does start to rain or you expect rain to occur for short periods, then time when you want to use the heater to avoid this period or alternatively provide a degree of shelter for the heater, e.g. by using a parasol. We also supply a cover that uses the latest development in coatings to ensure no water enters the system when not in use.

SUPA is an advanced piece of mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment, if you look after it well, then your SUPA will look after you.

We include an additional stainless steel micro filter before water enters the pump to ensure that any small debris does not enter the pump and/or SUPA heater and potentially cause harm or damage. It should, therefore, always be used in addition to your paper based in hot tub filter.

SUPA is built to last and uses high-quality components throughout. Whether you are heating water through recirculation in Mode 1 or where a direct hot tub fill straight from the mains is being adopted in Mode 2, both the heater and the pump have been designed to offer 90 minutes of continuous use before needing a short 15 minute ‘rest break’ between cycles, allowing the pump motor to cool and to ensure the heater is not left to run indefinitely when unobserved by accident. Typical short operating cycles of around 60 minutes, sufficient to heat a 4-person hot tub (allowing 250 litres per user) from 20-38^oC, can be achieved multiple times during a change-over for holiday homes or lets from a single SUPA.

SUPA has been designed to heat hot tubs up to 1,700 litres from 20 – 40^oC in under 90 minutes, that is a very well-proportioned hot tub for 6-7 users and something previously unheard of from any other heating system. Whilst we do not recommend the use of SUPA for swimming pools, small above ground pools and swim spas of 4,250 litres or less, could be heated from 20 – 28^oC by SUPA in 90 minutes. Watch this space and subscribe to hear of the latest news on one of our highly anticipated and market-changing developments, the SUPA XL, which will be able to heat a swim spa or above ground pool of 8,000 litres from 20 – 28^oC in under 90 minutes.

Absolutely, you can use the benefits of hot water cleaning to get your tubs gleaming! In Mode 2, just attach your mains hose pipe into the front of the pump using a ‘Hozelock’ type quick-fit connector and attach our shower head or a pressure washer using the fast fitting on the outlet of the red ‘hot’ hose. Set the temperature you want in Mode 2 (typically below 40^oC for pressure washers) and switch on the mains water – hey presto, instant hot water to help melt any grime away ensuring your hot tubs stay squeaky clean and inviting for each new guest.

Also, try using a pressure-washer with hot water to remove slippery moss from wooden decking and paving – it does the job to perfection! Or try melting snow and ice on slippery paths before using rock salt to ensure it doesn’t freeze over again, SUPA can really help in all sorts of previously unheard of ways.

A SUPA heater simplifies your changeover days by swiftly heating your hot tubs in around an hour, something owners and operators know all too well has previously been the luxury of the major park owners with expansive boilers and hot water on tap. SUPA allows you and your team, however small, to efficiently prepare tubs for the next guests, reducing downtime and ensuring a warm and welcoming experience for arriving visitors every time.

After all the effort you put in as owners, getting the accommodation perfect for every arrival, SUPA heater ensures they enjoy a ‘hot’ tub and not just a ‘warm’ tub at check-in, helping you to retain those hard earned 4 and 5-star ratings you and your team have worked long and hard for.

For those of you with wood-fired hot tubs, its even better as you do not have to keep refilling the wood burner every 20 minutes for up to 4 hrs per changeover day, saving you a tremendous amount of time to do something more productive or relaxing!

And finally, SUPA quick changeovers allow you to get more occupancy, renting when you wouldn’t normally be able to due to time constraints and maximising revenue from your assets.

In short, no you don’t! Your SUPA heater can heat a 1,000L hot tub in approximately 1 hour, so when you’re not using it, switch it off and whip out the SUPA heater an hour or so before you want to jump into the tub.

NEVER sit in the hot tub when SUPA is operating, as the water going back into the hot tub could be as high as 65^oC, which could badly scald skin if left in contact for too long. Please heat the water to 40^oC (when the temperature of the water passing out of SUPA shows 65^oC, it will automatically switch off and your tub will be at 40^oC). Always allow the water to be circulated for 30 seconds or so to ensure the hottest water is evenly dispersed.

Well really, it’s up to you. We recommend you shower before using your hot tub to keep the water clean and if you want to rinse off after getting out your hot tub to rinse away chlorine. It also comes in handy if you need to wash your dog, or if you fancy a spot of camping.

Great question – the British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association (BISHTA) recommends that you set hot tub water temperatures between 36^oC and 37^oC and never use a hot tub with a water temperature higher than 40^oC. Remember to always supervise children when using a hot tub (the medical advice is to prevent children under four years of age from using the hot tub altogether).