the expert's advice
From Suite Benessere
Magazine
Issue N. 16 | Winter 2003
| Dear
Dr. Cantoni,
I am a hotel owner who lives in an area where, unfortunately,
the water has a high calcium content. As a result,
I have to call in a technician on an almost monthly
basis to have maintenance work done on our turkish
bath's vapor generator, even though the hotel has
its own water-filtering system. Last week when
the technician was here, he suggested that I buy
a new, very expensive type of generator that isn't
affected by calcium. What do you suggest that I
do? Thank you, Davis U. [Genoa] |
Dear Mr. Davis, there are basically two kinds of vapor-producing
systems - resistor and electrode. The model that
is most often used internationally is resistance, although
this type facilitates the accumulation of calcium deposits.
That is why frequent, costly maintenance is necessary
[cleaning and if necessary, changing the resistors]. The
electrode system is definitely better for use in areas
with a high calcium content in the water and, although
it doesn't completely eliminate the problem, it reduces
it to an acceptable minimum. This system also works well
with water that has a high impurity content. Personally,
I do not recommend installing this type of system only
in areas that have to use desalted sea water [islands,
etc.]. In recent years, I have been unable to find a water-softening
system that solves the problem of calcium deposits in
wellness centers. The only thing I have found that works
is a professional filtering system with replaceable cartridges
that is currently made in Germany. It's inconvenient,
but it is effective. In conclusion, if you have a resistor
system, I would recommend accepting your technicians proposal.
You will have to see for yourself what the actual cost
of changing systems would be [if you send me an estimate,
I would be happy to send you my opinion about whether
it's fair or not] and if the fact that it is "very
expensive" is because of the area you live in.
| Dear
Daniele Cantoni, I am a hotel owner from Vicenza
and I am considering the possibility of installing
an 800 sq. meter wellness center in our hotel. Based
on the engineer's calculations, the amount of kw/h
which would be required to operate the center, added
to those that we currently use, would require us
to considerably increase our supply of electricity.
This would result in an increase in our costs and
inevitably cause the project to take much longer
to complete. Is there any way to reduce our consumption
of electricity, without eliminating any of the facilities
we intend to install? Francesco C. [Vicenza] |
Yes, there are two possible solutions to your problem.
The fact that an 800 sq. meter wellness center will require
a considerable increase in the amount of electric you
use is definitely due to the fact that the facilities
you plan to install consume a lot of energy. For some
time now, I have been recommending the use of water-heated
facilities which are better for the environment because
they don't create dangerous magnetic fields and they greatly
reduce energy consumption. All those facilities that cannot
be water-heated can be run "intelligently"
[with lower energy consumption] using a computerized system
that connects and disconnects them according to the need
and the desired absorption limits. If you would like to
install such a system, you will need to advise the company
that will be building the wellness center as soon as possible,
so that they can install the necessary outlets for each
piece of equipment that will be connected to the computer
system. Your problem is actually one that all wellness
centers face and high electric bills often make up a large
chunk of operating expenses, reducing the center's profitability.
If you have already decided upon or purchased all the
equipment you need, I advise you to use the "intelligent"
computerized management system. If you haven't, there
is a whole new generation of equipment available which
can operate round the clock, using only 3,2 Kw per day.
| I
would like to know what the purpose of a "tepidarium"in
a wellness center is and what it consists of. Augusto
C. [Naples] |
Back in the days of the ancient imperial baths, this particular
area was used to "acclimate" people by increasing
or reducing their body temperature through sittings of
short or more extended duration. They visited the tepidarium
before entering or leaving the high-temperature rooms
[the laconicum and the calidarium]. Unfortunately, in
modern wellness centers, this area generally does not
exist, or if it does, it's not used as an area of preparation.
It is often a last stop, eroneously substituting the relaxation
area. A tepidarium is a room [ideally bright] that is
well insulated from outside noise and has benches or chaise
lounges made of stone or mosaic, which are heated to 37
degrees Celsius. The room itself, thanks to good insulation
or a heated floor, is usually kept at a temperature of
about 30 degrees Celsius.
| I
would like to know from your expert if the type
of mosaic used to cover a heated facility effects
it's capacity to heat up. Thank you, Paolo C. [Palermo] |
Yes, in a way. For example, a 7 sq. m. laconicum covered
in glassy mosaic, reaches it's operating temperature in
30 minutes, while it takes 60 minutes or more for the
same facility to heat up if it's covered in marble mosaic.
Conversely, each of these materials cool down at the same
rate at which they heat up.
| What
are the "five Tibetans"? Riccardo V. [Montebelluna
- Treviso] |
They are five yoga excercises that have been passed down
through one thousand years of eastern tradition. They
were selected by great teachers and are capable of restoring
harmony to our body and slowing down the aging process.
They are actually known as "the fountain of eternal
youth" and quite a number of international SPAs prescribe
them along with specific ayurvedic treatments. |
