Taken from the magazine:
Ask the Spa expert
Suite Benessere N. 16
Which steam generator to use?
Davis of Genoa asks: Dear Dr. Cantoni, I am an innkeeper who lives in an area where unfortunately the water is excessively rich in limescale, so much so that it has to call almost technicians monthly to assist the steam generator of the Turkish bath, even though the hotel is equipped with a system of general water filtration. Last week, after the umpteenth stunt, the service technician proposed to change the generator with a very expensive model that is not affected by limestone. What do you recommend doing? Thank you.
The answer of the Spa expert
Dear Mr. Davis, there are mainly two types of steam producers: resistors and electrodes.
Resistance steam producer
The most used model in the international field is that of resistance, despite the limestone accumulation; this is the reason why frequent and expensive maintenance is required (cleaning and eventual change of the heating elements).
Electrode steam producer
The electrode model is certainly the most suitable in areas with limestone-rich water, even if it does not completely eliminate the problem, but reduces it to acceptable terms; this system also works with waters rich in “impurities”. Personally I do not recommend the installation only in areas where you are forced to use desalinated sea water (islands, etc.).
In recent years I have verified that no water softening system can bring benefits to the problem of limescale in wellness centers, except for a professional filter system with a replaceable cartridge, currently produced in Germany, which is inconvenient but effective. In conclusion, if you have a resistance producer I suggest you to accept the proposal of its technician, it only remains to verify the real cost of the operation (send me a quote and with pleasure I will give you my opinion by mail) and if the “very expensive” comes from the city from which he writes me.
How to reduce consumption?
Francesco di Vicenza asks: Dear Daniele Cantoni, I am a hotelier in Vicenza and I am considering the possibility of adding a 800 square meter wellness center. in our structure. From the engineer’s calculations, the absorption of kw / h generated by the equipment provided in the area in question, added to our current consumption, force us to request a significant increase in the supply of electricity, with the consequent increase in costs and above all an irremediable lengthening of the times. Is there a way to reduce consumption, leaving the number of equipment already provided unchanged?
The answer of the Spa expert
Yes, there are two solutions to solve your problem. The fact that 800 square meters of the wellness area creating a “significant increase” in electricity consumption is certainly due to the expected use of high consumption equipment. For some time now I have included water-heated equipment in the designs, which, in addition to being healthier because they avoid damaging magnetic fields, greatly reduce consumption. For all those equipment that can not “run on water”, there is the possibility of using an “intelligent” consumption management through a computerized system that connects and disconnects the various equipment according to the desired needs and limits of absorption.
In this case it will be necessary to notify the company that will build the wellness area in good time, so that it can prepare for each piece of equipment the particular “exits” of connection to the management system. Indeed, his is a problem that affects all the wellness centers, so much so that in several economic accounts we often notice that the item “with electric sumo” has a heavy impact on profitability. If you have already decided or purchased all the equipment, I recommend you use the intelligent management system, otherwise know that there are new generation equipment that works continuously consuming only 3.2 kW per day.
What is the function of the tepidarium?
Augustus of Naples asks: I would like to know what is the function of the “tepidarium” in the path of a wellness center, and what it consists of. Is there a way to reduce consumption, leaving the number of equipment already provided unchanged?
The answer of the Spa expert
Since the times of the ancient imperial baths, this particular area was used to “acclimatize” people (increasing or decreasing their body temperature through more or less prolonged stops, this before entering or leaving high-temperature rooms (laconicum and calidarium) In modern wellness centers, unfortunately, this area is sometimes not designed, and if there is not used as a preparation but as a final stop, it often mistakenly replaces the relaxation area.The tepidarium consists of a possibly bright and well-insulated room from external noises, with benches or chaise longues in stone or mosaic heated to 37 ° C. The environment, thanks to a good insulation or a heated floor, should maintain a temperature of about 30 ° centigrade.
Mosaic and rendering of the heated cabin?
Paolo di Palermo asks: I would like to know from your expert if the quality of the mosaic used to cover a heated cabin can affect the yield. Thank you.
The answer of the Spa expert
Yes, in part. For example, a laconicum of 7 square meters. coated with glass mosaic, it reaches the operating temperature in about 30 minutes, compared to 60 and over necessary for a marble-covered mosaic. Conversely, cooling will be inversely proportional.
What are the five Tibetans?
Riccardo di Montebelluna (TV) asks: What are the “five Tibetans“?
The answer of the Spa expert
These are five yoga exercises handed down from the millenarian oriental tradition and selected by great masters, who are able to harmonize our body by slowing down aging. They are in fact known as “the source of eternal youth”, and several international SPAs propose them associated with specific Ayurvedic treatments.