FreshWater 5-Way Test Strips
A handful of brands and products on our site can't be discounted with promo codes (including the WELCOMEcode) or other Leisure Time Inc. discounts. We know this can be disappointing if you've spotted something you wanted to save on — but the rule isn't ours to bend. Manufacturers set these restrictions, and authorized dealers like LTI are required to follow them.
This page lists every excluded brand and product so you can check before checkout, and explains why these restrictions exist in the first place.
Why These Exclusions Exist
Many manufacturers — especially in the spa, BBQ, and luxury wellness categories — set Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) policies for their products. These policies tell every authorized dealer the lowest price the product can be advertised or sold for outside of manufacturer-approved sale events.
MAP pricing serves a few purposes that benefit you as a customer:
- Protects product value — products don't get devalued through constant discounting
- Keeps authorized dealers honest — the dealer next door can't undercut us by 30%, and we can't undercut them either, which keeps the playing field fair
- Funds dealer service and support — stable margins let dealers like LTI maintain showrooms, factory-trained service teams, and full warranty support
- Identifies counterfeit and gray-market resellers — products advertised significantly below MAP are often counterfeits, gray-market imports, or stolen inventory
If you ever see a brand we carry advertised on Amazon or another marketplace at a price that seems too good to be true, MAP is exactly why that's a red flag. Authorized dealers don't break MAP. The seller offering 40% off retail isn't authorized — and neither is the warranty that should come with the product.
Excluded Brands
The following brands are not eligible for LTI discount codes (including WELCOME). They go on sale only during manufacturer-authorized promotions:
- Gozney — pizza ovens and accessories
- OHCO — massage chairs
- Positive Posture — massage chairs and recliners
- Nomadix — outdoor lifestyle products (towels, blankets, accessories)
Excluded Products
The following individual products are also not eligible for discount codes:
- Any product that already has a price markdown — items on sale or clearance can't stack additional discounts on top
- FreshWater Salt System Replacement Cartridge (single)
- FreshWater Salt System Replacement Cartridge (3 Pack)
- Route Protection Insurance — third-party shipping protection, not eligible for our discounts
- Bullfrog A / R / X Series 10-00282 Filter Cartridges
- Bullfrog STIL Series 10-00281 Filter Cartridges
- FROG® @ease Sanitizer System for Bullfrog Spas
- FROG® @ease Replacement Cartridge for Bullfrog Spas (3 Pack)
- Bullfrog Simplicity™ Flat Filters for M Series (4 Pack)
- Filter Core Cage & Cap Assembly for Bullfrog Spas
- Fireplaces (gas, wood-burning, and fireplace inserts)
- Electric Fireplaces
- Gas Vent Pipe
- Pellet Vent Pipe
- Fireplace Fronts
How to Save on Excluded Products
Just because these products can't take a generic discount code doesn't mean you can't save on them. Here's how to find legitimate savings:
- Manufacturer-authorized promotions: Most excluded brands and products do go on sale during specific manufacturer-sponsored events — Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Black Friday, end-of-season clearances, and brand-specific anniversary sales. We post these promotions on our site and email list when they run.
- Sign up for our email list: We send notifications when authorized sales begin so you can buy at the discounted price during the official window.
- Check our Discounted Products collection: Items already marked down (which can't stack additional discounts) are sometimes deeply discounted from regular retail.
- Visit our Closeouts page: End-of-life inventory and discontinued models are often dramatically reduced — usually below the prices you'd find on other discounts.
- Earn through Patio Perks: Our Patio Perks loyalty program rewards purchases (including on excluded products) with points that can be redeemed for future purchases — a workaround that gets you value back even when the immediate purchase can't take a discount.
Some of the products we sell — primarily spa and pool chemicals — are classified as hazardous materials by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). These items can't be returned to us by mail, even though we'd like to make returns easy on every product. This page explains why the rule exists, what's covered, and what your options are if you have unopened chemicals you no longer need.
Why Hazmat Items Can't Be Returned by Mail
This isn't a Leisure Time policy choice — it's a federal regulation that applies to every retailer in the U.S.
The Department of Transportation classifies certain spa and pool chemicals (chlorine-based products, oxidizers, acids, and others) as hazardous materials because they can be dangerous if mishandled in transit. Shipping these items legally requires:
- Specialized hazmat-certified carriers — not standard UPS or FedEx ground service
- Trained shippers — the person preparing the package must have current hazmat training and certification
- Specific packaging — UN-rated containers, absorbent materials, hazmat-compliant labeling
- Documentation — shipping papers, declaration forms, and chain-of-custody records
Consumers don't have access to these services. Even if you mailed a hazmat product without disclosure (which would itself be a federal violation), the carrier could refuse delivery, fine the sender, or in serious cases, hold up an entire shipment for safety inspection. The "no mail returns" rule isn't us being inflexible — it's keeping you out of legal trouble.
Which Products Are Considered Hazmat?
The most common hazmat products in our catalog are spa and pool chemicals. Specifically:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Chlorinating products | FreshWater Concentrated Chlorinating Granules, dichlor products, chlorine tabs |
| Brominating products | Bromine tabs, brominating concentrate |
| Oxidizing shock products | MPS-based shock, calcium hypochlorite shock, non-chlorine shock |
| pH and alkalinity adjusters | FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Down (sodium bisulfate is a regulated acid) |
| Some sanitizers and algaecides | Specialty water care products with concentrated active ingredients |
For the complete current list of products that can't be returned by mail, see our Non-Returnables collection.
Your Options for Unused Hazmat Products
If you have unused hazmat chemicals you no longer need, here's what you can actually do:
Option 1: Return in Person at One of Our Showrooms
The fastest and simplest option if you live anywhere in Idaho. Bring the unopened, unused product to any of our three showrooms during business hours:
- Idaho Falls — our flagship location and online order fulfillment center
- Boise — Treasure Valley
- Twin Falls — Magic Valley
Bring proof of purchase (your order email, packing slip, or receipt). Standard return policy timeframes still apply — see our full Return Policy for details on timing and condition requirements.
Option 2: Pause or Skip an Autoship Order Before It Ships
If you're receiving regular hazmat product deliveries through autoship (cartridges, salt, chlorine granules, etc.) and your supply has built up, the easiest fix is preventing the next delivery rather than dealing with returns afterward. You can:
- Pause your autoship subscription for one or more cycles
- Skip the next delivery while keeping the subscription active
- Adjust the delivery interval (e.g., from every 3 months to every 6 months)
- Cancel anytime if your needs have changed
Manage your autoship subscriptions here →
Option 3: For Damaged or Defective Products — Call Us Immediately
Option 4: Local Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
If returning isn't practical and you have unused chemicals you simply need to get rid of, almost every U.S. county and major city has a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program that accepts pool and spa chemicals from residents — usually for free.
To find your local program:
- Search "[your city or county] household hazardous waste"
- Many programs operate on specific drop-off dates; some run year-round at fixed facilities
- Check earth911.com — searchable database of disposal sites by ZIP code
- Don't pour chemicals down the drain or into the trash — many municipalities prohibit this and it can contaminate water supplies
If you're in our Idaho service area and have a question about disposal, call us — we may be able to point you to the right local program for your area.
The FreshWater 5-Way Test Strips give hot tub and spa owners a complete water snapshot in 15 seconds — testing free chlorine, total bromine, total alkalinity, pH, and total hardness with a single dip. Manufactured by Watkins Wellness, these strips are designed for Hot Spring, Caldera, and Freeflow spas, but they work on virtually any residential hot tub regardless of brand or sanitizer system.
Water chemistry is the single biggest factor in how long your spa equipment lasts, how comfortable the water feels, and how often you'll need to drain and refill. Unbalanced water corrodes heaters, scales up jets, eats through seals, irritates skin, and forces you to dump chemicals at the problem instead of preventing it. A quick weekly test takes that guesswork out of ownership.
One bottle. Five readings. No drops, no vials, no separate kits for each parameter. For most spa owners, this is the only test kit you need for routine maintenance.
FreshWater®
Most products you buy from us are covered by a manufacturer's warranty — and if something goes wrong with one of yours, we want to help. This page explains how warranty coverage works, what we can do to support a claim, and the few situations where coverage may not apply.
If you're already dealing with an issue and just want help, the fastest path is to call us at (208) 523-4633 or email hello@leisuretimeinc.com. We'll walk you through the right next step.
How Warranty Coverage Works
When you buy a hot tub, fireplace, grill, or accessory from us, the manufacturer of that product (Hot Spring, Caldera, Big Green Egg, Pit Boss, Watkins Wellness, etc.) provides the warranty. Each manufacturer sets its own terms — coverage length, what's included, what's excluded, and how claims are processed.
This is the standard model for retail across the spa, fireplace, and BBQ industries. It means:
- Your coverage comes directly from the manufacturer — typically the strongest protection available, since they made the product
- Warranty terms vary by brand and product — a Hot Spring spa shell warranty differs from a Big Green Egg lifetime warranty differs from a FreshWater chemical product warranty
- Claim approvals and denials are decided by the manufacturer, not by us
- Repair, replacement, or refund decisions are made by the manufacturer per their warranty terms
Where we come in: we know these manufacturers well, we file claims on behalf of customers regularly, and we know the documentation that helps a claim move quickly.
How We Help You With a Warranty Claim
If something goes wrong with a product you bought from us, here's what we'll do:
- Listen first. Tell us what happened. Sometimes what looks like a warranty issue has a quick fix that saves you the claim hassle entirely.
- Help you document the issue properly.Manufacturers typically need photos, your purchase receipt, and a clear description of the problem. We'll tell you exactly what to gather.
- Submit the claim or connect you to the right contact. Some manufacturers prefer dealers to file claims; others prefer direct customer contact. We'll route you the right way.
- Follow up on your behalf. If a claim stalls, we'll check in with the manufacturer's service team to push it forward.
- Coordinate certified service if needed. Many warranty repairs (especially on hot tubs and fireplaces) require a factory-certified technician. We'll arrange that, or refer you to one.
What we can't do is override a manufacturer's decision. If a manufacturer denies a claim because the product was misused, modified, or installed incorrectly, we don't have the authority to reverse that decision. But we will tell you honestly where a claim stands and what your options are if denied.
What We Don't Cover
Just so there's no confusion, Leisure Time Inc. does not offer in-house warranties on any product we sell. We don't repair or replace products under our own warranty program because we're not the manufacturer — and we don't have the parts inventory or specialized knowledge to back coverage on every brand we carry. The manufacturer warranty is what protects you.
If a manufacturer voids a warranty claim, we can't replace, repair, or refund the product on our own. We'll work with you to understand why the claim was denied and what alternatives exist.
Customer-Installed Parts: An Important Note
We know this can feel restrictive, especially for owners who are mechanically inclined and want to do their own work. Here's why this rule exists:
Hot tubs and fireplaces are complex systems with interconnected electrical, plumbing, gas, and control components. A pump installed slightly wrong can cause the heater to fail. A control board installed without proper grounding can damage the entire spa pack. A gas valve installed by someone unfamiliar with the unit can create a serious safety hazard.
Manufacturers can't reasonably warrant a product against installation errors they didn't witness — so they require certified technicians for these critical components. The certification confirms the installer has the training to do the work correctly, plus liability coverage if something goes wrong.
What this means in practice:
- Some parts are routine owner-installable (filter cartridges, cover lifts, accessories, water care chemicals) — these don't affect warranty
- Some parts must be installed by certified technicians (pumps, motors, heaters, control boards, salt cell housings, gas valves, fireplace inserts) — these will void warranty if owner-installed
- If you're unsure whether a specific part falls into the "routine" or "certified-only" category, call us before starting any installation
If your part has already been customer-installed and the warranty has been voided, the manufacturer typically will not honor a future claim on that part. We can't accept returns or exchanges on customer-installed parts that have been used, and we can't process a warranty claim the manufacturer has voided. We'll always be honest with you about whether a part is owner-installable before you start.
FreshWater® Brand FAQs
Do I have to own a Hot Spring or Caldera spa to use FreshWater products?
No. FreshWater chemicals, test strips, and most accessories work on any residential hot tub or spa, regardless of brand. The FreshWater Salt System and FreshWater IQ Smart Monitoring System are the exceptions — those are designed specifically for compatible Watkins Wellness spas (Hot Spring Highlife and Limelight, Caldera Utopia and Paradise). Everything else in the line is universal.
How is FreshWater different from other spa chemical brands?
Most spa water care brands are formulated by chemical companies and sold across hundreds of unrelated spa models. FreshWater is formulated by the same engineering team that designs Hot Spring and Caldera hot tubs — so the chemistry is built to match what real spa equipment actually needs. Dosing recommendations, concentration levels, and pH targets are calibrated against working spas, not a generic spec sheet. That precision tends to mean less chemical waste and fewer balance problems over the life of a fill.
Can I mix FreshWater products with other brands like Leisure Time or SpaGuard?
In most cases, yes — but with one important caveat. Don't mix sanitizer systems. A chlorine spa should stay on chlorine; a bromine spa should stay on bromine. Mixing sanitizer chemistries can create unwanted byproducts and unstable readings. Balancers (pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness) and supporting products like defoamers, clarifiers, and stain & scale defenders are generally compatible across brands. When in doubt, call us or bring a water sample to one of our showrooms before mixing chemistries.
How long do FreshWater chemicals last in storage?
Unopened, most FreshWater liquid and granular chemicals have a shelf life of 1 to 2 years from manufacture when stored cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight. Test strips last about 1 to 2 years if the bottle stays sealed with its desiccant pack between uses. Chlorine-based products lose strength faster than balancers, so rotate stock — oldest first — and avoid buying more than a single season's supply at a time. The expiration date is printed on the container.
Are FreshWater products safe for sensitive skin?
When dosed correctly and the water is properly balanced, yes. Most skin and eye irritation in hot tubs isn't caused by chlorine or bromine itself — it's caused by chloramines(used-up sanitizer that hasn't been oxidized) or by water that's outside the proper pH range. Owners with sensitive skin often do well on the FreshWater Salt System (lower active chlorine residual) or on a mineral-supported chlorine program. If skin irritation is an ongoing issue, see our Eye/Skin Irritation Problem Solver page.
Can FreshWater chemicals be returned by mail?
Some can, some can't — it depends on whether the product is classified as hazardous material (hazmat) by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Test strips, defoamers, calcium removers, clarifiers, and most balancers are non-hazmat and can be returned by mail. Chlorinating granules, bromine products, and pH/alkalinity down (a regulated acid)are hazmat and cannot ship back by mail under federal law — but they can be returned in person at any LTI showroom. See our Returns on Hazardous Materials page for the full list.
About FreshWater®
FreshWater® is the water care brand from Watkins Wellness — the parent company of Hot Spring, Caldera, and Freeflow Spas, and one of the largest manufacturers of premium hot tubs in the world. Watkins has been engineering spas and water care chemistry for over forty years, and FreshWater is the line they developed specifically to keep their own equipment running clean, clear, and properly balanced.
What that means for owners: FreshWater chemicals, sanitizers, test strips, and accessories are formulated and dosed for the same shells, jets, heaters, and circulation systems Watkins builds. Active ingredients, pH targets, and concentration levels are calibrated against real spa equipment — not generic pool chemistry repackaged for hot tubs. The result is a product line that works as well in a Hot Spring or Caldera spa as it does in any other residential hot tub on the market.
The FreshWater catalog covers everything from routine maintenance to advanced water care technology:
- The FreshWater® Salt System — a sanitizer system that automatically generates chlorine from a salt cartridge, lasting up to a full year between water changes
- The FreshWater® IQ Smart Monitoring System — sensor and controller that read chlorine, pH, and salt levels and display them on the spa's topside control
- Sanitizers and sanitizer support — chlorinating granules, Ag+ Silver Ion Sanitizer, mineral cartridges
- Balancers — pH/Alkalinity Up, pH/Alkalinity Down, calcium boosters
- Water clarity and care — clarifiers, defoamers, stain & scale defenders, phosphate removers, Vanishing Act calcium remover
- Testing — 5-Way Test Strips, Salt Test Strips, Phosphate Test Strips
- Start-up kits and bundles — pre-portioned chemistry packages for fresh fills and new spa setups
Leisure Time Inc. is an authorized FreshWater dealer and stocks the full line at our Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls showrooms. Online orders ship nationwide, and water samples can be dropped off at any of our showrooms for free professional testing if you'd like a second opinion before you dose.
