Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Trusted Saskatoon IT Pro's at Burnt Orange Discuss Technology and Your Customer's Experience

Gareth McKee and his Trusted Saskatoon IT team at Burnt Orange Solutions promise to have a one-hour response time for all your IT support needs. Honesty and respect are important to them. They pride themselves on ensuring their clients understand IT concerns by providing a straightforward and reliable solution with exceptional service. Burnt Orange Solutions are your Trusted Saskatoon IT Experts. In their latest Saskatoon IT expert tip, they discuss technology and your customer's experience.  

Technology and Your Customer's Experience


Customer service expectations have grown over the last few years, and Saskatoon businesses have had to adapt to meet the needs of their customers. If you have not added any technology to improve your customer’s experiences here are a few ideas for you.

49% of consumers have left a brand in the past year due to poor experience; however, the emerging technology of today can power the customer experiences of the future. In order to create a positive customer experience, fuel brand loyalty and drive sales growth, Saskatoon businesses and beyond must find the right digital tools for their business. Here are a few options:


The Cloud

The Cloud and the tools backed by this technology are very important in every business organization. As technology advances, the amounts of available sales channels increases as well. Think about it, you can make a purchase at the local retail store by walking in, phoning it in, or ordering it online. There are about eight different channels for most customer engagements. No matter what channel customers choose to use, brands need to gather, centralize and react to that data. Organizations are relying on cloud technology to manage these interactions and keep the information. The days of pen and paper don’t work as well anymore.


Chatbots

With today’s technology, i.e. smartphone and mobile search features, today’s consumers are used to immediate answers and on-demand access to the web. Most people are willing to wait up to four hours for an online response. However, approximately 90% of consumers' inquiries go unanswered by brands. In comes Chatbots. They are artificial intelligence designed to engage in conversation with human users over the internet. They are quickly taken over customer service functions for many businesses as they are able to respond to customer questions and fulfil the consumer’s desire for an immediate response.


Augmented Reality Technology and Your Customer’s Experience

90% of all information is visual, our brains are built for visual information. It takes only 13 milliseconds for the human brain to process an image. Based on this fact, it is known customers often have a difficult time, visualizing what an item will look like when they buy it and put it in their home. Augmented Reality allows a consumer to take a picture of the room, place the item in the picture and now they can visualize it in their home.

There are many ways to improve technology and your customer’s experience and we can help with that. Contact the Trusted Saskatoon IT professionals at Burnt Orange Solutions and we will take IT worries off your plate.


Burnt Orange IT Solutions Products & Services:

"IT Support You Can Trust and Understand"

Burnt Orange Solutions are your Trusted Saskatoon IT Experts

Trusted Saskatoon Hot Tub experts at Backyard Living Center Answer FAQs! Part 3

Backyard Living Center is a locally owned and operated Saskatoon hot tub storeThey offer an exclusive line of high-quality Canadian-built hot tubs that are perfectly suited to the Saskatchewan climate. With a variety of design choices, they have a spa that will suit every lifestyle! Service means everything to owners Sheryl and Matthew! Whether it's finding the perfect spa, hot tub servicing or repair, water testing, or helping find or deliver parts for your hot tub, they're here to help. In this Saskatoon hot tub tip, we continue the series of experts answering all your FAQs about hot tubs. 

Backyard Living Center Is Your Trusted Saskatoon Hot Tub Store!

FAQs About Hot Tubs Answered By Backyard Living Center - Part 3

How is the hot tub insulated?


Several spa manufacturers have always insisted that the only way to insulate a spa is with “full urethane foam”. In this method, all the glued plumbing within the spa is covered using a sprayed-on foam. This method was fine twenty years ago but like many materials, safer, better alternatives have been developed.  Certainly, urethane foam is acceptable as an insulator but more often than not it is primarily used as a structural backup. Where there is limited structural integrity, urethane foam is used as a substitution because it “holds together all the components of the spa” and compensates for a limited engineered structure. Alternates to full foam spas have been developed to address the issue of gaining access to the plumbing within the spa. H2O spas have developed their own unique Multi-Layer Insulation System.


What are the pros and cons of a urethane foam-filled spa?

The Pros of using urethane foam:
  • It is used primarily to insulate the hot tub against the environment, therefore, reducing operating costs.

  • Secondly, it can be used as a substitute for structural support where there is little or no frame structure. Imagine a large block of foam with everything trapped inside.


The Cons of using urethane foam:
  • Urethane spray foam used for insulating hot tubs is a two-part chemical product that when mixed, results in an expanding foam component. It is used under strict safety codes because of the unhealthy ‘off gassing’ fumes.

  • The resulting foam expands into the cavities of the hot tub solidifying as it cures sealing all ventilating apertures. We all have to breathe, and so does your hot tub. Preventing air circulation inside the cavity of the hot tub creates the perfect condition for possible future mold growth.

  • Once the hot tub has been foam-filled it is extremely difficult to service the tub particularly if you experience a water leak in the complex plumbing underneath the tub. A simple plumbing defect can take hours to trace and repair. Tracing the leak becomes more difficult than the actual repair.

  • The biggest problem occurs after the repair has been completed and you have taken out the wet foam to reach the leak area. What do you use to replace the insulation you have removed? Usually, this is done with an expensive canned substitute of the foam which inevitably does not have the same insulation properties of the originally installed foam – in other words, it is being replaced with a substitute that may possibly affect the insulation qualities of the hot tub. There is also the problem of discarding the saturated foam which must be packed separately and isolated from normal garbage.

  • Any water contamination from the internal plumbing deteriorates the foam creating a sludge that is prone to mold growth and if the foam has been used as a structural substitute, this can possibly weaken the spa.


Is it detrimental to the efficiency of the hot tub if all four sides of the spa are not foam-filled?

Our tests show that the insulation benefits of partially removing some insulation from one side of the hot tub are outweighed by replacing the insulation with electronic equipment and two electric motors, each one generating surplus heat. In fact the two motors generate so much heat that we evacuate the surplus heat and pipe it to the air intakes of the spa jets, thus supplying warm air automatically when the jet pumps are engaged.

What are the benefits of using Roxul insulation?

  • Practical to use; anyone can handle it safely. Sold in most hardware stores this amazing material is readily available.

  • Can be removed and replaced without instruction, just use a common sense approach when handling this material.

  • Roxul is fire retardant. Even when held to a naked flame it will not ignite.

  • Environmentally prudent; disposal, if required, can be the same as with any household garbage.

  • Water repellent. If a leak occurs in the tub it cannot damage the Roxul. Being water repellent,  moisture will pass right through the Roxul leaving it completely dry.

  • Deters rodents because it is an inert material made from lava rock that cannot be eaten or affected by animals.

  • Recyclable; there is no need to throw it away. Just store it in a dry environment for future use.

  • Roxul has an R-Value equal to or better than traditional insulation materials including low-density open cell urethane foam.

  • Roxul is used in many commercial and residential buildings costing millions of dollars. Does it make sense to use such an amazing material in a product costing much less? Of course, it does, that is why we led the way by using Roxul as an insulating system in all H2O Spas.

  • How much is your house worth? Hundreds of thousands of dollars? Most houses are now built using Roxul Insulation, it makes sense to use it as an insulator in your hot tub.

  • Helps reduce equipment noise. Roxul is renowned for its ability to capture noise and is used extensively as a noise barrier.


See their selection of in-stock H2O Canadian-made premium spas at their showroom on Brodsky Avenue, or visit their website for more choices and information on hot tub supplies, hot tub care, and maintenance and service. Take it from us… you will not be disappointed!!!


MORE Questions? 



Your Backyard Oasis is Waiting For You!

You can read more amazing client testimonials and see all products and services they offer by checking out the Backyard Living Center’s listing by clicking on the link below. 

Backyard Living Center is Your Trusted Saskatoon Hot Tub and Outdoor Furniture Store!

Trusted Saskatoon Hot Tub experts at Backyard Living Center Answer FAQs! Part 2

Backyard Living Center is a locally owned and operated Saskatoon hot tub storeThey offer an exclusive line of high-quality Canadian-built hot tubs that are perfectly suited to the Saskatchewan climate. With a variety of design choices, they have a spa that will suit every lifestyle! Service means everything to owners Sheryl and Matthew! Whether it's finding the perfect spa, hot tub servicing or repair, water testing, or helping find or deliver parts for your hot tub, they're here to help.  In this Saskatoon hot tub tip, we continue the series of experts answering all your FAQs about hot tubs. 

Backyard Living Center Is Your Trusted Saskatoon Hot Tub Store!

FAQs About Hot Tubs Answered By Backyard Living Center - Part 2

Should I have one or two jet pumps?


The answer is based on the number and size of the jets in the spa. Each jet is designed to work with a maximum water flow and H2O engineers calculate the total water flow required for all the jets in the spa and size the jet pump accordingly by using the most efficient combination of pumps.

Is one pump enough to give me the therapy I want?

One pump can be enough to give you the therapeutic experience you want. Remember not all hot tubs are created equal; many manufacturers have very different interpretations of horsepower, numbers of jets, etc. All of these factors will impact or have some relationship to what experience you will achieve in your spa.

Does a motor marketed as 7HP really produce 7 times the water flow of a 1HP pump?

No. Horsepower ratings on motors are not proportional with water flow and are sometimes misleading as they are not the true working horsepower but the motors’ breakdown horse power that if achieved, would cause the motor to fail. The horsepower rating of a motor refers more to the energy consumption required to operate the motor. At H2O spas we strive to provide the optimum water flow using the least horsepower because we know this to be the most energy efficient and environmentally responsible solution.

How is the Spa water cleaned?

The spa water is sanitized using either Chlorine or Bromine but the clarity of the water relies on the water passing through the built-in filtration system. Depending on the manufacturer this can be achieved in two ways:

  1. Timed Filtration – A system can be designed so that the large jet pump is programmed to run on its low-speed setting for a predetermined length of time, pulling water into the filter and removing particles. The limitations to a system such as this are that the jet pump has to run for a minimum period of 4 hours, twice a day, which can be noisy and not very energy efficient. Also, because the jet pump is filtering and pushing the water through the heater there are a number of restrictions to the water flow that slow the flow of water to the jets when high speed is engaged. This method is used mainly to save money because if you don’t have to install a circulation pump, you save money. But remember a spa without a circulation pump is a lesser product.
  2. Continuous 24/7 Filtration – H2O spas recommend using a dedicated small circulation pump to perform water filtration. This small pump uses very little energy, is quiet, and ensures your spa water is always crystal clear. A bonus of this system is that the now dedicated 2-speed jet pump is available to be plumbed directly to the jets to give the maximum flow of water.

Does a larger filter result in a cleaner spa?

A filter's ability to clean a spa is dependent on the density of the filter material and the amount of water flowing through the filter. To optimize these parameters, filters are made from a 20-micron weave to trap the majority of particles without being too dense to restrict water flow. An H2O spa with the 24/7 circ master pump passes 30 GPM constantly through the filter to give optimum cleaning performance.

The overall surface area of a filter is how the filter is measured i.e. 25 sq ft. means that if all the pleats of the filter were flattened out the total material used to make the filter would cover an area of 25sq.ft. Having a larger filter means that there is more surface area to hold particles between filter cleanings.

MORE Questions? 


See their selection of in-stock H2O Canadian-made premium spas at their showroom on Brodsky Avenue, or visit their website for more choices and information on hot tub supplies, hot tub care, and maintenance and service. Take it from us… you will not be disappointed!!!




Your Backyard Oasis is Waiting For You!

You can read more amazing client testimonials and see all products and services they offer by checking out the Backyard Living Center’s listing by clicking on the link below. 

Backyard Living Center is Your Trusted Saskatoon Hot Tub and Outdoor Furniture Store!

Trusted Saskatoon Hot Tub experts at Backyard Living Center Answer FAQs! Part 1

Backyard Living Center is a locally owned and operated Saskatoon hot tub storeThey offer an exclusive line of high-quality Canadian-built hot tubs that are perfectly suited to the Saskatchewan climate. With a variety of design choices, they have a spa that will suit every lifestyle! Service means everything to owners Sheryl and Matthew! Whether it's finding the perfect spa, hot tub servicing or repair, water testing, or helping find or deliver parts for your hot tub, they're here to help. In this Saskatoon hot tub tip, they answer more FAQs about hot tubs. 

Backyard Living Center Is Your Trusted Saskatoon Hot Tub Store!

FAQs About Hot Tubs Answered By Backyard Living Center - Part 1 

Is the jet count important to the operation of the hot tub?


The number of jets in a hot tub determines how much water flow is needed from the pump. Jet counts in excess of 55 jets give rise to more horsepower, less efficient pumps, which inevitably increases the cost of operating the spa. If a spa with more than thirty jets is not adequately powered the result will be low pressure, leading to inadequate water flow, resulting in weak jet performance.

Be aware of being misled over jet counts, a jet may have one orifice or up to ten orifices. Jet count means actual jets not the number of holes within each jet. For instance, a hot tub with one hundred orifices in fact may only be ten jets each with ten orifices. At H2O spas we count the number of jets, so in our spa lineup, a hot tub with thirty jets will have thirty separate molded jets. The pump size is in ratio to the number of jets, not orifices.

What make and model of Spa will best suit my requirements?

This question is difficult to answer unless you have a predetermined requirement like how many people will be using the spa. This will answer the first part of the question and determine the physical size of spa you need.
  • How much space have you allocated for your spa? Is it close to the house? If it is too far away from the house, it will not be used as much as if it is within 20 feet of the house. Remember location, location, location! Being too far away will deter you from using it in our cold Saskatchewan winter.

  • Visit your closest manufacturer’s dealer store and collect as much information as possible including any literature. Make sure you ask for information on the running costs of the spa during normal use.

  • Be aware that some manufacturers call their spas “8 man” when there are clearly only 5 seats with jets. As a simple rule of thumb, count only seats with jets when calculating the number of useable seats in the spa.


Remember that each person also needs leg space. The superior size and depth found in the footwell of an H2O spa allows you to put your feet directly down in front of you in a natural seating position. This allows everyone their own foot space. Never buy a spa without sitting in it with or without water to assess the seating comfort.

How many jets should a spa have?

Jets work to stimulate blood flow to tired muscles. It is not necessarily the case that more jets are better.  Jet positioning is far more important than how many jets you have because it’s the positioning that decides where the water stream lands, preferably, on your muscles and not your skeleton. Look for jets to work in pairs, massaging muscles on each side of the spine.

What is the difference between an air jet and a water jet?

Again as with jet counts, air and water jet counts can be confusing. Some manufacturers install small air outlets into the spa and count them as jets. They are in fact not jets but air ports intended to add ‘bubbling’ to the spa water. They have no significant value, in as much as they just release air into the water giving the impression of therapeutic value, where in fact they just cool the water. It is another way for a manufacturer to show an increased jet count deliberately misleading the customer. The air jets have no mechanical operating controls and therefore are either on or off. When cool air is drawn in through the small ports of the jet and exhaled into the spa it gives the impression of rigorous jet action when, in fact, it is just cooling air being injected into the spa. In particular, be aware of spas for sale with literally hundreds of jets, they will probably have a large percentage of air-only ports.


See their selection of in-stock H2O Canadian-made premium spas at their showroom on Brodsky Avenue, or visit their website for more choices and information on hot tub supplies, hot tub care, and maintenance and service. Take it from us… you will not be disappointed!!!


Your Backyard Oasis is Waiting For You!

You can read more amazing client testimonials and see all products and services they offer by checking out the Backyard Living Center’s listing by clicking on the link below. 

Backyard Living Center is Your Trusted Saskatoon Hot Tub and Outdoor Furniture Store!

Trusted Saskatoon Funeral Home Provides Information On Cremation Services

Since 1910, Saskatoon Funeral Home has responded to the needs of Saskatoon & area citizens of every faith and every walk of life. They have a proud history as Saskatoon's longest-serving, local, family-owned and operated, full-service funeral and cremation provider to trace its roots to the beginning days of our city. Saskatoon Funeral Home are a Trusted Saskatoon funeral home. In their latest article, they provide important information about their creation services. 


Cremation Services

Cremation is an alternative to the burial process and it is chosen by many people because of religious beliefs, the desire to preserve the environment or it was requested by the person who died. Cremation is often a less expensive option in comparison to a burial, mainly due to less professional fees from the funeral home, a more basic casket choice, and reduced cemetery costs. At the funeral home, the deceased is placed in a container or casket that is combustible. The casket is then placed in a cremation chamber at the crematorium where through intense heat is reduced to bone fragments that are then processed to resemble course sand.  The cremated remains of an average adult body will weigh about 7-8 pounds. Cremation is not an alternative to a funeral, but rather an alternative to burial or other forms of disposition.

Cremated remains can be scattered or buried, or they may be kept with the family in a decorative urn. There are many new and different ways to memorialize: cremated remains can be placed in an artificial coral reef in the ocean, they can be launched into space or sent up in helium balloons, or they can be spun into glass pieces of art or diamonds.

Some religions welcome cremation while others forbid it. The Catholic Church had banned cremation up until 1963, and burial remains the preferred form of disposition today. If cremation is chosen in the Catholic funeral, the church advises that the cremated remains are to be buried in a cemetery. In other Christian denominations, cremation was historically discouraged but nowadays it is more widely accepted. In eastern religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism cremation is mandated, while in Islam it is strictly forbidden. Orthodox Jewish faith also forbids cremation; other sects of Judaism support cremation, but burial remains the preferred option.

Cremation FAQ

What is Cremation?

Cremation is the process of reducing the human body to bone fragments using high heat and flame.

Is a casket needed for Cremation?

No, a casket is not required. An alternative container constructed of wood or cardboard is necessary in Saskatchewan. The funeral home has a number of choices to suit any budget.

Is embalming required prior to cremation?

No, embalming is not required. But you may choose to have embalming if there will be an extended time before viewing, or if there will be a traditional funeral followed by cremation.


Can the deceased be viewed without embalming?

Yes, often family members will choose to view the deceased at the funeral home prior to cremation, to say a final goodbye. In Saskatchewan, visual identification is required by law prior to the funeral home booking the cremation with the crematorium. Sometimes this can be done at the time the deceased is transferred from the place of death, otherwise, the visual identification will be done at the funeral home.

Can the family witness the cremation?

Yes, they can; family members may choose to be present when the body is placed in the cremation chamber.  Some religious groups even include this as part of their funeral custom.


Can an urn be brought into church?

Nearly all Churches allow for the urn to be present during the memorial service. Most Catholic Churches also allow the remains to be present during the Memorial Mass. Orthodox Churches encourage families to have the deceased present at the funeral in a casket.


What can be done with the cremated remains?

While laws vary province by province, for the most part, cremated remains can be buried in a cemetery lot or a cremation garden, interred in a columbarium, kept at home or scattered.  Other options to consider are to separate a portion of the cremated remains as a keepsake, choosing keepsake jewellery, blown glass, and a number of other options your funeral director can discuss with you.

How can I be sure I receive the correct cremated remains?

All cremation providers in Saskatchewan follow a rigorous set of operating policies and procedures set out in the Saskatchewan Funeral and Cremation Act in order to maximize the level of service and minimize the potential for human error. A numbered stainless steel identification disc follows the deceased through the entire process and is returned with the cremated remains.


How long does the actual cremation take?

Timing depends on the weight of the individual, and a number of other factors including the cremation container provided. For an average-sized adult, cremation can take two to three hours at a normal operating temperature of between 1,000 and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.


What do the cremated remains look like?

Cremated remains resemble coarse sand and are whitish to light grey in colour. The remains of an average-sized adult usually weigh between 7 and 8 pounds.


Do I need an urn?

An urn is not required by law. However, an urn may be desired if there is to be a memorial service or if the remains are to be interred in a cemetery. If an urn is not purchased or provided by the family, the cremated remains will be returned in a temporary container.


Visit their website to learn more about pre-planning a funeral and grief support, as well as the traditional funeral and cremation services that they have to offer. They are always there to help. Check out their listing on Trusted Saskatoon to read more reviews and to see all the services they offer. 

Saskatoon Funeral Home is your Trusted Saskatoon funeral home. 


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310 Wall St #209
Saskatoon, SK   S7K 1N7
Ph: 306.244.4150

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