Hot tubs. A discussion.

[skaredshtles]

Oh wow. That's nuts.

I've been putting off searching for the source of our tubs leak for months now (mainly due to the cold weather. )

Anyone have tips on finding leaks prior to the Armageddon picture above?

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Only leaks I've had were from the seals at the pump intake/output. Easily repaired myself.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Bumping this up. New to me hot tub at our new house. Pretty darn hard well water. Not sure what chemistry they were using by like a dummy I started adding Dichlor "sanitizer" and didn't realize that CYA would get out of control. So now I have to partially drain. I may be right around freezing or a bit warmer today. Seems silly but can I drain while I add to keep the pump running?

When I did property management all the tubs at the nice houses were "sof soak" I think. Can I switch to this without a complete drain?

[evasive_MT]

I keep the pump running for up to a half water change.

[MontuckyFried]

Bumping this up. New to me hot tub at our new house. Pretty darn hard well water. Not sure what chemistry they were using by like a dummy I started adding Dichlor "sanitizer" and didn't realize that CYA would get out of control. So now I have to partially drain. I may be right around freezing or a bit warmer today. Seems silly but can I drain while I add to keep the pump running?

When I did property management all the tubs at the nice houses were "sof soak" I think. Can I switch to this without a complete drain?

You really don't have to worry. I used to conduct complete drain/fills on my hot tubs in MT all the time and it was never an issue. Unless it's like below 0, the innards are pretty well insulated and hold enough heat from the water you just drained to get you through until you refill. I'd toss in 2 utility pumps and would get that bastard drained in like 5 minutes, giving me plenty of time to get to scrubbing out the shell, then refill and get the pumps and heat back on. Whole process didn't take long enough for anything to freeze.

If it was TRULY cold outside like those times it doesn't get above 0 for like a month straight, I'd leave the cover partially on to retain some heat, but could still do the whole process no problem.

That all said. Don't dick around after you drain. Get the job done and refill. It's when people accidentally forget and leave it overnight when problems happen.

[Core Shot]

I’m not sure why you would get CYA in a hot tub. It’s not in my dichlor ingredients list.
CYA is on the test strip for pools only. It reduces chlorine evaporation in the sun. You have to add it as a separate dose. Cyanuric acid. Related to cyanide. Shouldn’t be in a hot tub.

The bromine tabs dissolve in the water. The dichlor has more reactive chlorine that frees up bromine ions that oxidize the organic material.
Don’t over dichlor. One cap once a week is all I do. Unless there’s a party going down then you can dose after.

There’s an additional oxidizing shock shock that you can add as needed. Potassium monopersulfate
Have no idea how that works. But when I rented my spa guy said that was good between dichlor doses.

Change your water 4 times a year. If you changed recently, then just run it with the cover open and air jets running and test again.

PS. If you have storage, get a cheap garden hose sump pump and drain that way. It gets most of the water and it’s easier than removing the side panels to reach the drain.

PPS. Never had super hard water. I have to add calcium. But balance alkalinity and then ph. But hard water might want some salt? Worth checking a spa forum to see what to do. Hard water scales your house plumbing. It can’t be good for hot tub heaters.

[summit]

Where can I get a new cover in a hurry? Can't wait 6-12 weeks.

Maybe I can get a cheap low quality one fast and then wait for a custom?

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

So I completely drained with a transfer pump and refilling now. Gonna try Sirona products. Local hot tub place had them and said they were great for a soft soak, low chem experience. Hopefully she heats back up pretty quick so we can soak tonight!!

[BobMc]

Where can I get a new cover in a hurry? Can't wait 6-12 weeks.

Maybe I can get a cheap low quality one fast and then wait for a custom?

Try Wayfair, got a factory one from them for my aquarest in three weeks.

[Shredhead]

https://www.poolspaforum.com/forum/i...er-maintaince/

This is the cheapest and easiest way to sanitize your hot tub. You need a little CYA, so you use a little Diclor at first and then change to liquid sodium hypochlorite.

[old goat]

For future reference if you can get a hose on a hot water line you can fill it about 1/3 with hot water and then switch to the cold water. I'm lucky to have a hot water drain under the bathroom sink in a separate downstairs unit that I can put a hose on that reaches the hot tub. Don't go crazy with the hot water--you don't want to go over.

I had to drain my hot tub a couple of winters ago when the power was out for 4days (I probably could have gotten away with not draining) and then refilled, temps in the teens and 20's, with no problem.

[summit]

Try Wayfair, got a factory one from them for my aquarest in three weeks.

No dice.

I need a cover ASAP

Place I ordered the last one from is 6-10wk out.

Who does expedited custom or something that is adaptable and temporary?

[MiddleOfNight]

Where can I get a new cover in a hurry? Can't wait 6-12 weeks.

Maybe I can get a cheap low quality one fast and then wait for a custom?

not sure what tub, but might try crystal river spas in c'dale. 970.963.2100
rumor is they sometimes keep a couple on-hand

[summit]

'99 Tiger River Bengal

[nickwm21]

A tarp, some bungies, and 2” poly iso should get you through the lead time…


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[BFD]

No dice.

I need a cover ASAP

Place I ordered the last one from is 6-10wk out.

Who does expedited custom or something that is adaptable and temporary?

might try facebook marketplace someone in Grand Junction has a bunch

[Percy Rideout]

not sure what tub, but might try crystal river spas in c'dale. 970.963.2100
rumor is they sometimes keep a couple on-hand

Funny, I was going to recommend the same.

[Huskier]

Missus and I are thinking of taking the plunge. We walked into a dealer. They showed us a model that is more expensive than some new cars. Wat. They showed us a model that was made of shitty White pine lumber planks on the inside admixed with Staples(??). Also wat. They all seemed to have their own proprietary water treatment regime that was both somehow better than all the others and also depended on their proprietary replacement cartridges. There are a million different brands, some just rebranding of other brands. One of them did like a laser light show rave thing. Another one had like extra bubbles. Not regular bubbles, extra bubbles. That feature alone was worth 5K from the next level down.

My question is this: What am I really looking for in a hot tub? Needs to fit four to five people, be reasonably deep, and not immediately go to shit The second we bring it home. All for approximately 10k, maybe a little more. I've got Caldera as a recommendation. Also Marquee. Thoughts?

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[yeahman]

Maybe Bullfrog. Or whatever Costco is selling on their website these days.

I hear you about the dealer experience. No way I am spending that kind of stupid money on a fucking hot tub that is waaay fancier than what I need. Ultimately I decided on a membership at our local hot springs instead. We're lucky to have a very nice developed hot springs nearby.

[old goat]

One of the Hot Spot models--the "bargain" line of Hot Springs. We've been happy with the Rhythm. Listed as 7 seats--hot tub capacities assume everyone is VERY friendly. No need for any fancy water treatment equipment if you don't mind doing a minimum of daily/weekly/monthly/yearly maintenance.

[neufox47]

Missus and I are thinking of taking the plunge. We walked into a dealer. They showed us a model that is more expensive than some new cars. Wat. They showed us a model that was made of shitty White pine lumber planks on the inside admixed with Staples(??). Also wat. They all seemed to have their own proprietary water treatment regime that was both somehow better than all the others and also depended on their proprietary replacement cartridges. There are a million different brands, some just rebranding of other brands. One of them did like a laser light show rave thing. Another one had like extra bubbles. Not regular bubbles, extra bubbles. That feature alone was worth 5K from the next level down.

My question is this: What am I really looking for in a hot tub? Needs to fit four to five people, be reasonably deep, and not immediately go to shit The second we bring it home. All for approximately 10k, maybe a little more. I've got Caldera as a recommendation. Also Marquee. Thoughts?

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If you don’t have money to burn don’t buy new. We bought a refurbished one from a guy who buys or hauls away tubs and then fixes and cleans them. We got a four year old $16,000 msrp tub for $3,500 delivered. He even included a warranty. This allowed us to buy a top end tub like Hot Springs.

If you’re at all handy you can fix most things on a hot tub pretty easily. And the high end ones are made to be fixable and have readily available replacement parts.

[nickwm21]

Missus and I are thinking of taking the plunge. We walked into a dealer. They showed us a model that is more expensive than some new cars. Wat. They showed us a model that was made of shitty White pine lumber planks on the inside admixed with Staples(??). Also wat. They all seemed to have their own proprietary water treatment regime that was both somehow better than all the others and also depended on their proprietary replacement cartridges. There are a million different brands, some just rebranding of other brands. One of them did like a laser light show rave thing. Another one had like extra bubbles. Not regular bubbles, extra bubbles. That feature alone was worth 5K from the next level down.

My question is this: What am I really looking for in a hot tub? Needs to fit four to five people, be reasonably deep, and not immediately go to shit The second we bring it home. All for approximately 10k, maybe a little more. I've got Caldera as a recommendation. Also Marquee. Thoughts?

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You’re in the Seattle area right?

We bought a Viking from Decks and Spas in Redmond. Vikings are no frills; plastic (not fiberglass and wood), but with quality Balboa internals. It’s a “6 seater” (real life 4 seater) with upgraded insulation and top. It was $5300 in 2020. Check them out.

There was another shop in the puget sound that specialized in rebuilding and selling used spas. They had all the high end stuff in really good condition. I don’t remember the name but we almost bought there….


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[m2711c]

Hot tubs are a salesman’s dream. Suckers are lining up to buy the product.

Look, it’s a tub, that’s hot. If you want a A water-based fixture with heat, why would you go to some random tub salesman?

Talk to a plumber. Tell him what you’re interested in as a end result. An ask him how to achieve that with a minimum outlay of cash.

with what the tub salesman are asking as a price for quality human stew time, you would be surprised at what you could get custom made. specially if you got any building skills of your own to contribute to the project.


and as far as Controlling your chemicals, there’s nothing new under the sun. It’s going to be chlorine or bromine for your oxidation reduction potential And an acid for adjusting your pH.

There’s a ton of companies that make good ORP/pH controllers. Hook them up to a pump, and your pool chemicals will be taken care of the same way that your heat is taken care of in your house. Determine the setpoint you want it to be, and Machine will take care of the rest. Something like this.

https://sensorex.com/product/tx20-ph...qJsjGJ3yf3-oNW

This is not new technology and there’s a lot of different places where you can get this type of set up. Once you’ve got the controller, just plug in your pumps. You don’t have to worry about your chemical make up just like you don’t have to worry about the heat in your house.

[neufox47]

Now you did it. Wait until the “I can’t believe you don’t have the $500 water tester” crowd shows up.


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[::: :::]

Is this the place to ask if anyone has a cold plunge tub?
Or find the Wim Hof thread?

[tgapp]

Is this the place to ask if anyone has a cold plunge tub?
Or find the Wim Hof thread?

I've got one and can answer any questions you might have about it

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