Hot tub ownership? Benefits worth the hassle?

[RogueJeepr]

The previous owner of my home put a jacuzzy-tub in our bathroom. At first I thought I would use it alot but I dont, maybe a few times a year . Its a pain in the ass to clean, I need to find a brush that will clean the jets better.

My uncle had a hot-tub on the side of his house and said he was using his , went to get his towell and a huge spider fell out. They like those hot and steamy area's .

 

[Tee]

I've had two different tubs. First one was older (late 70's vintage) and did cost a BUNCH to keep warm. The shell finally blistered out and couldn't be saved. Replaced it with a Bullfrog in 08. Costs between a 1/4 and 1/3 what the other one cost to heat and is comparable in size. It costs less than plugging in my Diesel two nights a week in the winter to heat.

As for hassle, Once a week check its chem levels, throw a half a cap full of shock in after using. Drain and refill in the spring and fall. But its just the wife and I using it mostly, my daughter might get in it 3 or 4 times a year.

We seem to go in spurts, we'll get in it 3 or 4 times a week for awhile, then not get in it for a couple months. Currently I don't think we have been in it since Easter Weekend. But I still check the water balance levels every Wednesday....

Set aside specific swim suits that only get used in the tub, never wash them with soap, just double rinse them in the washer, use bromine as your weekly balancer instead of chlorine.

Love ours, in fact, I think I am going to go crawl in it right now!

 

[frieed]

I had a hot tub in Texas. At one point I thought the thermostat was broken since it was getting too hot, but the tech at the store told me to prop the top open a little. That fixed it. The shell and cover were so well insulated that the heat from the small continuous pump would drive the water temp above the set point in hot weather. I still want to emphasize the continuous pump and the salt water system. It just takes care of itself...

 

[Greg]

I had a hot tub in Texas. At one point I thought the thermostat was broken since it was getting too hot, but the tech at the store told me to prop the top open a little. That fixed it. The shell and cover were so well insulated that the heat from the small continuous pump would drive the water temp above the set point in hot weather. I still want to emphasize the continuous pump and the salt water system. It just takes care of itself...

:thumbs:

 

[ricsrx]

I had a hot tub in Texas. At one point I thought the thermostat was broken since it was getting too hot, but the tech at the store told me to prop the top open a little. That fixed it. The shell and cover were so well insulated that the heat from the small continuous pump would drive the water temp above the set point in hot weather. I still want to emphasize the continuous pump and the salt water system. It just takes care of itself...

I need more info on the salt water system, please Thanks x2 on the continuous pump!!

 

[frieed]

So on the salt water system....


A hot tub is a very small amount of water and can get out of balance quickly if you are not very rigorous about the chemical dosing. In a salt water system, you add salt to the water to about the salinity level of tears, you can taste it, but it won't burn your eyes. An electrolysis cell dissociates chlorine from the salt, it kills cooties and recombines to form salt again. Since there are no chloramines as with the chemicals, you will not get that "chlorine smell" but it will register just fine on the test kit. Key with this system is the continuous pump, this system runs all the time, always creating small amounts of chlorine and sanitizing. These systems are very prevalent in swimming pools now, but less so in hot tubs. It would probable be an after-market add-on.

-Eric

 

[DToy]

We've got a smaller sized Bullfrog...bought it a little over a year ago. Been one of the best things we ever bought. Power bill hasn't gone up by more than $20 a month. Easy to clean, easy to maintain. We use it several times a week. It's 220v, and we use bromine instead of chlorine in ours.

 

[Gravy]

Bromine is nice. Just found out about it when I was at the Mandalay Bay last month. Swimming without chlorine is so nice. No itchy red eyes and dry skin.