School me on spa/hot tubs

[afm199]

The quoted numbers for heating with 110 vs 220 was quite different, clearly 220 will warm up the tub much faster. Unfortunately, we were given a quote of $9/foot and the distance would be at least 100 feet to put in 220v. I already have a line run out to the location for lighting for 110 v, and yeah it's fully sufficient gauge to handle the load.

I'd be careful adding load onto any circuit that exists. That hot tub, at a minimum, will be using probably 15 amps. There's not much left.

 

[Climber]

I'd be careful adding load onto any circuit that exists. That hot tub, at a minimum, will be using probably 15 amps. There's not much left.

Great point.

I've run my 13 amp blower/mulcher from this outdoor plug with no problems and run it for about 30 minutes straight.

 

[dravnx]

I take a soak 2-3 X a week
Usually in the morning with my coffee or in the eve before bed if my back is cranky
It costs me 20/mo PGE
I use the Baqua system
I add a few oz of chems every couple of weeks
Replace the water every 6 mos
Totally worth the cost and effort

 

[byke]

Get the smallest hot tub you can find
We bought a small 2 person hot springs a few years ago after I got tired of keeping our 20 yo hot springs going

Big +1. Small tub ftw.

 

[buellistic]

I'd be careful adding load onto any circuit that exists. That hot tub, at a minimum, will be using probably 15 amps. There's not much left.

At a minimum ha ha. You need 30 to 50 amps.
Our not so special tub ..runs a 50 amp and sometimes the heater pops the breaker.

 

[dravnx]

Depends on the hot tub.
My little Hot Springs has a dedicate 20 amp 115 breaker and works just fine.

 

[afm199]

At a minimum ha ha. You need 30 to 50 amps.
Our not so special tub ..runs a 50 amp and sometimes the heater pops the breaker.

No, not necessarily. A large tub with good heating will need 30-50 amps. There are many 120 volt, 20 amp models out there. The jets are weak, and they take forever to heat the water, but they run 14-15 amps.

Remember, I used to install these.

 

[byke]

Just depends how many gallons they need to heat. These days the super small 2-person tubs work just fine on a 120/20 circuit.

 

[buellistic]

No, not necessarily. A large tub with good heating will need 30-50 amps. There are many 120 volt, 20 amp models out there. The jets are weak, and they take forever to heat the water, but they run 14-15 amps.

Remember, I used to install these.

Yea no kidding..our old 110v jacuzzi 3 person took 3 to 5 hours to heat up in the summer..

 

[CockyRooster]

I bought a used Sundance 4 person tub (actually two people unless OFG party rules apply) and loved it every day. Spend the money for a good insulated one and wire it correctly with a dedicated 220 circuit. The 110v toggle between heat or jets as they have to allocate what little power they have available. If you don’t set it up correctly now you’ll tire of the headaches in short order.

A lot of good quality tubs are given away for just the cost of moving it. Buyer remodels new home, etc.

 

[mikev]

I bought a used Sundance 4 person tub (actually two people unless OFG party rules apply)

I keep checking my texts. My invite must not have gone through.

 

[Abacinator]

Get the one that's also a time machine

 

[CockyRooster]

I keep checking my texts. My invite must not have gone through.

I thought the Zoom sessions were enough during the pandemic?

 

[fraz]

I bought a used Sundance 4 person tub (actually two people unless OFG party rules apply) and loved it every day. Spend the money for a good insulated one and wire it correctly with a dedicated 220 circuit. The 110v toggle between heat or jets as they have to allocate what little power they have available. If you don’t set it up correctly now you’ll tire of the headaches in short order.

A lot of good quality tubs are given away for just the cost of moving it. Buyer remodels new home, etc.

+1

I got a score on a lightly used Hot Springs Jetsetter NXT (3 person) and it is awesome. I was fortunate my house already had 100 amp breaker at the box and run to part of the house where I needed it. Running 220 is certainly more efficient and will save you dollars on your recurring electric bill. I'd say so far it looks like it is ~$40mo for mine. Hard to tell exactly since we just got everything done a couple months ago and been using a lot of fans due to the fires and smoke.

Brett, you don't run them on/off only on certain months... it is a 24x7x365 heating operation; so plan on that. So well-insulated, efficient power are key factors to consider. Spending $$ on 220 install may suck initially but it will save you in the long run. 110v has a limited(short) amount of distance you can do so check the docs on that before you commit to a plan as well.

Another thing that Hot Springs has going for it is if you get one with an ozinator. It helps to knock down your maintenance considerably! When we set mine up we discovered they "forgot" to add it from the factory. After a few calls to place it was purchased, they made good and sent somebody out to install. So much better now it's not funny. And yes, they are extremely busy and apparently Covid had created a surge in hot tub sales; who knew?

Other fun items to consider are where you are going to put it. I ended up setting forms and pouring a concrete pad in back corner of yard. Then trenching conduit, pulling wire, etc. If you are going for an existing patio, that makes it easier and cheaper.

 

[Climber]

We have a large 15x17 concrete pad in the back corner of our property near the pool. That gives us a good location, however it's also quite a distance form our power panel which is on the far corner of our house, meaning $$$$$ to run a 220 line, especially since there is a solid concrete slab from our house to the other side of the pool, so very hard to run a 220 line.

 

[Racinfrk]

Keep in mind that most "Hot Tubs" aka Spas are made by one manufacture. I know that Dimension One spas used to be one of the best on the market (I purchased one about 10 years ago and have had almost zero problems). However, Dim One was bought out by Jacuzzi Group a few years ago. Jacuzzi Group now owns most of the spa companies (including Sundance).

DO NOT buy a spa from a big box store (Home Depot, Costco, etc.) as those are the cheap models made by the "manufactures". Also, keep in mind that the pool/spa industry is very cut throat and very unscrupulous. So do your research into who you are dealing with. There are many claims that are just not true (snake oil).

 

[mercurial]

You already have a pool, is it possible to add on an in-ground hot tub?

My house has a joined in-ground pool/hot tub and it's a great setup. the hottub takes about 45 mins to get to temp with the fat gas heater, and when you're done the water just recycles into the main pool. It probably costs about $5 for a session?

 

[Climber]

You already have a pool, is it possible to add on an in-ground hot tub?

My house has a joined in-ground pool/hot tub and it's a great setup. the hottub takes about 45 mins to get to temp with the fat gas heater, and when you're done the water just recycles into the main pool. It probably costs about $5 for a session?

It'd be cool if we could, but the layout doesn't lend itself to that kind of an arrangement. I saw that kind of setup with some of the homes for sale but they weren't in the right school district down here.

Has anybody tried a setup that includes a structure over the hot tube that also has solar heating setup to cycle the water through to use the sun to warm it up? Is it feasible? Yeah, I know, blue sky stray thoughts.

 

[Free_Bird]

A Hot Spring 6-7 person Spa has two main pumps, 24hr small pump, Ozone generator and two element heating coil.
It is built like a thermos bottle. Sides and top cover are thick with insulation. It is in the open with a deck built around it with a roof over it. It is large enough to stretch out to do swimming like exercises. Do run it at 96-98 temp range.
When idle a small Filter Pump similar to an aquarium pump continuously runs. It doesn't use much energy. The heater element going on/off controlled by a thermostat. The energy cost is nominal in idle mode.
In use with huge pumps run all the while one is in the spa. However shutting the Jets off and just relaxing is nice. I don't notice significant energy cost with using the Spa every other day for a hour.

During the hot Summer Days turn the spa heat off and use it to cool down.
During the Winter it would be nice to have the spa enclosed with an area to move around just next to it. Cause damn getting out of hot spa soaking wet in to 30-40f degree temps. Now add winds omg.

It is one of the best investments and useful luxuries I experienced. After the Spa Parties are over it is an exercise facilitator. Potentially used daily.

 

[poach]

A Hot Spring 6-7 person Spa has two main pumps, 24hr small pump, Ozone generator and two element heating coil.
It is built like a thermos bottle. Sides and top cover are thick with insulation. It is in the open with a deck built around it with a roof over it. It is large enough to stretch out to do swimming like exercises. Do run it at 96-98 temp range.
When idle a small Filter Pump similar to an aquarium pump continuously runs. It doesn't use much energy. The heater element going on/off controlled by a thermostat. The energy cost is nominal in idle mode.
In use with huge pumps run all the while one is in the spa. However shutting the Jets off and just relaxing is nice. I don't notice significant energy cost with using the Spa every other day for a hour.

During the hot Summer Days turn the spa heat off and use it to cool down.
During the Winter it would be nice to have the spa enclosed with an area to move around just next to it. Cause damn getting out of hot spa soaking wet in to 30-40f degree temps. Now add winds omg.

It is one of the best investments and useful luxuries I experienced. After the Spa Parties are over it is an exercise facilitator. Potentially used daily.

I’ve found that to be the case as well, if you know what I mean.

OP, 26yr spa owner here. Best advice I can offer is that spending money up front for a high quality, 2 speed motor equipped, massively insulated spa and cover(you can spend the money on insulation or just hand it over to pge) will save you money and headaches in the long run.

If goofy bells&whistles like led backlit waterfalls, sound systems, and overdone though poorly designed jetting is your thing then cool. Just know that’s the stuff they’ll try to sell up on you.