Hot tub advice

Thanks for that Rikki.

Ours comes with a manometer? I think it's called. It basically shows the inflation pressure. Yellow before filling with water, check that it's in the green after filling with water and if it's in the red let some back out. It also advises the pressure is checked again if the ambient temperature soars. Obviously they've done this to protect against the earlier problems with these things.

I think I'm getting a little too excited though......




Only problem is......




STILL WAITING FOR DELIVERY!!

proactive said:

Is Mrs wmrcomputers happier about this purchase than she was about the 'copter?

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Yes she is. Funny that!

Well thankfully we got the sunshine out and I was able to set the thing up. Around 3:30pm it was filled with cold water (at 15 degrees) and it's currently up to 32 degrees (I've set it to 38). Hopefully might get a morning dip before I'm due a forumite to drop off their laptop - or do I just tell him "the gate's open" lmao

Hahahahaha

Well, about a week or so on now and must say we're extremely happy with it and it's getting used plenty to make it worth the running costs. Getting the right balance on the chemicals is almost rocket science however. I thought it was just a case of testing and adding chlorine when it's low - not realising that you needed a residual amount of chlorine, the differences between free chlorine, combined chlorine and total chlorine in addition to maintaining PH levels, total alkalinity to be able to maintain PH levels in the first place etc etc.

It's taken me a week but I'm finally understanding it all alot better now and keeping my water pretty clear. And I forgot to mention giving it a non-chlorine shock every now and again too depending on useage! WOW there's a lot to learn!!!

Have I put anyone else off getting one yet? DON'T BE... it's worth every minute once your soaking the day's stresses away looking up at the stars

wmrcomputers said:

I've invested in insulated matting to go underneath ours to reduce heat loss to the concrete below, and I'll also be investing in a "SPA bladder" which is kind of an inflatable lid to go beneath the main cover.

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Following on from this, the spa bladder has helped tremendously, reducing the running cost from about £15 per week (without initial heating cost of a fresh fill) to around £8 to £10 a week. At a cost of £34 it will soon pay for itself and then start saving at least £260 a year... because believe me I WILL be in this hot tub still when it's snowing outside. Can't wait! I'm quite looking forward to November 5th and December 31st the most

Update to running costs. I have since purchased a plug-through energy meter so can now offer a better guide. If anyone is ever thinking of buying an inflatable hot tub, please don't believe ANYTHING you read online about running costs in the region of £3 to £5 per week...

To fill the tub using water heated by gas boiler to operating temperature - around £1.20
To heat using electricity from cold - £3.
Keeping the water at required temperature 24/7 and using for around an hour per day - £25 per week (yes, really!)

We've now found what works best for us is to leave the water in (dosed with chlorine), but switch the thing off after use. The next time we use it (usually within 48 hours max) we then set the filter running to get an accurately reported temperature and drain off so much water and top it back up from the boiler to get the required 38C. Works out far cheaper, plus we don't feel like it has to be used every night just to get our moneys worth out of constantly keeping it heated.

Still glad we bought it? Yes. Would I have bought it knowing the real running costs? Possibly not

Just upgraded to a real one. Double the volume of water yet costing us a mere £10 a week to run. Now just got to pay for it