Hot Tub GAF

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SillyEskimo

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My parents have always had a hot tub since I was in high school and the 20 years since then. I always loved it when I was a teenager, but I also never had to take care of it. These new tubs have come a long way since then, that's for sure. The one I now own has a lift assisted cover that's a lifesaver!

I was recently gifted a 6 man/400 gallon, 2007 Vanguard VV Spa from my parents. It's a great spa, with beautiful LED lighting and even a little waterfall. This particular tub sold for around 12k new but you can get one for 5k used these days. I have a really nice deck that I put it on, but first I had to have it moved about 20 miles ($350) and then I had to install a special electric box and wire to the tub ($150). The cover will have to be replaced within the next year or so ($500). The first run of chemicals was $120 but most will last several months and some will last around a year. It is finally hooked up, warmed up, and juiced up so my family has given it a test run, despite 90 degree weather, twice now and it's safe to say it was totally worth it.

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I'm reaching out here to other GAF members that have had a spa for an extended period of time to see if maintenance gets to be a hassle or if I'm though the worst of it. Also, just a place for spa owners to talk about maintenance, tips, ect.
 
Tashi said:
Was Cerny the chief architect on Spas too?!

OP, you on Bromine or Chlorine?
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Chlorine. I just bought everything the dude told me to. It was all color coordinated and came with a check off sheet specifically for my tub so it seemed the best route to take.

Is one better than the other?
 
SillyEskimo said:
Chlorine. I just bought everything the dude told me to. It was all color coordinated and came with a check off sheet specifically for my tub so it seemed the best route to take.

Is one better than the other?
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When my dad ran a pool cleaning company he always used bromine in any hot tubs he ran across. Can't remember why though.
 
My parents just bought one 2 weeks ago. I think it's arriving on Tuesday finally.

We always had one growing up, but it broke around 7 or 8 years ago, maybe. Every time they'd fill it up, the water would just leak right out. After putting it off or several years, it turned out it was not repairable since the company (Sunray, I believe was the name) went out of business some years back. It just sat in their patio for years unused by everyone except the cats, who liked sitting in the empty basin or on the cover. Finally on Tuesday it got chopped up and hauled away to make room for the new one. How they're going to get it in that enclosed patio is beyond me, though.

If/when my wife and I ever buy a bigger house, I'd like to have one. I've always been one of those people fascinated or amused or whatever by water... be it a pool, hot tub, pond, beach, whatever.
 
I'm tearing down the back deck and rebuilding a new better/bigger/stronger one next summer explicitly so me and the fiance can have a hot tub.

IM SO FUCKING EXCITED

She has so many hot friends that look for any excuse to get naked/half naked.
 
I had a saline/salt tub before I moved. It did require some balancing, but most of the chemicals were basically pure salt. Can't remember which KIND exactly, but the brand name official hot tub stuff was expensive as fuck, but the chemical version (non branded, not for hot tubs) was chemically identical.

So maintenance ended up costing about $20 a year for a big thing of basically sodium chloride.

The water quality in saline tubs (the water is sterilized by a reaction with a metal component) is amazing. It's gin clear, makes your skin feel awesome and makes the water more buoyant.

You can balance the ph here and there, but it was mostly just a program of quarterly draining and refill (based on usage).

I miss it.
 
LuchaShaq said:
I'm tearing down the back deck and rebuilding a new better/bigger/stronger one next summer explicitly so me and the fiance can have a hot tub.

IM SO FUCKING EXCITED

She has so many hot friends that look for any excuse to get naked/half naked.
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Can I come over?
 
FreddieQuell said:
When my dad ran a pool cleaning company he always used bromine in any hot tubs he ran across. Can't remember why though.
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All these are designed to work with one another by boosting each other. I'm not sure what difference it would make, but it's worth looking into. Thanks for the tip!
 
Family has had a huge one for 5+ years as well as a pool. It's not that tough to maintain. You do a small chemical dump monthly and that's it. Your initial chemical amount sounds a bit high for cost? It goes a long way for ppl not to just dip into the hot tub without having a shower or a dip in the pool. Hair and skin follicles tend to build up.
 
Years and years ago I used to live in a house with a girl, a dog, and too many cats. We had a Softub that used to belong to Pam Anderson. Then one day she dumped me and all of that shit is gone now. The tub was pretty awesome though, would love to someday have one again.
 
I'm so confused about whether to buy one or not.

So many people tell me they are a pain in the ass, expensive, not worth it. But...HOT TUB!!!

For those that have owned one for a while, worth?
 
We had one for a little while. As much as I like hot tubs I will say I prefer having a friend with a hot tub than one myself, as I get the benefits without having to take care of the thing.

Same goes for pools.
 
A world without hot tubs isn't worth living in.
 
Mister Wilhelm said:
I'm so confused about whether to buy one or not.

So many people tell me they are a pain in the ass, expensive, not worth it. But...HOT TUB!!!

For those that have owned one for a while, worth?
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We bought a house last December that has a 2 person whirlpool tub in the master bedroom. Our Realtor said people buy them and never use them. Well, we sure proved him wrong on that one. Between my wife and 2 young daughters, the thing is used 2-3 times a week. I take showers, but even I've used it once a month or so just to relax and listen to headphones.

So I think it depends on the people who own it really. As far as maintenance, it only takes a couple of tiny scoops of chemicals a week and the hot tub does the rest. My electric bill will go up $5-7 a month, even during winter months it stays the same. I plan on draining it and starting the cycle over again once every 3 months. It's a lot easier to maintain than a pool, that's for sure!
 
I like soaking in a hot tub, but I find that the longer I stay in one the more nauseous I get... Anyone else have that problem???
 
LuchaShaq said:
I'm tearing down the back deck and rebuilding a new better/bigger/stronger one next summer explicitly so me and the fiance can have a hot tub.

IM SO FUCKING EXCITED

She has so many hot friends that look for any excuse to get naked/half naked.
Click to expand...

I suddenly want to start hanging out with you.
 
My parents have one. Takes like 4 or 5 hours to heat it so it hasn't been used it years. Actually make not even work anymore.
 
aparisi2274 said:
I like soaking in a hot tub, but I find that the longer I stay in one the more nauseous I get... Anyone else have that problem???
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You may not be hydrated enough? Also, some tubs can get really fucking hot and it can kind of override your system. You just have to take short dips (10-15 minutes) or don't sit fully submerged. The spa above has a single raised spot where you're about stomach level when you sit there. All the other spots you are up to your neck. If you get on your knees in the middle, it's up to your eyeballs. Sipping on ice water in the hot tub is great and might help. Throwing snowballs while in the hot tub is fun too! Hmmm, that might throw off my chemical mix now that I think about it. It's a lot different thinking when it's yours to take care of, haha.
 
Hot tub novice here.

I have a new apartment being built which is having the balcony (about 590sqft) strengthened specifically to take the weight of a hot tub, with a plan of getting a 3 to 5 man tub.

However, it just occurs to me getting something through the front door might be a problem. Is that likely to be an issue?

If so, I might have to get my act together fast and get a unit craned up to the balcony while the crane is still there.
 
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