Hot Tub Spa Cabinets - Repair or Replace?

Question:

"I am needing to find out if the cabinet around the hottub can be repaired or replaced. Is it worth repairing or should it be replaced. The item is about 4 years old."

Answer:

Without actually seeing the condition of your cabinet, it is impossible for me to answer this question intelligently. After all, repairing can mean anything from a minor patch to a complete restoration project.

Also, if it is a high-quality unit, it should be easy to repair. However, if it is a low-cost unit that you can get cheaply at any bargain superstore, it is probably not worth putting any more money into.

I guess it all depends on how much time and money you want to invest before you can enjoy your hot tub without worrying about it falling apart on you.

So, talk to the manufacturer and find out what options they recommend. If they just want to sell you another cheap unit, then maybe it's time to think about whether you really want to go through this dilemma again in 4 years. If you really enjoy your hot tub, then perhaps it's time to step up to a better grade that will last many years and has more features than a superstore model, even if it means spending more money.

After all, any car you buy will take you from once place to another, but there are good reasons why people buy expensive cars. Expensive cars are well built so they last a long time, and they provide a much more enjoyable ride!

:)

Water Evaporation in a Hot Tub

Question:

How much water evaporation is normal per week? I am adding an inch or two to my tub every week...

Answer:

Depending upon the weather, the frequency of use, and the amount of time you spend in your hot tub, 1 – 2 inches per week can be considered normal evaporation.

Water evaporation is related to temperature, and spa water is heated to 100 degrees plus, so that can be part of the reason - warm water evaporates faster than cold water.

The spa will also lose water faster depending on the number of people in it, as the water that is absorbed in the bathing suits, hair, and skin of each user will also contribute to water loss.

One other factor is the time of year. If the air is "dry," as it is in winter months, the water will evaporate much faster than if the air is very humid.

If still think you are losing too much water, open the cabinet and do a visual inspection of your hot tub’s plumbing (full-foam spas will be harder to diagnose, so you might have to look for a puddle). Check all of your plumbing connections by making sure they are snug - sometime they loosen or a seal might have worn out.

If you do find a leak and cannot stop it by hand-tightening the connection yourself, call your manufacturer for service. Remember to be careful if you decide to use tools, since many components are made of plastic that can be broken when too much force is used. Then, you’ll really get to see the water level drop rapidly…

Happy Holidays to all, and I hope you get to have fun in your Hot Tub!

Towel Warmers for Hot Tubs

Question:

"Do you know where I can order a external towel warmer for our hot tub?"

Answer:

Use Google to search for hot tub towel warmers and you will find several manufacturers that make enclosed cabinets specially designed to keep towels warm beside your outdoor hot tub. Most of these manufacturers have online stores where you can place an order for your towel warmer – just make sure that it fits your hot tub.

You will also see low-cost heated rails in the results, but these are intended for indoor use and do not warm the entire towel (they only warm the part of the towel that is in direct contact with the heated rail).

Although they are more expensive, a weather-resistant closed cabinet will keep your towels warm and dry and ready to use when you want them no matter what the weather is doing outside. I think you will find that a closed cabinet will be a better choice in the long run, especially during the cold winter months when an outdoor hot tub is the most enjoyable!

:)

Hot Tubs and Antifreeze

Question from a visitor:

"I will be putting my tub out of service for a few months. I would like to drain it and suspect i should use potable anti freeze. is this a good idea and can i put it in at filter location?"

Answer:

DO NOT USE REGULAR ANTIFREEZE! This is usually made of Ethylene Glycol, which is extremely poisonous and has some rather nasty side effects, causing liver and kidney damage and being FATAL at high levels of exposure.

You need to find Propylene Glycol, which is supposed to be safe enough to be used as a food additive. This is marketed as a safe anti-freeze for pools. But, it really isn't necessary if you have completely drained all water from your hot tub and covered it up to prevent water from leaking into it over the winter.

Your best option is to follow your manufacturer's guidelines for winterizing your hot tub. Drain your hot tub thoroughly, and vacuum out any remaining moisture with a wet-and-dry shop-vac. It is essential to remove all of the water from the plumbing lines, pumps and heaters because these will be severely damaged by freezing temperatures.

I cannot recommend using anti-freeze, especially if you have completely drained your hot tub, following your manufacturer's recommendations. However, if you are still concerned, you can pour straight Propylene Glycol into susceptible areas to displace any remaining moisture.

You are better off removing the filters and storing them in a dry location, rather than letting them sit in anti-freeze all winter, but that's just my opinion.

When Propylene Glycol is used to winterize the pipes in a large pool, the resulting concentration in the spring is very low. The same amount of Propylene Glycol used to winterize a small hot tub results in much higher concentrations when the tub is filled up again in the spring.

So if you decide to use Propylene Glycol, remember to flush out your hot tub fittings thoroughly with clean water before filling your hot tub again in the spring. This is the real downside to using anti-freeze, and even though Propylene Glycol is supposed to be perfectly safe and will evaporate, I personally cannot recommend soaking in it.

It's better to be safe and enjoy your hot tub with peace of mind!

;)

Termites and Hot Tub Cabinets

Here is a question from a visitor:

"My hot tub cabinet was attacked by termites and needs to be replaced. Do I have to make all the panels or can I get a kit. I have a "xyz" Spa. It is old but still works great." (Editor's note - brand name changed to "xyz" to protect the innocent.)

Answer:

First, contact the manufacturer of the hot tub to see if replacement panels are available. This will save you a lot of time. I do not know of any cabinet kits that can be purchased, because there are so many different shapes and styles of hot tub cabinets in the marketplace, but the original manufacturer may be able to provide you with replacement panels.

Second, consider replacing your termite-eaten cabinet with synthetic panels. These are much easier to maintain, and you will not have to worry again about termite damage to your natural wood cabinet. Please don’t take me wrong – I love natural wood and woodworking, but I have also come to respect the elements and the effects of time. It can be very disappointing to spend a lot of time creating a beautiful work of art in wood, only to see it get eaten by termites again a few years down the line.

Finally, maybe it is time to consider getting a new hot tub. If it is old enough for termite damage to be a problem, the other components may soon start to give out, which can result in very costly repairs. If your hot tub has some historical significance and is worthy of becoming a registered landmark in your area, be prepared to spend a lot of time and money on a hot tub restoration project. Or, you can purchase a new model and spend your time enjoying your hot tub, along with many of the new features that have been introduced in recent years. The choice is up to you.

In any event, I wish you the best of luck and hope you get to enjoy a hot tub soon!

How old does a child have to be to sit in a hot tub?

This question just came in from a visitor, and while I’m tempted to say, "Just throw them in and see if they float!" I think it would be best to ask your child's doctor or pediatrician if your child is old enough before listening to my advice.

But remember, you should never let a child use a hot tub unsupervised!!!

And, keep the hot tub cover closed and locked when you are not there to directly supervise it.

In any event, check with your doctor first, and then enjoy your hot tub with your whole family!

:)