Question:
I am about to start on a project to build a really nice hot tub, jacuzzi,
spa, whatever you call it.
has anyone here done this?
Answer:
I built one of concrete block and tiled the inside back in 1980. Put the
air lines and water lines in the block and then poured it solid. ( pity the
fool that tries to remove it )
I found local suppliers for the equipment that I used. I used a paper
cartridge filter. Actually made for a pool it was about 1.5 times the size I
needed. It was a bargain so I bought it and then bought new filters.
Bought a new pump, and heater. I used gas cause the gas was near. BTU's are
the same so gas and electric of equal size should heat about the same in
time. As for cost your local utility rates will govern.
Brother has a spa, 50 amps to the sucker. I am pretty sure it costs him
close to $150 a month just in electricity. His has a computer so he
programmed it so that it maintains the temp. He makes a lot more money that
I do. He paid something like $10k for delivery and set up. We did the
electric line and the pad. He does not have gas and was anti putting in
propane. His neighbor has a couple of 100 lbs tanks of propane for his spa
and pool.
My seats were made from pvc pipe with 1/4" holes drilled in them. I used a 2
hp blower. One bench was so powerful that I could not touch the seat when
the air pump was on. ( planned that way ) The other side was lower and less
violent. I did not worry about making recliners cause I knew I could never
make it work right.
I used regular pool eyeball jets connected to a 2 inch line 2 per wall.
Chemical applications have to be done manually. Test the water after each
use and then correct. To much of anything can be pretty nasty. I had a girl
friend that was super sensitive to chorine. She did not even know it. Until
an evening in the spa... Sure ruined that weekend.
You will be amazed at how 2 bodies in a spa can screw up the chemical
balance. I found that spas were a lot less forgiving than a pool. 'Course
there is a lot less water.
