Used Hot Tubs & Spas
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Hot Tub HeatersIf you are considering a new hot tub heater or perhaps your existing one has come to the end of its life then you've come to the right place. Here you should be able to find a model to fit your taste and your budget.
Your Questions About Hot Tub Heaters ControlsMaria asks… what kind of cheap thermostat could I use to control a passive solar water heater for my hot tub? I want to build a batch heater or a passive coil system on a painted black corrugated metal backing. But I want to be able to stop the flow when the water gets to a set temp. It would be great to be able to just put in a car radiator thermostat but it would allow the water to get too hot.
The Sage answers: Hello flagnsnarf: You may need to install a low-voltage transformer with a thermostat and a solenoid valve. An automotive thermostat has too high a temperature setting.
Steven asks… Hot tub tripping breaker? I recently acquired a Morgan Malibu hot tub. I wired it up and it began tripping the breaker in the disconnect box. Through process of elemination, I found out that the breaker only tripped when the heater wires were attached. I purchased a new heater and the hot tub ran great for about 3 hours. The breaker had tripped again. I tried to reset it and it would trip immediately. I then removed the two wires that power the heater from the control panel and the hot tub runs just fine again. I have checked and double checked the wiring from my house to the disconnect to the hot tub and all the wires are where they should be. The entire heater assembly is brand new and the breaker only trips when the heater is hooked up. Can anyone tell me why it keeps tripping the breaker?
The Sage answers: Circuit breakers wrong amperage, guage of wires to small for distance, wrongly wired, short or malfunction.
John asks… Hot Tub ground fault tripping? My ever faithful hot tub has recently been tripping the gfci breaker in the panel. The breaker test button seems to indicate a working breaker, although it is some years old. Is it possible that it is the breaker? What tests can I undertake to determine whether it is the breaker or one of the components in the hot tub? No recent disturbances of changes anywhere. Motor or heater or controls..how to narrow it down? Thanks,
The Sage answers: You will need a amp meter to check the load that is being carried by the GFI. If
it is exceeding the GFI you need to start tracing the problem….. Most likely the heating element.
Robert asks… Is there a way to disable the heater in my hot tub (spa) so that the water remains closer to room temperature? My hot tub has a thermostat control but even at the lowest ("coolest") setting it is just too hot for me. I'd like to be able to shut off the heating mechanism, or turn it far lower than the current low. Plus, in the summer it is obviously too hot to use at all, and if there was a way to have it not-so-hot that might help. (I'm not talking about making the water cold or even cool, but it would be nice if it were much much cooler.) I called the manufacturer and didn't get anywhere. I also searched the internet
and couldn't find anything like this. If you have any suggestions, I would be grateful. Thank you. Thanks a lot for your unhelpful, silly, idiotic answer. If you can call it an "answer". There is also a reason they call it a "spa" --- it's supposed to be a relaxing experience. If it's unbearably hot, it's anything but relaxing. But go ahead and continue running off at the mouth; it's really enhancing the Yahoo Answers community.
The Sage answers: Snowman is correct that you can simply disconnect the wires to the heater and then make sure they are taped until needing to be used again. Hopefully yours is a more modern Balboa or Gecko manufactured pack that have copper leads that will make it much easier. The suggestion that your thermostat might be bad is also a good thing to check, the older ones can be off by a few degrees easily. The bottom degrees for most are 78 degrees. I couldn't imagine wanting to get into that cold of water. What brand of tub is it (model/make/year)??????? Of course turn the power off when opening up your spa's cabinet to do the work.
Lizzie asks… Hot tub tripping from neutral, hooked up two different ways? Hey Guys, I have a spa (Class Act pump), was only 1.5 years old, when parents handed it
down to me. I'm getting bubbles (pump works), but when he hooked up the neutral (controls
heater) it trips breaker.. Hooked neutral up directly to outside gfi plug (110v cutting an extension cord to
test it), just to see if the other way Well, hooking it directly tripped the GFI, I reset GFI and turned on pump, then
it tripped Went ahead and bought a contactor (same type 240/277, 30res), thinking it was bad and hooked it up same tripping issue. So, do you guys have any ideas? I don't want to pay another electrician, if I have to reroute an internal wire, directly to the fuse box inside (as suggested by the electrician). Thanks for your feedback.. David D
The Sage answers: Not sure from what your saying but either like Gene says you have 2 GFIC in line which wont work, or maybe you are trying to run a 220 system from a 110 plug. The type of spa system you describe is sounding like a 220-240 volt AC unit which should have a 220 volt (40 amp) Ground fault interrupter breaker installed within 10 feet of the unit outside. The breaker in the panel box should be a 40 amp standard breaker. Not sure of why they would run the neutral line out as a 220 volt spa system does not have a 110 volt system inside it as the ground fault breaker works not by reading voltage to ground as one would think. But it rather compares the incoming amperage to the outgoing and if they are off by just a fraction then it interprets it as a fault in the system. If you put a 110 load on a 220 system and activate the 110 load the GFIC will read more amperage out or in on one line as the neutral is carrying part of that load so the load is now unbalanced and the breaker will trip. If this is a 220 system, there should be no neutral wire and that maybe the problem you are experiencing. Hope that helps Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Hot Tub Heaters
Hot Tub Heater Not Working? Drained my hot tub last spring when it started getting pretty warm out and filled it back up. Just like the first time I drained it, a bubble seems to be in the heater. No water gets heated at all. The jets all work. I've tried loosening the tubes just a tiny bit on either side of it, hoping a bubble might pop out but it did not help. Any suggestions? The Sage answers: Do you have two pumps, one for the jets, and one for the filter/heater? It could be that the filter pump is air locked. You can force the air out of the filter pump with a garden hose turned on full.
Helen asks… can you use a house water heater with a hot tub? I purchased a home with a hot tub in the yard. The owner told me the hot
tub works fine but doesnt heat. He claims you can hook a regular water heater like the house one and it will
work fine. Can you do this? Thanks,
The Sage answers: No, not really. Hot tubs are heated by a heater that is built in. The water circulates through the heater and is constantly reheated (as needed). Your water heater will not do this. You'd have to dump out 50 gallons of water for every fifty of hot water you add. That makes no sense. Water heaters can usually be added. Try Lowe's or a hot tub store and see.
Paul asks… My hot tub wont work!? I have a hot tub and a pool. I dont know much about hot tubs and I am looking to turn it on. I have my Pool Filter connected to Some Black knobs that turn. They say off on them. I have 2 of those. Then next to my Chlorine thing it has another knob with the word off on it. When I turn the knobs near the filter my Hot tub water drains. When i try to use the heater it goes on for 5 minutes then stops. I have the Jets on. Anybody know what the problem is. I have seen my parents use it but i don want to ask because im having a party on Saturday. There not in town. Can anyone help me please
The Sage answers: If you do not know how to use it and can't better explain the problem then maybe, before you ruin the entire system, let it go. We are talking a lot af money if you mess it up.
Daniel asks… Water bed heater to supplement inflatable hot tub inflatable spa heat? Just got one of those inflatable spa / inflatable hot tubs. It works pretty well, I was surprised, but the water temperature is a little week. Anyone think a waterbed heater might help it reach optimal temperature? The spa walls are made of a vinyl product.
The Sage answers: Unfortunately you just found out why they are cheaper. The heaters are 115v and can only make the temp go up around 1.5 degrees an hour. The nice thing is that they are cheap to operate with the coil heater around the pump. The sad part is that they are expensive to fix and there isn't any way to suppliment the heat. I have played around with some of our soft tub customers for years. I don't think much of the product. Wish i could help you. Be careful and do not let any type of immersion heater if you go that route neary the walls or you can melt them.
Thomas asks… The heater on my hot tub isn't working what's wrong? everything else but the heater is working on my hot tub. here are the
specs i could get off the panel
The Sage answers: Sounds like a rely ;have a qualified elec.do a resistions test on it . 65 Powered by Yahoo! Answers
How much electricity do you need to hook up hot tub heaters and pumps? The pump asks for 240 volts, the heater asks for 230. What do I need to do electrically? The Sage answers: You need to contact an electrician to run the 240 volt line to your hottub. You'll need a circuit breaker suitable for the hottub and I suspect a GFCI or whatever they are called now. I'd go run out to the garage to see what we have, but it's just better to call an electrician.
Helen asks… How do I make my hot tub heater into a plug in? I have a Coates 6kw 240 volt (25 amp) heater salvaged from my old hot tub. Id like to
use it for a small outdoor pool. Can the 2 large wires be wired to a separate plug and the 2 small wires wired to
another plug?
The Sage answers: Your 'electrician friend' isn't a electrician if he doesn't know what to do ,but you
need to put it on a 25 amp RCBO with a isolator switch using 4 mm square cable at least.
Donna asks… How do I fix my hot tub heater? I have an older hot tub and the heater won't turn on. I have replaced the heater, pressure switch, thermostat, filter and pump. I don't know what to try next. The heater tries to turn on when I turn up the heat but then shuts right off. Any ideas?
The Sage answers: Hello, What make and model of controls do you have? If you would repost them I can help you. When you say it shuts off...does that mean it is tripping the gfi? If so then when you are giving it a demand for heat (heater turning on) the amp draw is either too much and causing it to trip or their is a fault with the brand new heater you have. I recently this week actually had two brand new heaters that were bad when replacing a customers bad heater. Depending on the age of your tub if it has Contactors...that might also be it. Post new info please.
David asks… Is it more energy efficient to leave my hot tub heater on permanently? I usually heat my hot tub up during the day if i plan to use it that night, and then when im done i will usually switch the heater off and just leave the filter pump to run; it would typically be off for two or three more days (water would cool) and then i would put it back on to use it again. Will it be more energy efficient to just leave the heater on permanently so that the thermostat can maintain a constant temperature?
The Sage answers: My best guess is no, but it's only a guess. Water will slowly cool anywhere and especially if it's being continuously circulated all the time too. It would depend on many other factors also. It may only cost you a few bucks more a month or it may cost you much more. That's a lot of water to keep heated too. If you want to be sure and you want to invest some money you can buy a portable meter that will monitor the electrical use on any appliance to measure the amount of electricity it's using and calculate the cost. I've seen them sold in home improvement stores in the electrical department and online. There are many different brands, models, & prices too. Try not to buy one made in China, I've bought many items & tools made in China and all of them failed me in some way. Good labor I'm sure, but very poor materials &/or very poor quality, especially in electrical/electronic items. The below estimate is if the hot tub does not run continuously. The monthly costs are based on an average time the hot tub is fully operational. These times may vary depending on your usage habits and the electric rate in your area. Estimated Average Operation for Typical Time Used:
Mary asks… How do I fix my hot tub? My new house has a hot tub; the gas heater, or pump, or something, whined for about a month, then stopped whining AND stopped heating the tub. What should I look for if I want to fix this myself? (Yes, I now know the whine was not normal.)
The Sage answers: I think you should call a professional to get it fixed. There could also be the possibility that the tub is defective; in which case you should take your problem to the manufacturer. Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Hot Tub Heaters solar powered hot tub heaters? think about getting a solar powered hot tub heater there fairly expensive but if it can save money in the long run. the ones ive seen on line are about 1000.00 and up. wondered if anyone uses one and what kind of savings have they seen. any good opinions welcomed my hot tub is 7 person. The Sage answers: I'm going to mark this one as interesting and follow the answers. We have a hot tub and by my guestament it cost on average $25 a month to heat with electricity to 98 deg. Fh. If it lasted and produced that would mean hot water in hot tub would be free after 4 years.
Carol asks… Is it possible to use a tankless hot water heater with a hot tub? The heater in our hot tub is not working. We would like to put in a natural gas dedicated hot water heater and wonder if a "tankless" model would work by just recycling the water? It would be a lot cheaper than buying a new hot tub heater. Plumbing not a problem...just don't know if this would work. Thanks in advance.
The Sage answers: Well, put that way, I don't see why it wouldn't work, however, I would turn it down when not in it so heater doesn't run constantly.
William asks… I can hear my hot tub heater running all the time, is that normal? I can hear the heater of my hot tub running almost like a refrigerator, is this normal?
The Sage answers: It is not your heater you can hear it is the circulating pump (s). In some models the pumps will run at slow speed continuously to prevent water becoming stagnate in the piping. If you are still not sure check with the maker of your particular model on line and you should be able to find out.
Michael asks… Which is better for a hot tub, Chlorine or Bromine? I have been told that Hot Tub heaters get damaged from Chlorine. Unknown if that is true or not. I have also been told that Bromine is safer for the equipment and the person. Just like to know if anyone has any experiance in this area.
The Sage answers: It is untrue that heaters are subject to any more "damage" from chlorine than from bromine. Bromine preparations actually tend to leave more residue in the tub than chlorine, and the only real advantage to bromine is for people who happen to be hypersensitive to chlorine for some reason. The cheapest, cleanest sanitizer for hot tubs is and always has been liquid bleach (sodium hypochlorite) solution.
Laura asks… can the heaters in a hot tub leak? heaters ,hot tub, leak
The Sage answers: Yea i think so Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Imagine a hot tub without a heater. It defeats the object really. These days you have a vast choice of hot tub heaters which allow you to recreate the effects of a spa setting but in the comfort of your own home. It's a well known fact that not only is the hot tub a place to switch off and rejuvenate your body but it also offers medicinal benefits to aching muscles and joints. Like everything these days you get what you pay for but that doesn’t mean you can't hunt for a bargain. The following information gives an overall picture of the types of hot tub heaters on the market and the suppliers trading today. 2.3 Kw Classic Inline Heater: Average price of $660. Needs a 15 amp source. You can adjust the temperature control and assembly is simple either horizontal or veryical. 4.5 Kw Classic Inline Heater: Average price of $690 and requires a 20 amp circuit. Includes an adjustable temperature device and can be fixed either horizontally or vertically. Waterco 6 Kw electric Hot Tub or Spa Heater: Average cost is $770 and includes a temperature control. A sensor safely checks the temperature. Compu-Heat 18 Kw Three Phase Heating System: Average price of $1760 and measures 750mm x 300mm x 480mm. Compu-Heat 24 Kw Three Phase heating System: Average cost is $2090 and measures 750mm x 300mm x 480mm. Pentair Above Ground Mini Max 100: Very cheap to operate, this compact piece of engineering can even heat swimming pools due to its output of 100,000 BTUs. It was designed with efficiency in mind, for fast heat up and a long life span and has a direct spark ignition for propane or natural gas. Vulcan STX060U Hot Tub Heater: A single phase, flow through device; 120/240 volts and 25 Amps. There is a control thermostat included and it is 11.5 inches long. Vulcan HTTR015U Hot Tub Heater: A single phase immersion heater with a length of 12 inches. 120 volts, 12.5 Amps and there is a thermostat control included. Vulcan Heating Element Replacement: 120 volts, single phase, 12.5 Amps, 12 inches in length, 1.5 kW Hydromatt Hot Tub Solar Heating Kit: The water is pumped through a multi tube collector, usually positioned on the roof of the property, heated by the sun and then returned to the hot tub. The temperature controller allows you to choose the desired heat and will turn the system on or off depending on the availability of the heat. A digital, automatic system is currently available on the market but is more expensive. The kit will even draw some energy on cloudy days and is designed to fit the majority of roofs including tile, corrugated iron, metal or fibro. This particular model is almost immune to ultraviolet radiation and ozone and comes in five different colours plus a range of different sizes to meet your requirements. Electroheat Heat Pumps: This amazing device does not heat the water itself. It works like the reverse cycle of an air conditioner, absorbing the heat and then using the compressor, amplifies it through the heat exchanger system. Probably one of the most energy saving creations on the market today. Applied Computer Controls Electronic Hot Tub Control System with Heater: The system has fully programmable controls for setting different filter cycles and economy modes. The digital seven button LED display has a clock built in with lights that tell you the current mode. It also comes with a 2 year manufacturer’s guarantee. The choices available of hot tub heaters are constantly evolving. One day they will probably be the size of a peanut. The good news is that increased popularity and demand for the hot tub can only help bring the prices down. Imagine the relative cost over 50 years ago? I certainly would not have been able to afford even a hot tub heater, let alone a hot tub! So to conclude this section, you have a huge selection of different styles to choose from. Gas, electric and solar to name but a few. New models and suppliers appear all the time and our job is to update this website accordingly to bring you the best choice. Hot tub heaters are one of the most essential elements of your tub. There are various kinds of heaters for indoor and outdoor hot tubs, and a reliable heater can warm your tub quickly and then maintain the temperature. They're also used in home spas. Actually isn't that fantastic, to take a hot stress-free bath outdoors, even though the weather is quite nippy? Good hot tub heaters can keep your bath temperature the same, even in cold weather. Usually, you'll know when it's time to change your hot tub heater simply because your water won't be as warm as it used to be, and you can determine this by looking at the temperature gauge. If it really does break down then it's advisable to hire a professional to put in a new one for you. This really is much too difficult a task for an amateur and doing it yourself could result in expensive damage to the spa. Therefore, unless of course you are a skilled technician, you should hire some help. There are actually a few types of heaters to choose from, electric powered, propane gas and wood burning. Electric hot tub heaters tend to be pretty simple to use. All you need is a standard household hook-up of 110/220V. No additional wiring is required and you will be able to use your heater anywhere there is a standard hook-up. A further advantage is that electric heaters are very simple to repair if anything goes drastically wrong with your unit and you will not have any difficulties finding parts for it but they are usually expensive to run. Gas heaters tend to be more cost-effective so are probably better suited for frequent users of the hot tub in the cold season. Also it heats the water more quickly and is easier to install for in-ground tubs. In the event that there is no electrical supply available, an external gas or propane heater works perfectly for keeping the tub warm. Last but not least you have the traditional wood burning heaters. Although they tend to be the most cost effective, you are unable to use them with any kind of tub, only the wooden ones. They heat up the water extremely quickly and work effectively although they're essentially only practical for people who use the hot tub occasionally. Hot tub or spa heaters can add 10-20 percent to an energy bill however simply by observing a few simple steps, you can drastically reduce that; To find out more, make sure you read the resource box below. Hot tub or spa heaters may well add 10-20 % to an energy bill however by observing some simple tips, you can drastically help reduce that; To find out more, ensure that you read the resource box below. 1. Turn off the thermostat during vacations: Summertime means traveling - especially for families with kids! People visit family for July 4th and take advantage of summer deals. While you are out of town, or if you won't be using your tub for more than a week, turn the thermostat down or off entirely to save energy. 2. Keep it covered: Consistently make use of a spa cover when the tub is not being used. This minimizes the loss of water as well as the loss of heat. Hot tubs allowed to remain uncovered will become dirty and debris-filled and will start using far more energy to re-heat than their covered and insulated counterparts. 3. Keep a steady temperature: Set your hot tub to a lower temperature and continue to keep it there. Hot tubs set to 104 or 105 degrees use much more energy to keep this higher heat. Simply turning it lower to 102 degrees can easily make a huge difference. We have included a video below which shows a hot tub that has sprung a leak in a dark place. The lady walks you around the different mechanisms of the system with a torch! Once you own your own hot tub or spa, there may be some piece of equipment that fails or leaks. In this case, the heating element is clearly shown along with the pump giving you an idea of how to fix things should the need arise. We hope you find this useful and look forward to any feedback you care to make using our comments box at the bottom of this page.
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