I have watched a few videos, you did a great job covering all the points. Thanks for putting the information out there! Your intro was spot on, on delivery day it was information overload nice to get a recap.
Regarding heating a cooling costs, the benefit of running a cooler tub (ie 80 degrees) while not in use, is that temperature loss by conduction is greater with greater differences in temperature. So a pot of boiling water will cool off very fast for the first 50 degrees and gradually slow down that cooling rate as the pot approaches room temperature. Hot tubs are similar. At 103, the tub will give off more heat than at 80 and the heater will have to turn on more frequently to maintain that higher temp. I personally keep my tub at 102 and never change it.
Even though a year old, great info. Thanks Bill for the instructions. I'm about to be a first time hot tub owner. Wondering if your chemical run down at the end of this video is the same for a brand new tub, being filled with water for the first time? Thanks
Hi, regarding my question about being able to use the main pump(s) as filtration pumps even if you have a 24 hour circulation pump, I have found it is indeed possible on my tub (LSX 700) In the balboa control pack I found a bank of switches and their functions are explained inside the lid. Flicked number 7 switch to ON and now pump 1 can be used as a timed filtration pump, controlled in the panel settings. It also definitely pulls water through the left filter and not the unfiltered inlets. Really happy with this as it gives me greater control and the option for a filtration boost if needed after heavy use/water issues.
I've watched many hours of hot tub videos and I've found yours to be the most informative and easy to understand. I'm a new hot tub owner near Chicago and our water is very hard and very high in alkalinity. After I fill the tub, test strips show pH and alkalinity at the top of the chart. I was advised to apply pH decreaser and after a few days the water should be balanced. But after adding a capfull every day for 5 days the pH and alkalinity have not dropped. What else should I be doing?
What brands are you using?? I tried to find the chlorinated Granules on Amazon, but I don't see any containers that look like the one you held up.... if you could have a link to all the products that you recommend... that would e EXTRMELY helpful. There are so many different types and brands... I trust you and want to duplicate what you use. Other family members hot tubs smell so strong from the chlorine, and if it only needs to be 1 ppm, that is going to be much MUCH better!!
Interesting comment on 24 hour circulation pump. I have a Master Spa Michael Phelps 7 (AKA LSX700) which has one. I’m in the U.K. and that’s just how the dealer specs them up from Master Spa. There are filtration settings on the panel, but all that happens is that the three pumps fire up one at a time for maybe 30 seconds to purge the plumbing and then stops, doesn’t matter how long it’s set for it only runs 30 sec/pump or so. I presume this happens as the control system knows that there is a 24 hour pump ?Is there a way round this so I can have control of the main pumps to use as extra filtration if needs be ? For example is there a switch or a jumper on the main board that can be altered ? Or does the panel automatically detect that a 24 hour pump is connected so disables the filtration function ? Thanks for a great video by the way.
The thing with tubs that have circ pumps is that the other pumps don't draw through the filter, they use the intakes so even running those pumps doesn't help with filtration. With a 24 hour circ pump you're restricted to just the circ pump for filtration
@@ChrisWheatley Thanks for the reply. However on my LSX, the main captains chair (or jets 1 on the control panel) does pull water through the left hand filter. There are two filters in the box, the 24 hour pump pulls through the right hand one.
I have read to use liquid bleach instead of chlorinating granules because bleach does not increase CYA. What do you think about using liquid bleach in the hot tub?
Hello! Asked Chris already and he thought maybe kids were peeing in tub already, but NEW Tub, and right out of the tap w/inline filter like you showed. My Alkalinity is 206 and pH is 8.5, Dealer has me adding 1 Tbsp of pH down every day, but over 5 days???? Do I really have to wait that long to get my Alk and pH on point? I was planning on using the Frogease system and I know I want to get the pH corrected first. Any thoughts? Thanks, and I love this Hot Tub University! Cheers!
Thanks Bill. Great video and Love the site. When you say let it circulate for 20 minutes (after adding chemicals), I assume that means the jets should be on. Also, do you add a sequestering agent during each initial fill, or does the x10 address that. Lastly, what do you think about products like oh yuk cleaner. Should I use this before each refill? Thanks again!
The previous hot tub owner used Soft Soak products (chlorine-free) and we continued using it until we gave the hot tub to our daughter. We are getting a new hot tub next week. How do y’all feel about this system? Spaguard vs. chlorine system?
I have watched a few videos, you did a great job covering all the points. Thanks for putting the information out there! Your intro was spot on, on delivery day it was information overload nice to get a recap.
Glad it was helpful!
Our hot tub is getting delivered today, great timing on this video, thanks for the great info!!
Fantastic! Glad to hear it. Enjoy!!!
Regarding heating a cooling costs, the benefit of running a cooler tub (ie 80 degrees) while not in use, is that temperature loss by conduction is greater with greater differences in temperature. So a pot of boiling water will cool off very fast for the first 50 degrees and gradually slow down that cooling rate as the pot approaches room temperature. Hot tubs are similar. At 103, the tub will give off more heat than at 80 and the heater will have to turn on more frequently to maintain that higher temp.
I personally keep my tub at 102 and never change it.
Absolutely unless you are going away for a longer period of time like 3 weeks then turn it down otherwise leave it at running temperature
Thank you …this was extremely easy to follow and helpful 🙏
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video. Thank you!
Even though a year old, great info. Thanks Bill for the instructions. I'm about to be a first time hot tub owner. Wondering if your chemical run down at the end of this video is the same for a brand new tub, being filled with water for the first time? Thanks
Hi, regarding my question about being able to use the main pump(s) as filtration pumps even if you have a 24 hour circulation pump, I have found it is indeed possible on my tub (LSX 700) In the balboa control pack I found a bank of switches and their functions are explained inside the lid. Flicked number 7 switch to ON and now pump 1 can be used as a timed filtration pump, controlled in the panel settings. It also definitely pulls water through the left filter and not the unfiltered inlets. Really happy with this as it gives me greater control and the option for a filtration boost if needed after heavy use/water issues.
That's very rare and very good information - THANKS!
I've watched many hours of hot tub videos and I've found yours to be the most informative and easy to understand. I'm a new hot tub owner near Chicago and our water is very hard and very high in alkalinity. After I fill the tub, test strips show pH and alkalinity at the top of the chart. I was advised to apply pH decreaser and after a few days the water should be balanced. But after adding a capfull every day for 5 days the pH and alkalinity have not dropped. What else should I be doing?
Good video, thank you.
Thank you too!
What brands are you using?? I tried to find the chlorinated Granules on Amazon, but I don't see any containers that look like the one you held up.... if you could have a link to all the products that you recommend... that would e EXTRMELY helpful. There are so many different types and brands... I trust you and want to duplicate what you use. Other family members hot tubs smell so strong from the chlorine, and if it only needs to be 1 ppm, that is going to be much MUCH better!!
Do you have a oppinion on using h2o2 as a sanitizer?
Interesting comment on 24 hour circulation pump. I have a Master Spa Michael Phelps 7 (AKA LSX700) which has one. I’m in the U.K. and that’s just how the dealer specs them up from Master Spa. There are filtration settings on the panel, but all that happens is that the three pumps fire up one at a time for maybe 30 seconds to purge the plumbing and then stops, doesn’t matter how long it’s set for it only runs 30 sec/pump or so. I presume this happens as the control system knows that there is a 24 hour pump ?Is there a way round this so I can have control of the main pumps to use as extra filtration if needs be ? For example is there a switch or a jumper on the main board that can be altered ? Or does the panel automatically detect that a 24 hour pump is connected so disables the filtration function ? Thanks for a great video by the way.
The thing with tubs that have circ pumps is that the other pumps don't draw through the filter, they use the intakes so even running those pumps doesn't help with filtration. With a 24 hour circ pump you're restricted to just the circ pump for filtration
@@ChrisWheatley Thanks for the reply. However on my LSX, the main captains chair (or jets 1 on the control panel) does pull water through the left hand filter. There are two filters in the box, the 24 hour pump pulls through the right hand one.
I have read to use liquid bleach instead of chlorinating granules because bleach does not increase CYA. What do you think about using liquid bleach in the hot tub?
You can use liquid but the truth is you're going to be draining and refilling your tub before the CYA becomes an issue
Hello! Asked Chris already and he thought maybe kids were peeing in tub already, but NEW Tub, and right out of the tap w/inline filter like you showed. My Alkalinity is 206 and pH is 8.5, Dealer has me adding 1 Tbsp of pH down every day, but over 5 days???? Do I really have to wait that long to get my Alk and pH on point? I was planning on using the Frogease system and I know I want to get the pH corrected first. Any thoughts? Thanks, and I love this Hot Tub University! Cheers!
Add 5-6 Tbspns of ph reducer, let it circulate for an hour or so and test it again
@@ChrisWheatley Thanks again! Today, alk is at 160! pH is 8.5 still, so I am close... Much appreciated!
You;'re getting there - hit with another 3- of ph reducer
Thanks Bill. Great video and Love the site. When you say let it circulate for 20 minutes (after adding chemicals), I assume that means the jets should be on. Also, do you add a sequestering agent during each initial fill, or does the x10 address that. Lastly, what do you think about products like oh yuk cleaner. Should I use this before each refill?
Thanks again!
The previous hot tub owner used Soft Soak products (chlorine-free) and we continued using it until we gave the hot tub to our daughter. We are getting a new hot tub next week. How do y’all feel about this system? Spaguard vs. chlorine system?
softsoak is either chlorine or bromine you choose but with the health concerns surrounding bromine its a no go for me.