Hi Chris, We want to put our MasterSpa on a poured concrete patio connected to our house. The patio has a slope away from the house which would put one side of the hot tub about 1 1/2" lower than the other side. How would you recommend levelling this out? Cut a series of sloped 2x4s on edge and fasten them together? Build a sloped frame and fill with crush? Don't worry about it and put the filter on the low side? Your advice is greatly appreciated!
I recently purchased and moved a hot tub, the previous owners didnt have it sitting on a level ground , only the 4 corners were stabalized with brick, so the center had nothing under it but dirt. Now that we moved it onto a fully level surface with 2x2 pavers onto of crushed gravel and sand. Its fully level, but now the tub rocks because the middle of the tub has sunken from where it was previously installed. Will that level itself out after filling it with water and heating over time? What should I do about the uneven bottom now? Your advice would be awesome!!
Thank you for the great content! I’d like to place my first hot tub mostly on a sloped (3/4”) concrete slab, with about 18 inches hanging off onto the lawn. Obviously, that’s not a good base. So I’m trying to decide how best to make it level, and equally supported where the slab ends and lawn begins. I’m also hoping to keep the base low profile, and within DIY and affordable scope. I’d love to hear what you suggest! Thank you
so first off do not shim your hot tub, the base needs to contact the ground right across its surface. Second 1" over the whole tub is ok just put the filter at the low point. it will look a bit goofy. If its just patio stones lift the stones add some crusher dust to level the area then put them back... its like 16 or fewer stones it will take you 2 or 3 hrs...
I just purchased a Master Spa TS 6.2, for the base I am planning on putting gravel and then either patio stones or ez pad. How many inches of gravel do I need to put down? Thank you
Question ... if your concrete patio is slight sloped for water drainage. (1/2 inch) can safely you use plastic shims to level? I know many of the manufactures will void the warranty if you shim, but can it actually be done safely? (I enjoy your videos ... Thanks! I wish I had found your channel before I bought from THD).
I live In OFallon, Mo. I called our local Master Spa about the concrete that is being in about four weeks. It is going to be connected to the house foundation. The concern is two fold. One is water flowing back toward the house. Second, Master Spa sells state to keep it as flat as possible but 1/8 per foot should be fine so water can run from house. Will this void the warranty and damage the hot tub?
Its not going to affect warranty but its gonna look goofy, the water will be an inch higher on one side and you will have to put your filter on the low side.
Thank you for your response. On the net some so call experts having the tub uneven will cause stress fractures on the frame and shell. Can shim be used to level?
yeah, Beachcomber is on my good guy list as long as you stay away from the stupid hybrid system... My god, it blows my mind that anybody still puts the motors outside of the insulation envelope...
Getting our first hot tub. The space we are placing it, is on a paver lock patio. Salesman told us we could place it on the bricks. People are telling me to put a concrete slab down. My question? Can we pull out the bricks to the size of the tub and pour concrete in that area? Then can we keep the rest of the bricks in tact as a framed area to walk around the tub? When the patio was put down years ago gravel , wire and sand was put down and still looks in good shape(18 Years old), never had a cracked brick.The area is 11' by 16'. The hot tub is 7'x7'. Would really appreciate your input. Thanks Mary
if its stable and level then no problem, bricks are not as good as patio stones only because they spread the load better and concrete is best but a well laid brick patio is fine.
While neither is a nightmare brand the Artesian is a much better-built spa on three critical areas, first off the shell, the artesian is a high-end hand-rolled self-supporting fiberglass shell the BF is a cheaper cradle supported plastic shell, also the parts are better on the Artesian esp the heating and control system.
What is the flatness tolerance for a concrete slab under a hot tub? When I put a straight edge across my concrete it drops off 3/4” on each side, so there is a hump in the middle. Is this too much for a CalSpa tub?
Hey when will you do the Watkins hot springs lime light review interested to hear your review I bought a Marquis spa epic instead cause of parts list being readily available
Chris Wheatley lol I'm very interested and seeing your review I know they don't make quality products and I'm happy that I ran into your extensive experience and knowledge cuz I would have made a big mistake... But I am also interested on how bad they really are
They are really just the same as the over-engineered bases you find on some spas with the pitch that you can just set your hot tub right on the ground. The problem is neither of these address the real issue of prepping the ground. In a few instances these can be ok but for the majority of people, you want to put a patio stone base down. It's only a couple hundred more and it addresses the really real issue of preparing the ground so it does not settle unevenly. www.hottubuniversity.com/hot-tub-base-whats-hot-tub/
Chris Wheatley We removed the top soil leveled the ground and added white rocks. Then I was going to put the pad on that then the tub. Thanks for your info and quick response.
Chris Wheatley Thanks for the advice like your videos very informational. The hot tub we just purchased from family leisure is a Maui elite 851L by artisan. Me an my wife been checking around in the Memphis tn Area for quality and price seem to be the best. It was on sale for $6200 which for the features and quality full foam plus clamp there joints I think was pretty good. Thanks again Bruce
Sunrise is like most stuff some good some bad... the insulation is simply inexpensive and mid to low r value, the parts are good and i am not sure about the shell
Thank you Chris for your no nonsense advice. We just bought a hot tub (7x7) and we do have a leveled concrete backyard. However, when it rains a lot, the ground tends to collect some water. Do you recommend pavers or EZ pads or a concrete foundation or is there any practical idea to raise the hot tub? Thanks
Yeah any of those options is good just keep to this rule... the entire tub bottom must be supported. So no shimming one side and no putting a couple 2x4's down. Whatever you put down to raise the tub a bit needs to be right across the entire area that the tub is going to sit on.
EZpads for me. I am putting them on top of Brock 20' x 36' black polypropylene paver base panels to fit a 8' x 8' EZ Pad on top of compacted leveling sand.
@@Slowhand871 Lol, well, on that point you have no idea what you are talking about. I sold my hot tub back to the company I bought it from. Before they took it they did a very thorough inspection on the shell, as an improperly prepared based can contribute to hairline cracks in shells. Right from the pros.
Nope and it's not that critical if there is a sealed base. The important part is a non leaking tub :) most rot and damage occurs from a cheap tub leaking not from the ground moisture. If you have a constantly leaking tub trust me the last th9ng you will care about is the frame :)
Sealed bases do make a difference as far as the possibility of rodents are concerned, that 15 year old hot tub that you showed is the perfect nesting ground but if it had a fully sealed ABS base one wouldn't have to be concerned about rodents entering through the base.
Ummm WRONG... If you put your base on patio stones or concrete like you should tell me how they are getting in through the base :-) lol They get in through gaps in the skirt usually at the top where it meets the shell...
Hi Chris, my husband and I have purchased Swim spa from Master Spa. From our understanding when we bought it , this spa pool doesn’t use chlorine but it uses Ozone’s type of thing to sanitize it. But we received it, it comes with several sanitizer including Chlorine. We felt the salesman lied to us. Do you use the chlorine in your hot tub ? Is it safe for our health ? How often do you need to give these sanitizer? The salesman said once every 2/3 weeks , since we have the eco pur filter, etc. please help us. Thank you
Hi Faith, there are a ton of ways to go chemical or nearly chemical free and a lot of brands have great onboard systems that help reduce chemicals and the H2X is as good as anything and better than most. There are a few system option on that spa, a zinc-copper ion system, an ozone system and a UV system available and who knows what options he was discussing there are a lot of options. heck, i just had a woman send me a video link on how she runs hers with essential oils and nothing else... Personally, I would be using Aquafinesse. With the standard system on the H2X I would run drinking water levels of chlorine (.5ppm) and it gets tons of use and we change the water every 9 months to a year.
I've been looking for this advice ..and you nailed it 100 % ..your a bloody legend..thank you and keep up your professional work..👍
Hi Chris, We want to put our MasterSpa on a poured concrete patio connected to our house. The patio has a slope away from the house which would put one side of the hot tub about 1 1/2" lower than the other side. How would you recommend levelling this out? Cut a series of sloped 2x4s on edge and fasten them together? Build a sloped frame and fill with crush? Don't worry about it and put the filter on the low side? Your advice is greatly appreciated!
I recently purchased and moved a hot tub, the previous owners didnt have it sitting on a level ground , only the 4 corners were stabalized with brick, so the center had nothing under it but dirt. Now that we moved it onto a fully level surface with 2x2 pavers onto of crushed gravel and sand. Its fully level, but now the tub rocks because the middle of the tub has sunken from where it was previously installed. Will that level itself out after filling it with water and heating over time? What should I do about the uneven bottom now? Your advice would be awesome!!
Thank you for the great content! I’d like to place my first hot tub mostly on a sloped (3/4”) concrete slab, with about 18 inches hanging off onto the lawn. Obviously, that’s not a good base. So I’m trying to decide how best to make it level, and equally supported where the slab ends and lawn begins. I’m also hoping to keep the base low profile, and within DIY and affordable scope.
I’d love to hear what you suggest! Thank you
What did you end up doing? I am in the same boat- I am placing my hot tub on sloped patio - would like a simple base or way to level.
@@Ladyslipperz same here. A video on this topic would be very helpful. Installing hot tub on patio with slope.
What is the base called - the one you pointed out in your video?
Is it a big deal if my patio is not perfectly level for my hot tub? It has about a 1 inch slope. A fence picket levels it out
so first off do not shim your hot tub, the base needs to contact the ground right across its surface.
Second 1" over the whole tub is ok just put the filter at the low point. it will look a bit goofy.
If its just patio stones lift the stones add some crusher dust to level the area then put them back... its like 16 or fewer stones it will take you 2 or 3 hrs...
Chris Wheatley thanks!
I just purchased a Master Spa TS 6.2, for the base I am planning on putting gravel and then either patio stones or ez pad. How many inches of gravel do I need to put down? Thank you
entirely depends on the ground conditions have a good hardscaper look at it.
Would using pavers to create a level area for a hot tub work well?
yep its a great option
Question ... if your concrete patio is slight sloped for water drainage. (1/2 inch) can safely you use plastic shims to level? I know many of the manufactures will void the warranty if you shim, but can it actually be done safely? (I enjoy your videos ... Thanks! I wish I had found your channel before I bought from THD).
Never use shims... ever.... but half an inch over the 7 foot is nothing, if you can put the skimmer intake on the low side
@@ChrisWheatley Thank you!
I live In OFallon, Mo. I called our local Master Spa about the concrete that is being in about four weeks. It is going to be connected to the house foundation. The concern is two fold. One is water flowing back toward the house. Second, Master Spa sells state to keep it as flat as possible but 1/8 per foot should be fine so water can run from house. Will this void the warranty and damage the hot tub?
Its not going to affect warranty but its gonna look goofy, the water will be an inch higher on one side and you will have to put your filter on the low side.
Thank you for your response. On the net some so call experts having the tub uneven will cause stress fractures on the frame and shell. Can shim be used to level?
@@gstephengoss1 he repeatedly states no shimming- absolutely none!
@@bennyhill5775 did you see when the question was asked. We have had our Twilight series 8.25 for a year.
Go Beachcomber...good tub. Even better video though, to many people pushing garbage tubs. Thanx Chris
yeah, Beachcomber is on my good guy list as long as you stay away from the stupid hybrid system... My god, it blows my mind that anybody still puts the motors outside of the insulation envelope...
I live in Ohio where you need to go below the frost line to prevent movement, what’s the best way to do this for a concrete slab?
So... A patio stone base is fine and nothing freezes under a hot tub so you dont need to worry :-)
Getting our first hot tub. The space we are placing it, is on a paver lock patio. Salesman told us we could place it on the bricks. People are telling me to put a concrete slab down. My question? Can we pull out the bricks to the size of the tub and pour concrete in that area? Then can we keep the rest of the bricks in tact as a framed area to walk around the tub? When the patio was put down years ago gravel , wire and sand was put down and still looks in good shape(18 Years old), never had a cracked brick.The area is 11' by 16'. The hot tub is 7'x7'. Would really appreciate your input. Thanks Mary
if its stable and level then no problem, bricks are not as good as patio stones only because they spread the load better and concrete is best but a well laid brick patio is fine.
What is the best made swim spa to buy?
Best made would be PDC, Master, Tidal fit.
Hey Chris would u reccomend bullfrog or artesian tropic seas ?
While neither is a nightmare brand the Artesian is a much better-built spa on three critical areas, first off the shell, the artesian is a high-end hand-rolled self-supporting fiberglass shell the BF is a cheaper cradle supported plastic shell, also the parts are better on the Artesian esp the heating and control system.
Keep up the good work and information...👍👍
Will a tub be ok on slabs
A proper laid patio stone base is awesome for this application!
What is the flatness tolerance for a concrete slab under a hot tub? When I put a straight edge across my concrete it drops off 3/4” on each side, so there is a hump in the middle. Is this too much for a CalSpa tub?
No. this is not good for any spa it will flex the shell, the cover will not seal properly and you may damage the shell.
Hello! Love your videos. What are your thoughts on setting a tub on a wooden deck?
As long as the deck is well structured for the weight you are ok but be aware... They are louder, and less efficient elevated on a deck.
Chris Wheatley Thanks for your quick response!
Hey when will you do the Watkins hot springs lime light review interested to hear your review I bought a Marquis spa epic instead cause of parts list being readily available
Wow crazy timing... got one on the way literally. Thinking I should cut it open with a chain saw and really look at it :)
Chris Wheatley lol I'm very interested and seeing your review I know they don't make quality products and I'm happy that I ran into your extensive experience and knowledge cuz I would have made a big mistake... But I am also interested on how bad they really are
Hey Chris
What do think about ez-pads says it’s like concrete but won’t crack over time like concrete does. Just your thoughts
Thanks Bruce
They are really just the same as the over-engineered bases you find on some spas with the pitch that you can just set your hot tub right on the ground. The problem is neither of these address the real issue of prepping the ground.
In a few instances these can be ok but for the majority of people, you want to put a patio stone base down. It's only a couple hundred more and it addresses the really real issue of preparing the ground so it does not settle unevenly.
www.hottubuniversity.com/hot-tub-base-whats-hot-tub/
Chris Wheatley
We removed the top soil leveled the ground and added white rocks. Then I was going to put the pad on that then the tub. Thanks for your info and quick response.
That will work, Patio stones would be cheaper and better but the ez-pad will work there too
Chris Wheatley
Thanks for the advice like your videos very informational. The hot tub we just purchased from family leisure is a Maui elite 851L by artisan. Me an my wife been checking around in the Memphis tn Area for quality and price seem to be the best. It was on sale for $6200 which for the features and quality full foam plus clamp there joints I think was pretty good.
Thanks again
Bruce
Good Job dude the Artisian is definitely on my goto list, they build a good spa.
Hi Chris, quick question, how would a sunrise spas compare to a master spas?
Sunrise is like most stuff some good some bad... the insulation is simply inexpensive and mid to low r value, the parts are good and i am not sure about the shell
You really should be going with Arctic spas or Jacuzzi.
Thank you Chris for your no nonsense advice. We just bought a hot tub (7x7) and we do have a leveled concrete backyard. However, when it rains a lot, the ground tends to collect some water. Do you recommend pavers or EZ pads or a concrete foundation or is there any practical idea to raise the hot tub?
Thanks
Yeah any of those options is good just keep to this rule... the entire tub bottom must be supported. So no shimming one side and no putting a couple 2x4's down. Whatever you put down to raise the tub a bit needs to be right across the entire area that the tub is going to sit on.
EZpads for me. I am putting them on top of Brock 20' x 36' black polypropylene paver base panels to fit a 8' x 8' EZ Pad on top of compacted leveling sand.
Poorly prepared ground can often lead to cracked shells. A little flex is not the only outcome.
No way a tub is going to crack…. Zero chance
@@Slowhand871 Lol, well, on that point you have no idea what you are talking about. I sold my hot tub back to the company I bought it from. Before they took it they did a very thorough inspection on the shell, as an improperly prepared based can contribute to hairline cracks in shells. Right from the pros.
"Pressure Treated" is the key word in this video. Do all top brands use pressure treated?
Nope and it's not that critical if there is a sealed base. The important part is a non leaking tub :) most rot and damage occurs from a cheap tub leaking not from the ground moisture. If you have a constantly leaking tub trust me the last th9ng you will care about is the frame :)
Sealed bases do make a difference as far as the possibility of rodents are concerned, that 15 year old hot tub that you showed is the perfect nesting ground but if it had a fully sealed ABS base one wouldn't have to be concerned about rodents entering through the base.
Ummm WRONG...
If you put your base on patio stones or concrete like you should tell me how they are getting in through the base :-) lol
They get in through gaps in the skirt usually at the top where it meets the shell...
Hi Chris, my husband and I have purchased Swim spa from Master Spa. From our understanding when we bought it , this spa pool doesn’t use chlorine but it uses Ozone’s type of thing to sanitize it. But we received it, it comes with several sanitizer including Chlorine. We felt the salesman lied to us. Do you use the chlorine in your hot tub ? Is it safe for our health ? How often do you need to give these sanitizer? The salesman said once every 2/3 weeks , since we have the eco pur filter, etc. please help us. Thank you
I forgot to mention , our swimspa HexTrainer 12 . Thanks Chris
Hi Faith, there are a ton of ways to go chemical or nearly chemical free and a lot of brands have great onboard systems that help reduce chemicals and the H2X is as good as anything and better than most.
There are a few system option on that spa, a zinc-copper ion system, an ozone system and a UV system available and who knows what options he was discussing there are a lot of options. heck, i just had a woman send me a video link on how she runs hers with essential oils and nothing else...
Personally, I would be using Aquafinesse. With the standard system on the H2X I would run drinking water levels of chlorine (.5ppm) and it gets tons of use and we change the water every 9 months to a year.
Chris Wheatley thank you so Much Chris ! I am so happy that you reply. Where do I buy the Aquafinesse ? Is it like powder ? Thanks again
post on www.hottubuniversity.com in the comments section and ill find you somewhere near you
Chris Wheatley I just did
Great video!
Where's my request of your twilight spa at night? Please do one!
Why "guys?"
Your a legend!
Awesome 👍👍
Thank you! Cheers!
Ahem... you need to HOLD STILL.... geeze wth
If water always finds its level, then how is the earth a globe 🌎 ???
Excellent advice but your making me dizzy
Hell Yeah!