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My experience comes from a tub that my folks had several years ago. It was 110v and utilized a friction heater. In other words, the water got hot by the main pump pushing the water through a set of tubes that are specifically designed to make the water turbulent and heat it up before returning it to the tub. You could use the jets on high and get heat. That was the only way to get heat, really. In the cold with the cover off, the tub did a miserable job at holding temp. I recall losing around 2-3 degrees in 20 minutes. When not in use, it ran a lot to hold temp even with the cover on. It really was a crappy tub, though. Not well insulated, no-name components, etc. I say "was" because it wore out two pumps and a control pack as well as sprung two leaks all in around 3 years. I don't even know the manufacturer, but I know they don't even make them anymore. Dad couldn't get parts anymore, and we hauled it to the dump. I would advise you to avoid a tub without a real heater (or one from a no-name builder) for the above reasons. If all you want is warm water with some fizz, then you might be OK in the winter. It kind-of sounds like you really want a tub, though. So, if all you can do is 110, then just make sure by testing one that you are OK with the jet action on low before you buy. The only thing worse than getting no tub is paying a lot of money for a tub you don't like or use. Good luck!
After much research, I narrowed my tub choices down to the Beachcomber 321 and 340 models. However, I need some feedback from people who have had first-hand experience using [any] 110v hot tub in a moderately cold climate.I live in Vancouver BC (the Pacific Northwest), where nighttime temperatures in the winter are around 30F-32F. I'd like to be able to use the hot tub for 45-60 minutes at a time with one other person. Installing a 220v hot tub legally is simply not an option. The cost of upgrading our 100 amp service would be astronomical, not to mention all the permits and inspections, and we simply don't have enough amperage available now to accommodate another 40 amps.One electrician offered to do an illegal hookup (by just running the cable around the house like a garden hose for ~$700). That's not only dangerous, but it would also void our house insurance. Although there's no way I'm going to do that, I'm guessing that at least half the hot tub owners around here aren't complying with regulations.Beachcomber is a local company (headquartered about 30 minutes from where I live), so you'd think they'd design a tub that would work well in this climate, 110v or otherwise, but everyone I've talked to (except for the hot tub salespeople) says to avoid 110v hot tubs. They suggest the temperature will drop off like a rock after 10-20 minutes.My understanding is the heater will operate when the pumps are on low, but will I find the jets to be too low powered? I'm not looking for a fantastic massage or a tub to throw long parties in. I just like sitting in hot fizzy water for an hour each night.So can anyone substantiate these claims? I'd really like to get a hot tub, but I'm not going to spend thousands of dollars if I'm only going to get 20 minutes of use out of it.Thanks in advance!
I may have found a compromise: place the hot tub in a greenhouse. While it's not a substitute for a 220v tub, the greenhouse should slow down the heat loss enough to get some more time out of each session, say 45 minutes instead of 20-30. Thoughts? Our nights are currently above freezing (i.e. today = high 43F / low 37F).