My illegal hot tub

[wmccall]

Tonight we were making our sweep through one of the commercial exhibition buildings at the Ohio State Fair. We saw the exhibit from our dealer and stopped in to say hi and check out the 2004 models.  The owners had just left for the night after a long day at the fair. Only flown in Dynasty reps were left in the booth.

We told them who we were and what we owned. We took a look at the new version of the model we own and i noticed several minor differences. I did note that this must be a 5000 series we were looking at (3 pumps) because I saw 3 intakes in the footwell.  Both factory reps were quick to tell me that this was the 2 pump model and that all 2 pump models had 3 such intakes.  They went on to explain that every pump had to have two intakes and that in this model the filter compartment acted as an intake for one pump. It seemed logical. However,I insisted that my tub had only two such intakes. The one lady who said she has been selling Dynastys for 7 years (I think) said ,"We would be shut down if we made a model with only two.  I stuck to my guns that mine only had two and that I knew every inch of my tub so a bet was made for a lunch.

Sure enough when we went for our evening soak, badly needed after hours of walking around the fair, I was right,  I have only two intakes.   Pump number one does indeed pull water from the filter compartment and from one of the intakes. Pump number two seems to pull only from the other intake.  I have noted on many occasions that when we are running pump number two that if my foot touches the intake it gets sucked into it and it takes a considerable effort on my part to remove it.  Its not so strong that I couldn't do it, but it is a noticable suction.  It is for this reason when we have had kids in the spa that I have insisted nobody puts thier head below the water.  I could imagine long hair getting stuckon this intake preventing a person from returning to the surface. (This is something I saw on a TV show long before we bought a hot tub)  So, do I have a model that should be recalled for safety reasons?

[doodoo]

Wow Bill.  Interesting and tough question. I was just chequing with Dynasty's web site and could not find the number of intakes. Looked at the tech spec's as well as the homeowners manual.

My Optima has three intakes in addition to the intake from the filter area.  And whenever I activate a pump water is taken from two sources (I think but I will verify tonight when I get in).

Have you spoken to your dealer about this discrepancy? seems that something is amiss here.

[autoplay]

I believe you do have an illegal hot-tub lol. My tub has 2 pumps,and 4 inlets. 3 small screened inlets at the bottom of the tub,and 1 via the filter compartment.

You might want to call a lawyer,and see how to pursue this safety issue. Secondly,have everyone using the tub,wear tight fitting shower caps.

GL,and let us know the outcome.

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

Why not call Dynasty directly and discuss it with them? They may be happy to send someone out to install an additional suction fitting...

[Chas]

I agree with Andy: call Dynasty.

But from your discription, it would sound as if another suction fitting is needed.  

[wmccall]

Why not call Dynasty directly and discuss it with them? They may be happy to send someone out to install an additional suction fitting...

I'm visiting the dealer at lunch today, or will see one of the two owners at the fair.  I'm dealing with them on another issue which they are handling nicely as always. It appears to me that Dynasty made all the 2003 units of this model with the 2 intakes.  I have a pic from their website that year and it clearly shows two intakes.   It probably isn't too serious an issue for me, just the way the factory reps tried to tell me I was crazy and all tubs have a third intake.  At the very least I will hold them to the lunch bet.  

My current issue with the tub is being addressed by them nicely. I damaged part of my skirting in an act of carelessness and they are going to replace it at cost, which I consider more than fair (includes free delivey and installation which they would be entitled to charge me for)

[wmccall]

I am curious to the many of you here who have two or more pumps, how many intakes do you have?

[wmccall]

I believe you do have an illegal hot-tub lol. My tub has 2 pumps,and 4 inlets. 3 small screened inlets at the bottom of the tub,and 1 via the filter compartment.

This is how the 2004 Dynasty's are.

[Chas]

I am curious to the many of you here who have two or more pumps, how many intakes do you have?

Well, on our Tiger River spas, we have one filter and one suction per jet pump. The Caspian is the exception: since it has one filter, with two pumps, it is equipped with three suctions.

The HotSpring tubs have multiple filters sectioned off in an area all their own, and so they have no suction fitting in the bather area.

[Brewman]

We have 2 pumps, and 3 suction inlets at the bottom of the tub, in addition to the filter basket.
The first pump has the filter as one inlet, and uses one of the bottom inlets.  
The other pump uses the other 2 bottom inlets.  
I think.  I'll pay more attention to this the next time I soak.
Brewman

[zeuspaul]

A 10 year old girl got her long hair caught in a hot tub intake.  She was drawn under water and had stopped breathing.  There was someone trained in CPR nearby who heard the mother's scream.  The girl was brought back to life.

I heard this on the news yesterday in Southern Calif.

[Roborph]

I have 2 pumps. 3 water intakes in the bottom of the tub and 1 filter acts as another intake.
I asked my dealer about the possibility of getting hair stuck in an intake and drowning, and he said that kind of thing happened 10 years ago. Now a days there is not nearly that much suction. I know my tub could never hold someone under with the intake power it has......

[zeuspaul]

I did a little research.  The problem seems to be related to hair getting entangled in  the intake covers.  Apparently most new ones have been modified.  However I would watch children closely in a hot tub.  Playing with their heads under water is probably not a good idea if they have long hair.

Here is a link to the article...not a lot of details.

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/3610925/detail.html

[stuart]

most of the problems with people getting caught in the intake suction has been limited to commercial units. I do belive though that UL won't list a tub without a minimum of 2 intakes.

[stuart]

You might want to call a lawyer,and see how to pursue this safety issue.

It does sound like something is amiss but do give them a chance to fix the problem before anyone tells you to go "lawsuit happy". I know the owner of Dynasty and he seems to be a fair guy and it seems like your dealer is good also so you should have no problem with a resolution.