Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: tubbin on May 18, 2008, 11:46:30 pm
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What the heck...I'm going to rain on this parade. I also have a Tundra and it's a great tub. No issues at all from a quality perspective, however, let me tell you the reality of tub ownership:
It's a blast for about one year. You will use it at least 2 times a week,.
Year Two: maybe once a week.
Year Three: once a month, and you will seriously start to question the economics of it all ( yes it's a serious and noticeable energy drain in the winter... In my geographic it's $50/month ).
After that you will continue to listen to that big old heater at 5kw humm away with very, very little use, but not want to pull the plug as you still use it once a month and you have to justify the 10 GRAND you paid for it!!!!
My neighbor has one, my sister has one and two coworkers have one....some have already pulled the plug. Some, like me still have that 10k complex that keeps that heater humming away all winter long...electricity prices aren't getting cheaper
Think about it... that thing has cost over 2K in energy consumption (Ohio to Michigan) to run before the warranty even runs out...
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I have to tell you our customers tell us different. Hot Spring owners typically use their tubs more than twice a week and not just in the 1st year. And their energy costs are typically half of what you report.
I do understand you are reporting your reality and a reality shared by many hot tub owners.
I use mine almost daily.
I would like to hear from others on the forum.
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I'm sure that's YOUR reality but you certainly don't speak for all of us...
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tubbin, thank for the perspective. I might be the exception but we still use our spa almost every night--we are in our third year now.
I own a Hotspring Envoy so it may be more efficient to run than your model. Electricity is much more in Southern California than what you pay. I think we are up to $.30 per Kwh. That being said, it's been the best money we've ever spent as a family. We absolutely love our spa. We have friends who have spent much more on boats and RV's that sit in storage.
Good luck and I hope the excitement comes back for you soon......
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We have only had our tub for 7 weeks so our opinion is biased. We are in it at least 8 times a week. We have people in our hiking club that are in theirs everyday and their tub are from the late 90s. Imagine if they were in todays tubs. One of them is in their tub every morning at 5 AM before work and he has had the tub for 10 years.
Maybe the novelty will wear off for our tub in 5 years. ;)
BTW we just got out of our second soak today. :)
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very interesting perspective and one that I too fear. (even thought I did not pay for the tub) Here is my take on it though. I see myself year one leaving it open until Thanksgiving or the first snow just to experience it. Then winterizing it from December to April. Come the sping and summer the novilaty will be back for us as it will be sitting empty for about half the year. It will also give my electricity a break.
We do not have a swimming pool so this is an alternative. In addition the kids I think will use it a lot now at this stage of their life to use as a wadign pool and maybe when they get to be teenagers.
I like to social aspect of the tub.
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My reality
My wife does not like to go in - period. Once every three months for her. She is laying in bed right now (6:44 AM) with a sore knee and would rather sleep. We get very little use because I don't like to soak by myself too often. I have no intentions of getting rid of it but if we ever move - it will likely stay.
As for my water - it is crystal clear, clean, no odour - as good as it gets. I use dichlor and would not go back to bromine. It is not a party tub by any means. Our tub is a Marquis Epic and although I would choose the same tub again if given the choice, for me, this is the last tub fow a long while.
This site is one of my seven tabs that is always open on IE, so I am basicly always online here. I usually check the postings once a day. I only tend to reply when somebody needs accurate electrical advice. God knows there have been some odd questions here, Most of the advice is great, but some of the advice is completely off the wall.
My favorite is when a newbie (same on photography forums BTW) jumps in and starts to give expert advice after just figuring something out. Talk about a change of topic.
Lets face it -
When anybody here is asked about a choice of several different tubs - they recommend theirs as if to defend their choice. Why not just offer the pro's and cons. Everybody has a different fit and price point. As for off brand tubs, I know a guy who bought an off brand tub four years ago. He just sold his house - tub stayed. He said he never had a single issue and he paid half what I did. He soaks every day - most relaxed guy I know and he has an extremely high pressure job. He just bought a new Hydropool - "it has an automatic cleaning cycle" he said as he described it and he loves it.
The thing I love about this forum -
People like to trash talk something that they have no experience with - Like J.A. or Cal Spas - I am probably guilty of this myself. We hear something from somebody we have never met and it becomes law. I did look at a Cal and was not impressed and I do believe what I have read about J.A. so put me in jail. (insert the Joker Sound here)
All in all though -
We make purchases every day that we realize we don't need. Life goes on. I believe that you get what you pay for - in most but not all cases. Service from a good or great dealer is paramount (nine letter word - eh). I bought what I feel is a great tub. My dealer was an a--. This forum if for people to come and find out what tubbing is all about - and a whole lot more.
People are afraid to say - " Hey I screwed up"
While tubbin is not using his tub, he (she) will have a lot more time to spend here. I believe that tub owners are like boaters and that a lot of them just end up looking at their investment over time.
JMHO
Steve
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We're going on two years now and we're still using it everyday. Jumping in the tub has become a part of our lifestyle however. We really feel bummed out if we miss a day. My 5-year-old daughter gets down right PO'ed if she can't go in :o
If you buy a hot tub for the purpose of throwing parties and think your friends are going to be over all the time in the tub, it just doesn't happen like that. Hot tubs improve your overall well being; sleep better, live better, be better. It's too bad for those who stop using it. I wonder if the brand of tub they purchased has anything to do with it.
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My reality
As for my water - it is crystal clear, clean, no odour - as good as it gets. I use dichlor and would not go back to bromine. It is not a party tub by any means. Our tub is a Marquis Epic and although I would choose the same tub again if given the choice, for me, this is the last tub fow a long while.
Steve
Excellent response the analogy about boaters. Reality is some will use every day and some will not. It is like anything else luxury that you purchase. Not to get off topic but quick question about your water that reamains crystal clear. Do you go out to the tub once a week and shock and add dichlor and check the chemicals? Or is it once every few weeks? Do yo have ozone? Do you use the tub more in the winter or summer? My wife is not going to go in much eaither but the kids will. In addition, I think guests will.
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I never shock. I buy my dichlor at my local hardware store. My tub does not have a 24 hour pump. Default is two - 2 hour cleaning cycles per day - ozone runs during these cycles. I put in about a tablespoon of dichlor every five days - again not much use here. I also put in a tablespoon after we use it. I like to go in with the chems almost at zero but I will add some if we have company coming over. My PH stays quite stable. The fact that we use it very little makes for less maintenance.
The tub runs year round. I get the least use in Jan/Feb but this is one of the best times to use it.
BTW - I am actually looking at a small boat right now - probably something else to leave in the driveway.
Steve
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Interesting topic!!!,
I too thought long and hard about what tubbin reports. I kind of feel bad for him/her. That big investment!! My wife and I are into this thing about 20 large so far because we decided to re-do the whole back yard to make our spa the focal point.
That includes : spa, pad, tree removal, electric hookup, MAJOR site prep,quad with dump cart ;), wall block and process, ect. We still have a LOT to go!!
We have owned our (shameless plug) Sundance Cameo for 6 weeks now and use it at least 2 to 3 times a day for 1 to 2 hours. (I am semi-retired) .(first electric bill...$33.00 more than previous month @ $.12/Kwh.)
Anyway.....great perspectives everyone!!!
Spiderman....we realize the same benefits. Better everything!
Very accurate boating analogy Cola!
Nice topic hijack Bene ;)
Don't hold back Steve!
and...Nice shameless HS plug yourself HTDan ;).
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Approaching 11 months of ownership on our tub. Although no longer using it every single night, I still use it at least 3 or 4 nights per week. Yesterday, the wife and I were in it for over an hour early in the morning. Don't get to do that much, but we enjoyed it.
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"It's a blast for about one year.
You will use it at least 2 times a week,.
Year Two: maybe once a week.
Year Three: once a month"
tubbin why do you think that is?
i tend to think it is "water issues"....but i'm not sure
one of my brother's in Cali only uses his once every couple of months.
it cant really be electrical costs
because people that dont use their tubs normally still have them plugged in
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This is an interesting thread. Tubbin, I'm curious about how long you considered owning a spa before you purchased and the reasons that you bought a tub. Did your wife want a spa or was it just you? We've owned our spa for about 8 months. We used it daily during cooler weather and twice a day on weekends. We live in the south, so sometimes it's just too warm now to use it. Any time there's crisp air, we jump in. We wanted a spa and hardwoods in the house and debated which one to buy first. We decided on a spa, so that after a long day installing floors we could hop in. We started the floors this weekend and despite warm temperatures, we were in the spa at the end of the day. It really helped our aching bodies. The spa has not effected our power bill in any significant way, so that's a plus. I have a sister that's owned a spa for about 5 years and they have not missed one single day soaking, unless they were out of town. Situations like Tubbin's weighed heavily on our minds before purchasing a spa. Fortunately, that hasn't been an issue for us yet. I hope it never becomes one. We really enjoy our spa and have not regretted the purchase for a single moment.
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Interesting topic!!!,
and...Nice shameless HS plug yourself HTDan ;).
Thank you. I saw an opening and I went for it. ;) ;) ;)
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What the heck...I'm going to rain on this parade. I also have a Tundra and it's a great tub. No issues at all from a quality perspective, however, let me tell you the reality of tub ownership:
It's a blast for about one year. You will use it at least 2 times a week,.
Year Two: maybe once a week.
Year Three: once a month, and you will seriously start to question the economics of it all ( yes it's a serious and noticeable energy drain in the winter... In my geographic it's $50/month ).
tubbin,
I'm sorry to hear that your tub is not getting used as much as you originally anticipated it would.
We have owned our tub for 2 years and we still use it about 3 times a week. I have some back problems and it does wonders for loosening up the lower back muscles.
As for your comments about energy efficiency, I am beginning to question Arctics claims about their cold weather efficiency (sorry Arctic folks). This is not the first post about someone saying their Arctic is costing them about $50 per month to use in the winter, our tub has not once cost us more then $25. Maybe this is due to ours being a smaller tub and I don't know how large the Tundra is, but I find the $50 per month high.
Anyhow, We are both glad to have purchased our tub and do not regret the decision one bit
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We've had our Envoy 2.5 years. The first year we used it 6 times a week. The second year, DH was in a motorcycle accident and I broke my back. The tub sat a lot, it was too powerful for me to sit in with jets on and very uncomfortable to get in and out of. I'm healed now and can use it, but DH is awaiting surgery and just doesn't use it much. When I went back to work full time we did start using it again in the evenings, but then it fizzled out after a bit. I cooled it down this weekend and got it to 95 with about 8 inches of tap water and a couple buckets of ice. The kids were in it from 10 am until 6 pm yesterday.
My parents have had their second tub for about 5 years, their first tub lasted 20. They still use it every single night. Sometimes they use it in the morning before work too.
I think it has more to do with why you got it (therapy for medical reasons, cool new toy, etc.) and life... I have no regrets on getting ours. I do feel bad that we haven't used it much the past year, but I wouldn't pull the plug on it, wouldn't even consider it. Once I'm done training for hiking Whitney and not getting up at 4am everyday, I'll probably have more energy to stay up past 9 and tub in the evening. :)
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What the heck...I'm going to rain on this parade. I also have a Tundra and it's a great tub. No issues at all from a quality perspective, however, let me tell you the reality of tub ownership:
It's a blast for about one year. You will use it at least 2 times a week,.
Year Two: maybe once a week.
Year Three: once a month, and you will seriously start to question the economics of it all ( yes it's a serious and noticeable energy drain in the winter... In my geographic it's $50/month ).
That's too bad that you are not using your tub as you expected. I've owned hot tubs for several years, and my usuage goes up and down, I still enjoy my hot tub very much and would buy another if I had to.
You should avoid posting claimimg what others will expeince though. It really comes across poorly.
Think about it... that thing has cost over 2K in energy consumption (Ohio to Michigan) to run before the warranty even runs out...
Wth a 5 year warrenty, that's about a buck a day. What were you told the costs would be? Or did I mis interpit the math? (2K/5 yr).
I love my tub. Sometimes I use it several times a week, other times I don't get in it for weeks, but when I do, I really enjoy it. And when I think of the costs of other things I like to do, the hot tub really isn't that exspensive at all.
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We started the floors this weekend
tinybubbles....I am considering hardwoods too
my brother went with the rough distressed hand scraped look
and man they look nice
your house is kind of a mess for a few days while they do it
but i guess the end result is worth it
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I've had my hot tub (HS Vanguard) for one year and use it most every day. Cost of operation has had no great noticable impact on my electric bill even though I live in southern BC where we have some dandy winters.
I have an 18' powerboat that I use 4 out of 7 days during the boating season. It is the second boat I have owned since 1968. It uses a fair amount of fuel, needs insuring and seasonal maintainance. However, the costs never have made me look at my boat as a poor investment.
I also have an RV (a truck camper) that I've owned since 1978. Over the years, we have used it for vacations, camping, hunting and fishing expeditions. It has no ongoing expense other than it needs a hefty truck to haul it (think gasoline).
I am not rich by any means. I am an educator and I do have my summers free to enjoy my toys. I have never had any second thoughts about my having purchased any of them. I bought them because I knew I would use them. I think if you buy these things with thought as to how they are going to fit into your life style, you will make the right decision. They fit my lifestyle perfectly, and I could not imaginne having to do without them. The alternative for me would be sitting on the sofa watching TV (boohoo). They enhance my life and their costs, as far as I am concerned, are a part of the everyday expenses of living a life you enjoy.
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tubbin,
I'm sorry to hear that your tub is not getting used as much as you originally anticipated it would.
We have owned our tub for 2 years and we still use it about 3 times a week. I have some back problems and it does wonders for loosening up the lower back muscles.
As for your comments about energy efficiency, I am beginning to question Arctics claims about their cold weather efficiency (sorry Arctic folks). This is not the first post about someone saying their Arctic is costing them about $50 per month to use in the winter, our tub has not once cost us more then $25. Maybe this is due to ours being a smaller tub and I don't know how large the Tundra is, but I find the $50 per month high.
Anyhow, We are both glad to have purchased our tub and do not regret the decision one bit
50 a month is high, I would be surprised if this is the standard since I sell lots of the Arctics and have yet to have someone come back and say that they see much difference in the electrical bill let alone 50/month.
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These rounded off numbers are rarely accurate in my experience. Consumers have little clue and can only base their "numbers" off of previous years bills which can leave a fair amount of guesswork and assumptions often leading to inaccurate usage figures.
Even at $50/month, most users (as kokanee so eloquently wrote) gain far more enjoyment and quality of life from their "toys" to offset any real cost. Who here doesn't spend that ANY month on things we don't really need???? Life's too short to worry about pocket change...
Tubbin has used far to wide of a brush to paint all of us inaccurately. It's too bad his spa hasn't paid off for him but that's not a snapshot of overall spa usage by the common consumer nowadays.
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Good thread but I have not had the chance to read it all yet. In my case, we (my family) uses our tub about 6 times a month. Some weeks, it doesn't see any use while other weeks it may get two or even three visits. My wife too has ZERO interest in using it but we use to LOVE using Hot Tubs at the resorts we went to prior to owning it but I'll leave that as one of those unknown women things. The 5 year old on the other hand is ALWAYS "Sure" when asked if he'd like to float with daddy. Twelve year old goes in sometimes with his friends. I used it A LOT after tennis matches or working in the yard or...<insert excuse here>
Cost to run ours averages around $20/month. We use the Equal payment plan options from the power company have have always done so and therefore the before-after comparison was very easy in our case.
Value - Ours is relatively large (480 gallons) and has a stereo. We didn't pay $10K. If I moved, it would likely come right along with us or I would leave it here if we did the "built-in" style units like you can find in the million dollar homes in this area. So, whatever is next WILL have a tub irregardless.
Other "toys" - I owned a $30K boat (was $70K new but I bought it used). I took it out about once a week during the summer and once a month in the winter (365 days of avaliable boating here in NC). I had a $2.5K lift for it. Gas was expensive (even then) for a 454cubic inch 400HP monster that was normally running at full tilt. Some might have called that a bad investment but I did sell it for $29,500 after running it for 4 years. Calculated out, it cost me about $100/year to own it. The operation was fuel, insurance, etc and ran about $2K/year. But while we had it, we had a BLAST. Bars on the lake. Getting away with "just the guys" to do a bit of skiing, parking on a sandbar and "watching" the local talent, etc. I would do it again in a heartbeat. When I sold it, I used the original down payment $6,500 to pay cash for my tub. I've still got an 17-foot run-about that sits in the garage (most of the time). It's a bit small for the lake we are on but both were great investments IMHO.
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I wonder if the brand of tub they purchased has anything to do with it.
Considering the powerful Jets and multiple types of Therapy available on a Tundra, I HIGHLY doubt it. I think it is just owner-specific, some may not care to throw on suits and jump in (or whatev)
I can't wait to sit in it and I hope to buy!!!!
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As for your comments about energy efficiency, I am beginning to question Arctics claims about their cold weather efficiency (sorry Arctic folks).
That's okay, question away. The Truth is out there. :)
As far as I know, we are still the only hot tub manufacturer to have had a comparative study done by an independent research company. The results are publicly available on our web site, warts and all.
We're moving forward in encouraging NRCan's Office of Energy Efficiency to develop hot tub test standards appropriate for Canadian conditions. Our temperature-controlled test chamber has been approved for CEC testing. Eventually, all of this will result in Energy Star or Energuide ratings for hot tubs, to the great benefit of the consumer.
Our tub has not once cost us more then $25. Maybe this is due to ours being a smaller tub and I don't know how large the Tundra is, but I find the $50 per month high.
The cost of operation depends on so many factors -- the location of the hot tub, prevailing winds, local climate, cost of electricity. The $50/month is certainly possible, though your figure is closer to what is usually reported.
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We have had a hot tub for 8 years, we have upgraded 4 times(the benifit of store ownership) and we use it everyday.
The tub we have now is a Clearwater Orlando, It costs average $35.00 a month for us to run, higher in the winter, lower in the summer and nightly 30 minute use. We live in the Northeast.
I use it for therapy, and if I miss a night I am sore the next day. I have osteo arthritis which I came down with in my late 20's and the tub has greatly improved my day to day living. Without it, I feel 60! Vacations suck, if where we go has a hot tub, it has all of 6 jets and the water chemistry seems to be lacking! I hurt when we get back!
I think and have seen that people who purchase them for therapy reasons, they use them much more for a longer period of time. People who have them for social reasons, the newness seems to wear off, but most still do not mind paying the small amount to run the tub to have it if they want it. It costs less to run most tubs for a month than one decent dinner out.