Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: michiganwinter on January 29, 2009, 09:55:29 am
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I have to add more water to the tub, but it is frigid out right now. Is there a limit to the temperature on when it is safe to use a hose (obviously remove it when finished) outside to top off? I looked in the manual and saw nothing, and it may be more of a question on how cold is too cold to use outdoor plumbing.
Any experiences?
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Schlep it out with buckets--one after the other. Obviously the bigger, the better. Every time I go out to check the chemistry or whatever, I bring out a filled up milk jug. That way it doesn't get too low on me.
If you do use your hose, remember to then turn off the water to that spicket from [glow]inside[/glow] the house, then turn the outside one back on to drain any remaining water from that pipe. No big deal.
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Thanks Kervis, we don't actually have any indoor shut offs for the outdoor spigots (freeze free types - not quite sure I believe that). I have topped off at least twice with the hose in the last month but it has been warmer. Can't really do the buckets because of having a softener inside the house and only the outside spigots diverted from the softener. Otherwise that is a great idea. Just won't work for us. I'll call my plumber; he'll probably have a solution.
Thanks again!
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We have the "freeze-free" spigots too. The one by my tub is also in the sun. So far, so good.
Double check your water softener info. Ours was specifically hooked up so that only hot water was run through the softener. I don't think you'd want to be drinking that stuff on a regular basis. :-? I just assumed that all were set up that way.
That's why when we boil water for noodles, we fill up with cold instead of hot--you don't want the extra salt.
Check your kitchen/bathroom faucets for deposits around the base. That would let you know that your cold water is hard.
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Ah, hadn't thought about that. We have an RO system for drinking/cooking and we don't have much build up. I keep forgetting to fill the softener tank too, so I don't know how soft our water really is (jk). Have a call in to the plumber; hope it won't be ages before he calls back. I want to soak!
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Well I went ahead and topped her off again in spite of it being cold out (my computer reads 24 but it sure felt colder than that!). Hopefully the freeze-free faucet will hold! Never did hear back from my plumber and wanted to do it before the temps dipped again.
Crossing fingers and hoping for the best!
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Another option for next time around:
Go to your local saltwater fish store. They can fill your buckets with RO water for around .25 cents a gallon or sometimes free if your a regular customer.
I know at this point I'd give .25 per gallon for top off. But of course I'm sitting here waiting for the snow to melt enough to have mine delivered. :)
ENJOY!!!!
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Michigan, no worries, I topped my tub off the other day and it was fine. The frost free spigots have the shut offs deep inside of the plumbing so they are warmed by your house. Problems with those occur if you decide to leave your hose on and the frozen water backs up causing the pipes to burst. I know first hand about that!! :o :-[ You should have no problems topping off as long as water can flow through a hose ;). Be sure to drain your hoses after you fill though ...I use a short hose and hang it to drain near the tub. (or you can bring it in to stay warm so it won't be so stiff when you need it). Topping with soft water won't cause problems either.
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Thanks Bonibelle! I did top it off and I store the hose inside the house so it won't freeze anyway. I appreciate your explanation about the freeze-free spigot since my plumber didn't call back (bad Kurt!).
Is it normal to have to top off every 8-9 days? Seems like we lose a lot of water getting out and through evaporation/steam. It goes down about 2-3 inches in that period of time, if even shorter.
Thanks again!
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WE've talked about spa blankets on here quite a few times. In addition to helping with insulation, protecting your cover from chemical degradation, I believe it also helps prevent evaporation when the tub is covered. At least I can honestly say I notice that I don't top off as often when I have a spa blanket..so that is real unscientific, but it is my observation. ;)
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I hadn't even read or followed those threads at all, thinking that my new tub with new cover would be sufficient (it sits under a deck). Sounds like the evaporation happens when the cover is closed as well, I hadn't even thought of that and thought it came from all the steam that goes into the air with usage.
Learn something new every single day!
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You really shouldn't have evaporation with a good cover, and I have a good cover..but I am saying that I definately notice less evaporation with a spa blanket...maybe it is just me :-/
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Two to three inches in that period of time is normal with the temps as they are and your use. I try to fill once per week during winter. I use a bucket and generally have to add about five gallons due to evaporation. It is much greater in the winter because of the dry air, even with a good cover. Most happens with the cover off while you use it. I also notice less evaporation with my blanket in place.
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We have the "freeze-free" spigots too. The one by my tub is also in the sun. So far, so good.
Double check your water softener info. Ours was specifically hooked up so that only hot water was run through the softener. I don't think you'd want to be drinking that stuff on a regular basis. :-? I just assumed that all were set up that way.
That's why when we boil water for noodles, we fill up with cold instead of hot--you don't want the extra salt.
Check your kitchen/bathroom faucets for deposits around the base. That would let you know that your cold water is hard.
So you don't wash your cloths in soft water than if its only hooked up to hot?
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I was wondering about that too..Why just the hot? To protect the heat coils in the water heater? Many people have softners to remove iron, so that wouldn't help to only use it on the hot lines. Now I am really curious Kervis.... :-?
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Now, I am no expert, but you are adding "salt" or whatever is in that bag-to your water system. You do not want to be drinking that stuff on a regular basis--that is MY opinion, but also a reason they should only hook it up to your hot water pipes.
So, if I wash my clothes in cold water, yes, it is hard water. If I wash in warm, then I am getting some hot mixed in so it becomes soft water! Like your shower water.
When you drink or cook with your water, you don't want to use the hot water with the "salt" in it. You want the fresh, cold, "natural"-haha-chlorinated, flouridated city water. Or well water.
I clean out my softener on a regular basis, as it prolongs it's life considerably. You would not believe the rocks, sticks, gravel, dirt--all in the bottom of the container. YUCK. It was years of build-up from before I owned this house. It all comes packaged in your salt! It's filthy. Don't drink it. I pay a little extra to have salt delivered right to my basement from the water guys. That salt is much cleaner than what I described above. Last cleaning I only found a rock and a giant twig--go figure.
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Now I will have to go look in my salt!! :o..My softner filters all of my water. I bipass to fill my tub or fish pond or pool. But I also have an RO system so I am not drinking the water, although I believe the amount of salt left in the soft water to be minimal. Probably a whole lot less in a week of drinking softened water than in one bowl of pork fried rice ;)
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Now I will have to go look in my salt!! :o..My softner filters all of my water. I bipass to fill my tub or fish pond or pool. But I also have an RO system so I am not drinking the water, although I believe the amount of salt left in the soft water to be minimal. Probably a whole lot less in a week of drinking softened water than in one bowl of pork fried rice ;)
Ok, you, Michiganwinter and Aduvall have all mentioned RO water. For the life of me, I can't figure out what that stands for--help!
And, while we are at it, we should all google something about softener salt and find out what's in it. Indeed, drinking my warm water has NEVER caused me to bloat like Chinese Buffet does!
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Ok, you, Michiganwinter and Aduvall have all mentioned RO water. For the life of me, I can't figure out what that stands for--help!
And, while we are at it, we should all google something about softener salt and find out what's in it. Indeed, drinking my warm water has NEVER caused me to bloat like Chinese Buffet does!
For your hot tub you do not necessary need all the filteration that you would get from RO water it was just an option in order to get good clean water for a good price without lugging gallon jugs from the stores.
Reverse osmosis
A method of producing pure water by forcing saline or impure water through a semipermeable membrane across which salts or impurities cannot pass. Reverse osmosis is used for water filtration, for desalinization of seawater, and in kidney dialysis machines.
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Thanks Kervis, we don't actually have any indoor shut offs for the outdoor spigots (freeze free types - not quite sure I believe that).
You should be fine as long as you disconnect the hose after use. How a frost-free silcock worked was a mystery to me until I picked one up at Home Depot. The actual water valve is about 12" from the outside, as long as you disconnect the hose after use (some are not self-draining, the ones with the handle next to the spout usually are, but more $$$, only needed if you forget to remove the hose) the water will be shut off inside the house and drain through the 12" or so of tube going out through the wall.
(http://www.rd.com/images/tfhimport/2003/20030501_Ask_Handy_page003img001_size2.jpg)
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Thanks, that's a great visual ;)
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Yes, very helpful. Thanks for posting it
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You really shouldn't have evaporation with a good cover, and I have a good cover..but I am saying that I definately notice less evaporation with a spa blanket...maybe it is just me :-/
Now that you mention it, I realized I've been topping off a lot less this winter since I bought my new cover from Doc. Last weekend we had our first thaw where it got to 45 degrees. I went out to look at the tub and was glad to see the cover with no snow or ice on it. I was surprised my water level wasn't low despite using the tub 25 out of the last 30 days. My spigot is 8 feet from my tub, so I just keep a 10 ft piece of hose in the basement behind my washing machine. I went ahead and bailed out about 50 gallons and added 50 fresh in. That should hold me till March.