Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: water@104 on April 13, 2006, 01:06:50 pm
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:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
Number
of Days KWH
04/04/2006 33 1432
03/02/2006 27 1444
02/03/2006 30 1553
01/04/2006 30 1759
12/05/2005 33 1583
11/02/2005 29 1025
10/04/2005 32 890
09/02/2005 31 1029
08/02/2005 28 919
07/05/2005 32 1109
06/03/2005 30 1034
05/04/2005 30 554
04/04/2005 32 669
03/03/2005 29 618
02/02/2005 29 687
Can anyone else please tell me how this can happen by installing a tub, It is a 440 gallon 05 Clearwater ultra 9100. we keep it at 104 it is used 2-3 week for 30minutes. :o
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(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/EastTexasSpa/75d28711.jpg)
Does the underside of your spa look like this?
Terminator
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yes it does
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That does not look very well insulated to me. That would be my guess as to why you're seeing higher electric bills.
Do they offer an insulation upgrade?
Terminator
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not that i am aware of. i was thinking about getting some of that rigid insulation and attaching it to the backside of the panels. hopefully that will help. or even some of the fiberglass insulation that comes inclosed in a plastic bag.
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Can you program it for less filtration?
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Can you program it for less filtration?
i have to look at it when i get home. i am not sure what i have it set at now. in your HO what should it be set at?
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i was thinking about getting some of that rigid insulation and attaching it to the backside of the panels. hopefully that will help. or even some of the fiberglass insulation that comes inclosed in a plastic bag.
From the looks of it, I would imagine anything you could pack in there would help a great deal. I read on another forum where some company uses a type of wool to insulate their spas. That sounds like somewhat of a stretch, but it would probably be better than nothing.
Any other ideas out there? ???
Terminator
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DIAT? Bwaaaaahhahahahahahahaha (thump)
No seriously, though, wouldn't reducing the filter times just cause the heater to turn on more?
other ideas:
1) lower the temp.
2) perhaps invest in a high R cover
3) stop using the air blower
4) beef up the cabinet insualtion.
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in your HO what should it be set at?
Sorry, my O is not very H. But my concept is always to start with the minimum amount that still gives you clean water.
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thansk for the ideas. i think i will try and beaf up the insulation in the cabinet. hopefully that will help.
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I'd also look for air gaps in the skirting and seal them up.
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I'd also look for air gaps in the skirting and seal them up.
hopefully by the time i am done there won't be a leak in the cabinet.
i also read somewhere that if you put up wind screens that could also help. anythoughts on that idea?
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Be careful adding insulation to your tub.
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman that bought a house with a LA Spa on the deck. The previous owners told him that the electric bills were outrageous so they added some insulation.
Here it is a couple months after they take possesion of the house, they look outside, lo and behold the tub and part of the deck are on fire!!! Fortunately they were able to put the fire out!
Turns out that the "added" insulation was slowly dried then ignited by the tubs light. Oops
All is well that ends well. They now have an Optima that is bigger than their old tub and is costing them about $20 less per month in electricity.(Who knows what the difference would be without the "added" insulation!)
Again BE CAREFUL!!
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Be careful adding insulation to your tub.
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman that bought a house with a LA Spa on the deck. The previous owners told him that the electric bills were outrageous so they added some insulation.
Here it is a couple months after they take possesion of the house, they look outside, lo and behold the tub and part of the deck are on fire!!! Fortunately they were able to put the fire out!
Turns out that the "added" insulation was slowly dried then ignited by the tubs light. Oops
All is well that ends well. They now have an Optima that is bigger than their old tub and is costing them about $20 less per month in electricity.(Who knows what the difference would be without the "added" insulation!)
Again BE CAREFUL!!
Very good point. I will have to make sure the stuff i buy is fire rated and can be used in this situation. I will give one of my suppliers and see what they would use.
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You might wrap it in asbestos or some other fire retarded material to help prevent flame ups.
I think the mineral wool idea I mentioned earlier is probably not a very good one as I think wool is flammable because of the lanolin.
Terminator
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You might wrap it in asbestos or some other fire retarded material to help prevent flame ups.
I think the mineral wool idea I mentioned earlier is probably not a very good one as I think wool is flammable because of the lanolin.
Terminator
I will do a little research before i put anything in. would hate to have it go up in flames, but then again that could mean i could get a new tub!!! ;D
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Why not goose feathers in some sort of non-flammable bag? That would be an organic solution.
Terminator
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I'd wondered about using some foaming insulation shot directly into plastic bags between the skirting and the shell....that way, you fill the space with foam, but it's in bags, so when it hardens, it doesn't stick to any of the inside stuff, if/when you need to have it repaired..... ???
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You know, Bonnie reports higher electric bills, and there is a big scramble to tell her check all her appliances and perhaps her meter is out of line. No one suggested the tub was the issue.
Here, we all jumped to "Gotta be the tub".
::)
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You know, Bonnie reports higher electric bills, and there is a big scramble to tell her check all her appliances and perhaps her meter is out of line. No one suggested the tub was the issue.
Here, we all jumped to "Gotta be the tub".
Well if i had to guess why that is so, I would have to say it is becasue of the make of Tub. but that is MHO and the fact that i am the one that owns it. ;D
::)
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You can get the same 2 part foam the spa manufacturers use. Out here, Tap Plastics sells it. Sears used to, don't know if they still do. You have to know how to use it. Wear breathing apparatus.
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Water,
Did you check the filter cycles as Chas stated?
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(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/EastTexasSpa/21854191.jpg)
Terminator
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Water,
Did you check the filter cycles as Chas stated?
Didn't have a chance last night but will be doing that today. he boss is being nice today and giving us a half day!!!!!!!!! ;D So i will have plenty of time to do that when i get home.
I believe that it is set 1a day for an hour and it is at night.
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(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/EastTexasSpa/21854191.jpg)
Terminator
it could be playing a part, but i can't imagine it's playing that it could be doing all of it.
question for you, how warm would you say that the inside of the cabinet should it be to save on heat?
I was thinking about putting a wireless thermometer inside the cabinet and see what kind of temps it holds duringthe day.
i would think that would tell me how much heat i am loosing due to the cabinet? what do you think?
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Joking aside, You guys don't get it. When your electric bill goes all out of wack, you get a bit upset...And it sounds like Water, is where I am...let's find out how to fix this because I don't really want to get rid of my tub.
Term, quite honestly, I am looking at the insulating thing for my house (with lots of great help from Drew).
If that is where I can save energy, I want to do it. I am still waiting for my electric company to check my meter...and dreaming of them saying something is wrong and they owe me enough to pay off the tub ;D
Water, my tub is supposed to be very well insulated and very energy efficient....but if you have read my threads, my energy usage has doubled???Has anyone ever heard of manufacturers forgetting to insulate a tub.... :o
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Joking aside, You guys don't get it. When your electric bill goes all out of wack, you get a bit upset...And it sounds like Water, is where I am...let's find out how to fix this because I don't really want to get rid of my tub.
Term, quite honestly, I am looking at the insulating thing for my house (with lots of great help from Drew).
If that is where I can save energy, I want to do it. I am still waiting for my electric company to check my meter...and dreaming of them saying something is wrong and they owe me enough to pay off the tub ;D
Water, my tub is supposed to be very well insulated and very energy efficient....but if you have read my threads, my energy usage has doubled???Has anyone ever heard of manufacturers forgetting to insulate a tub.... :o
Bonibelle
if you every find out i would like to knwo the answer. I can't figure out why my bill has more than doubled myself. i know a tub uses alot of power, bu my thing is my neighbor also has a tub, it is smaller. (4 man) and his bills is not even close to mine. i know there are also alot of things that could be factored in to why. but i would think they would be close at least.
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The 2x a day sounds like the "normal" cycle. Your owners manual should say for sure. (Iwas hoping maybe you fat fingered the cycles to 6x a day and that was the culprit).
As far as temp in the cabinet in a nutshell, heat want's to balance out. So keeping the cabinet at the same temperature as the water would be ideal so the cabinet isn't drawing heat from the water and causing the heater to turn on. there are other considerations such as retaining the heat (Air leaks) or how much you use the tub (heat escapes off the top quicker, the amibaint temp, using the blowers, etc.
If insualting the cabinet is the way to go, I would think another layer of foil backed foam board along the skirt (And the bottome of the tub if possible) sealed up would be were I started as well as sealing the lip between the tub and skirt.
That's my free advice (worth every penny too ;) )
have you spoken to the dealer and told him the electrical was significantly out of whack? Perhaps they could come and check things out to ensure the tub is functioning as designed?
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question for you, how warm would you say that the inside of the cabinet should it be to save on heat?
I was thinking about putting a wireless thermometer inside the cabinet and see what kind of temps it holds duringthe day.
i would think that would tell me how much heat i am loosing due to the cabinet? what do you think?
If you're asking me, I haven't got a clue in the world. And I mean this in all sincerity: It has never been an issue for any of my customers. Not a single one has ever come in and had an issue with their electric bill nor have they ever asked us to put a meter on their spa. So, I have absolutely zero experience with the situations you and Boni are encountering.
I truly do wish I could be of more help as I enjoy helping folks out. This is just out of my area of expertise. ???
Terminator
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The 2x a day sounds like the "normal" cycle. Your owners manual should say for sure. (Iwas hoping maybe you fat fingered the cycles to 6x a day and that was the culprit).
As far as temp in the cabinet in a nutshell, heat want's to balance out. So keeping the cabinet at the same temperature as the water would be ideal so the cabinet isn't drawing heat from the water and causing the heater to turn on. there are other considerations such as retaining the heat (Air leaks) or how much you use the tub (heat escapes off the top quicker, the amibaint temp, using the blowers, etc.
If insualting the cabinet is the way to go, I would think another layer of foil backed foam board along the skirt (And the bottome of the tub if possible) sealed up would be were I started as well as sealing the lip between the tub and skirt.
That's my free advice (worth every penny too ;) )
This is why i like this forum. Everyone tries to help out!!!!
thanks for the free advise. I am going to start with adding more insulaion to the inide of thcabinet. i mean it can't hurt. I am going to try and get that done this weekend. if i think of it i will take some pictures to show.
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Water I also just purchased a spa blanket from Doc's site. I haven't installed it yet, but probably will tomorrow when I can cut it to fit perfectly. I am nuts about wasting energy anyway and this has also set me in a tizzy! I also have a neighbor who has an inexpensive tub with the cover fallin in and he still uses far far less electric than I do. I will find out what is going on.
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Water I also just purchased a spa blanket from Doc's site. I haven't installed it yet, but probably will tomorrow when I can cut it to fit perfectly. I am nuts about wasting energy anyway and this has also set me in a tizzy! I also have a neighbor who has an inexpensive tub with the cover fallin in and he still uses far far less electric than I do. I will find out what is going on.
Bonibelle- did you buy the bubble type blanket or the foam one? I think that is my next step on my list to try.
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This is why i like this forum. Everyone tries to help out!!!!
No problem. Just as long as you realize, I am not a dealer, I am not an expert. Just a goofy guy with an opinion. ;D
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No problem. Just as long as you realize, I am not a dealer, I am not an expert. Just a goofy guy with an opinion. ;D
dealers, experts and even goofy guys can have opinions that can help out the guy that knows even less about this stuff.
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Water, I bought the foam one, not the bubbles.And Drew is an excellent reference, and you can depend on him getting just about any info you want!
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Water, I bought the foam one, not the bubbles.And Drew is an excellent reference, and you can depend on him getting just about any info you want!
Thanks bonnie. I do like to search things out. But i have made more than my share of mistakes when it comes to understanding pumps, chemicals and women.
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drewstar, the key to all three is "preventive maintenance". ;)
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Hey Term,
How do you get down off an elephant?
???