Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: neocacher on December 14, 2006, 07:22:09 pm
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I would like to purchase a submersable heater that will help heat the hot tub ( i only have 115 V and it takes 40 hours to heat it.) Any suggestions and places to purchase would be appreciated.
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I would suggest either see if the tub can be converted or buy a new tub!
I guess you can rig something up but the risk would be too great. Also to get the type of heating you're looking for you'd need a 220V heater.
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i know my dealer has one just in case, for durring the winter if the heater goes or what not.
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Look into a "stock tank heater".
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Look into a "stock tank heater".
Wow, I learned something new today!
I saw a 1500 W heater for $47, not too bad.
Doc, how do you know about farm instruments ... have you been cow tipping? ;D
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but the stock heaters shut off at 40 degrees, any other type of heater that will speed up the heating process after a fill during the winter?
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Cows seem to have a natural fear of me and wont let me get within 20'....... Except for the one at the petting farm, and the stall isn't big enough for it to fall over.
Stock tank heaters......... I've been planning on making a "camping hot tub". Basically a portable one person, simple hot tub that will operate off-grid in back country. Came across the electric stock tank heaters will researching heaters to use. Yes, they make a gas (LPG) version.
The one I actually considered though, isn't available any more. It's a heater that was last used in the military around WW2. Basically it was a metal cylinder that stuck down into the water (they used it to heat 55 gallon drums of water). Gasoline was fed in through the top and dripped down the cylinder igniting at the bottom. I'm still kinda curious if they'll work with the unleaded stuff. Though, it doesn't sound to Smokey the Bear friendly.
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Most are designed to just keep the stock tank from freezing and have a permanently set built in thermostat. I've seen a few though that have an adjustable thermostat.
The other thing you might want to look into is a baptismal heater.
Or an "electric immersion water heater"
(http://www.little-giant.com/graphics/heating/elec_imer_heat.jpg)
but the stock heaters shut off at 40 degrees, any other type of heater that will speed up the heating process after a fill during the winter?
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why not switch. does your tub allow 240???
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my tub is 240, but looking for ways to speed up the water change time.
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I thought you said it was 115. What about aquarium heater. You can get some powerful ones. they probably have industrial size ones for larger commercial tanks.
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i wasnt the one who started the tread, i just have something in common with him
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i would replace the hole pack including te pumps.
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Depends upon your budget. I had a small propane powered gas heater which I used to take to shows. I hooked it up with a small pump and just put hoses over the side of the spa I wanted to heat. It cut the heating time dramatically, but emptied one or two tanks of propane to do so.
Or, a trick I learned from a former Softub dealer for his home show rig: he used a king size waterbed mattress with two regular waterbed heaters. Just plug them in and set the things on max. Took overnight or longer, but the thing got toasy warm. He had it built into the bed of his truck, under a layer of plywood. Once he got to the show, he just set up the spa and transfered the water from the waterbed to the tub. Since the bed of his truck was higher than the spa, I think he just syphoned it.
A tankless water heater for you home would be another way to do this: you will have the benefits of more hot water and less energy consumption year 'round, and when you go to fill the tub you could fill it with warm water and just let the tub bring it the rest of the way.
8-)
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I'd try one of these http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Prod/Eemax-EX75T-Thermostatic-Electric-Tankless-Water-Heater/10369/Cat/477 for starters.
For a few hundred more, you could get one that would give you very hot water.
It's cheaper than buying a new tub.
That said, if your tub takes 40 hours to heat, I would think your energy costs are much higher than the energy costs of any newer 220V tub. Â
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Looks like Potomac beat me to the tankless heater. My brother-in-law has a fairly large log cabin and he installed those when he built it so that he had "instant" hot water (rather than waiting for the cold water between the basement water heater and the sink to be flushed out. It works VERY well and I understand that it is economical too. I think he paid about $400 to $500 each for his though so I don't know if the $250 one would work as well but shop around and see what you can find.
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That said, if your tub takes 40 hours to heat, I would think your energy costs are much higher than the energy costs of any newer 220V tub. Â
I don't think so. I have a 1000 watt heater in my tub. There is an upgrade to 220V available. The main cost is $1300 to drop a line to my tub. That would upgrade the heater to 4000 watts.
I found an auxiallary heater at a home and farm store. Cost was $29.00. It is called a bucket heater and will heat water to 180 degrees.
I will go with this method next time I have to fill.
Neo
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40 hours to heat?
What's that, 1 degree and hour? How can this stay warm in the winter when you are soaking? Have you had your tub through a cold winter yet? I'd seriously consider doing the 220 upgrade.
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Drewster
Ive had 3 tubs in my 18 years of tubbing. Â all have been 120V. Â never had a problem keeping them warm.
I soak 2-3 times a day for 15-25 minutes. Tub is at 103-104 when i get in and 102-103 when i get out. Never has been a problem.
ONLY problem is getting them heated up after a water change.
A lot of people (maybe not on this forum) buy 120V tubs. They are one of my dealers best sellers. They can be plugged in virtually anywheres with no modifications needed.
Neo
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I thought even a 120v tub needs an designated outlet.
so how can you plug it in anywhere?
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Good infor Neo. I only have 2nd hand and anecdotal stories about 110v.
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I thought even a 120v tub needs an designated outlet.
so how can you plug it in anywhere?
Some tubs need to be plugged into a 20amp dedicated outlet. The tubs I sell - HotSpring and Tiger river- all need this. They have 1500 watt heaters and 1.65 HP pumps - which some makers would refer to as 3 BHP...
However, I also sell Solana Spas, and Hot Spot spas, and they offer models with a 1000 watt heater. These tubs will work on just about any outlet you have - unless there is some major appliance on the same circuit. They work pretty well, and are truly 'plug and play.'
8-)
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.....I found an auxiallary heater at a home and farm store. Cost was $29.00. It is called a bucket heater and will heat water to 180 degrees....
Very cost effective indeed.  Anything that's going to heat water to 180 degrees would certainly be capable damaging your tub's shell.  I would be really careful when using that bad boy.  Also, don't leave it in there too long or you'll be cooking lobsters instead of having spatopia  ;D
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This BUCKET heater is placed inside a 5 gallon plastic bucket that is submerged under water. Â The heater will not get to 180 degrees because it is going to heat a 250 gallon tub not a 5 gallon bucket. And because I monitor it. Â Obviously, I will be sure it will not be touching the side of my hot tub.
It is CAPABLE of getting to 180 degrees (there is a thermostat shutoff) if placed in a 5 gallon bucket all alone. I dont know how long that takes, but makes some interesting ideas. Hope i make myself clear.
I used 2 of these at the same time 2 weeks ago that me dealer loaned me. They worked fine and were a awesome time saver.
Each one draws about 8 amps, and produces 1000 watts, Â so you can only plug in 2 to the same circuit or your breaker may blow. However each one will heat 250 gallons of water about an extra 1-1.2 degrees per hour. Â 2 of them will do between 2-2.5 degrees per hour. Plus the 1.3 degree per hour from my tubs 1000 watt heater, so i am getting about 4 degrees rise per hour.
If 2 are inserted in a 500 gallon tub, it would only increase the speed by about 1 or 1.25 degrees per hour.
With 2 of these plus your tub heater, a 250 tub heats in about 12 hours to 102 degrees. Â Which cuts my noramal heating time from 40 hours to about 12. Â So if I change the water early in the morning, I could soak by 10 or 11 at night. Â If I used 4 of these, it would cut the time to about 6-7 hours i would imagine.
I highly recommend them for anyone with 120V tubs.
 Here is a link (and a picture) of where to purchase one.
http://www.stockyardsupply.com/page16/index.htm
item #742G.
Neo
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are you sure the tub is working correctly?
this does not make sense to me
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I am quite sure the tub's 120V heater is working correctly. It is only 1000 watts.
Neo