Drain the Sundance for the summer?

[johnvb]

Hey Folks, been quite a while since I have posted here. Still have a 05 Sundance Optima, it's been a great tub. We've only had to replace the ozonator and main circuit board each once (luckily the latter was under warranty).

Every summer I have kept it open, set to economy mode, maintained the chemicals. But we never use it then. So I'm entertaining the idea of draining it down this summer till October. Good or bad idea?

[Bonibelle]

I am thinking of doing the same...but I am a bit concerned about the heat that builds up under the cover in the summer..Running both a pool and a tub gets expensive!! I know they say you can prop the cover with tennis balls to vent the heat, but I wonder about bacteria growth in any water that remains in the tub...

[Zep]

Being in Dallas I empty mine in the summer.
Some say it's not good for the seals...ect
I've never had a problem.
This summer I may not empty because I am selling my
house & want potential buyers to see a full hot-tub.

[Water Boy]

Where you moving to Zep. Out of town of just a new place. Just curious! Also, do you plan to get a new hot tub for your new place?

[johnvb]

I am thinking of doing the same...but I am a bit concerned about the heat that builds up under the cover in the summer..Running both a pool and a tub gets expensive!! I know they say you can prop the cover with tennis balls to vent the heat, but I wonder about bacteria growth in any water that remains in the tub...

The way I understand it, one uses a vacuum on all the jets to remove as much water as possible, and could even break pump unions, etc. to remove even more water. Don't know if I will go this far, as my tub is indoors. Even if I have to double fill the tub in the fall to flush out all the badies, that would be easier than the weekly maintenance thing all summer long.

On the subject of pool expenses, this year I'm staying out of the local Leslie's as much as possible, and going BBB...

 http://www.troublefreepool.com/the-bbb-method-f54.html

[Zep]

Where you moving to Zep. Out of town or just a new place. Just curious!
Also, do you plan to get a new hot tub for your new place?

Beer Man I am moving about 20 minutes north of where I am.
Found a really good deal on what I consider my dream house.
I had a checklist and the newer house hit almost all of them.
Part of my checklist was a pool, and the newer house has a pool.
So for now I will not have my own hot tub but will use my brother's new Jacuzzi tub.
Below is my new water toy.....now I gotta fill it with bikinis!

[Bonibelle]

Very nice..congratulations on your new house, Zeb...hope you still hang around here even though you don't have a tub in your back yard 

[Zep]

Thanks Boni
Yeah I am going to check-in for sure....
Plus the way the housing market is
I may own a hot tub for awhile until the old house sells.
Could take awhile....

[Spalady]

In general draining and refilling after lengthy time empty can cause problems in tubs. The main reason is the plumbing which can contract when dry, glue joints etc can be damaged. For short times, it shouldn’t be a problem though. When you refill, give it a good dose of chlorine and flush the system well to kill any bacteria that may be lurking in the plumbing.

Or, you could just turn it to your eco mode, turn the heat off and use if for a cool tub! How much do you think you save by having it empty?
I would contact my local dealer (where you got the spa) and ask if they have had any issues with spas that have sat dry for months.

[Bonibelle]

Actually, I ran my tub in Economy mode for the last 4 winters..no problems..it only heats when it filters..Maybe I will just do as you say and make it a cool tub..thanks

[johnvb]

Or, you could just turn it to your eco mode, turn the heat off and use if for a cool tub! How much do you think you save by having it empty?
I would contact my local dealer (where you got the spa) and ask if they have had any issues with spas that have sat dry for months.

That's pretty much what I have been doing, the spa room is unconditioned, in the summer I pull down plastic black-out shades over the windows, but here in southeastern Va., the tub will never really get cool. Anyway, that's what the pool's for. I called Sundance yesterday, they didn't really give me a yea or nay, which was interesting. The CS rep's "opinion" was that draining it down would be the lesser of two evils. In my manual they go into great detail about winterization, evidentialy the pumps have drain plugs on them, if I wanted to go that far. But that would make a mess in the room.

It's as much about being able to "turn off" the responsibility of making sure the tub stays properly maintained chemical wise, as it is the cost. Or maybe I'm just getting lazy in my old age. The way I do my chemicals is every other week I check and add water, ph, shock, stain prevent, bromine tabs, etc. And not all at once, so it's kind of a drawn out process (the other weeks I just check ph and add tabs, so I'm in and out).

Thanks for all for the input, I still have a few good weeks before the summer heat hits, to think about it.

[johnvb]

Very Nice!

[Water Boy]

Very nice pool Zep. Enjoy, and congrats on the new place!