Temperatures over 104

[Goatherd]

Greetings.  I am in the market for my first spa.  I know from experience that 104 degrees is not high enough for me.  I prefer the 105-106 range.  All the tubs built since 2000 are limited to 104.  

Is there any way around this?  Any way to fool the spa into going higher?  My contractor who is building my deck says there is, but the dealers I have talked to say there is not.  One local dealer sometimes has available used spas from pre-2000, which are not subject to the 104 restriction.  Is that the only way for me to get a tub that goes over 104?

(FYI: I am currently considering Dimension One, Sundance, HotSpring and Marquis spas.)

[drober30]

Interesting... My Caldera and HS dealer said their tubs go to 107

[Steve]

I know here in Canada that all tubs are limited to 104 max. There is an easy way around it but by doing this, you run the risk of not only voiding your warranty but also the health risks associated with it. It's for this reason that I don't suggest it. If others want to, that's their prerogative.

I did share this once on this forum but I deleted my post after considering the fact that my information could harm both the spa and more importantly, the user.

Steve

[Chas]

HotSping and Tiger River tubs will in fact go to around 107 or 108. The numbers go goofy on the display - on purpose -  but it's very easy to figure out how to get it to the temp you want.

But I didn't tell you that.



PS - in the many years I have sold these things, I have only found ONE customer who could actually stand temps that hot. All the rest said they could, and many would not buy unless I would prove it by running the display model up to high temps.

I could and did. But they soon found that when they slipped into a tub which did not quickly cool off, and which did not have a blower, and which usually runs right at the actual temerature it is set for, they didn't quite need it that hot, and backed it off to a more moderate temperature. They still ended up keeping it hotter than I like mine, but most ended up below 103 and a few stayed right around 104.

[JcDenton]

I keep mine at 107. Dealer confirmed that this in no way jeopardizes my warrenty. I just had to move a few jumpers in the control panel.

I live in central Canada and the temps are quite disturbing at times! I will most likely turn it down a bit come warmer months.

Jc

[Goatherd]

Thanks Chas, can you explain any further about the goofy display numbers?  Are you saying that while the display shows only 104 on those spas the water is actually hotter?

I don't need as high as 108, but I know that 104 just feels like a bath to me and I enjoy 106.  (Though I feel like a wimp when I visit a lovely backyard community tub in my town, which is kept at higher than 110!)


Jc -- which brand do you have, and how did you learn about the jumper locations?   Thanks!

[Mendocino101]

I know from those who have told me that 102 is not hot enough for them....thats what we keep tham at on the showroom floor...at home they turn up to 104 (max UL appoved)..that suddenly they find that 102 works just find...very few seem to handle 104 if you can do a legit 106 you are one of the very few....I am not so sure a public spa can get to 110....legit.....enjoy whatever works for you...

[Chas]

Thanks Chas, can you explain any further about the goofy display numbers?  Are you saying that while the display shows only 104 on those spas the water is actually hotter?

I don't need as high as 108, but I know that 104 just feels like a bath to me and I enjoy 106.  (Though I feel like a wimp when I visit a lovely backyard community tub in my town, which is kept at higher than 110!)

The numeric readout on a HotSpring is usually pretty close to accurate. I have had a few over the year which needed a fresh sensor to get it 'just right,' but for the most part they will run within a degree +or -  of the posted number.

The UL standard, which ETL uses, calls for a max of 104. We satisfied that by not providing the numbers above 104 - it says ut-1 through ut-4 once you get above 104. We make it quite plain in our literature and teaching that 104 is the max recommended temperature.

What I meant when I said that most folks end up running our spas at lower temperatures is this: they really do get hot and stay hot. Many folks had some other brand of tub before, and either it would drop a couple of degrees within minutes of getting in, or it had a blower which could drop the temperature drastically, or it would read 107 but really only be 102.

[im45us]

I think it's really what you get used to. Last winter we kept our tub at 106 and 104 for summer but this year our granddaughters have discovered our tub and to hard to go from 106 or 104 to 99 for them .

So now we keep it at 102 and pretty easy to get it to 99 when they want to go in and we have gotton used to 102. About 3 weeks ago our heater went and when we replaced it the first time we went in temp was 105. Was way to hot for us so I think it's what you get used to.

Ivan

[drober30]

I have always liked a temp of 104 but I think after having my tub for a fewdays I will try a lower temp to extend the time I can hang out in the tub.

[Chas]

That's a very good point: at these temperatures, a single degree of change makes a noticable difference, especially in the length of time you can stay in.

[Goatherd]

Thanks Chas.  I will certainly consider HotSpring, as that sounds like my best shot at a higher-temp brand-new spa.

(Mendocino, the 110 tub I referenced isn't actually "public" -- it's just a private backyard tub that's available to those community members who know the gate code.  Most folks don't stay in it long...I think that's the idea!)

[JTJ23BA]

Chas is dead on.  Regulations say a spa cant go over 108 degrees. Most spas can be +/-  4 degrees of what the spa is set at so most spas can only be set at 104 degrees.  Hot Spring is +/- 1.5 degrees.    A better made spa holds temp better its that simple.

[ndabunka]

Try taking a thermometer with you (electronic one please, not mercury) into the 110 degree tub. You will probably leanr that it really test out to around 105 or so.  I've been to a number of luxury resorts that "claim" to have 105 and 108 degree tubs.  I've only found one that actually was at such a high rating.... Nobody would get in it.  There's a reason for the 104 degree setting. It has to do with your body quickly overheating at those higher temps. Unless you have a "LOT of natural insultation, you will have difficulty staying in a true 106 degree tub for any longer than 20 minutes.  I like 103 in mine. I have a friend that likes 104 and wants to go higher. I guess it's up to person prefernece but I would recommned you read the online details about the medical problems with those higher temps.

[poolboy34]

Health reasons is the number one reason why you can't set the tub any higher then 104.  At temps like that, the body will overheat rapidly and the risk for Hyperthermia is very high among other health related issues those temps will cause.