can anyone tell when i started my hottub?

[water@104]

  
               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.

[East_TX_Spa]

Does the underside of your spa look like this?

Terminator

[water@104]

yes it does

[East_TX_Spa]

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

[water@104]

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.

[Chas]

Can you program it for less filtration?

[water@104]

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?

[East_TX_Spa]

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

[drewstar]

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.

[Chas]

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.

[water@104]

thansk for the ideas. i think i will try and beaf up the insulation in the cabinet. hopefully that will help.

[drewstar]

I'd also look for air gaps in the skirting and seal them up.

[water@104]

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?

[hymbaw]

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!!

[water@104]

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.