Need an idea on how to run my spa for nix

[Casper]

Hi folks,

My wife's friend has just got her divorce settlement and part of it was a spa to which has ended up at my house so now I need to know how I can heat it and run the pump to circulate the water when we're not using it for as cheap as possible.

Being the tight wad that I am I also don't want to spend much to do it so put your thinking caps on and come up with some good ideas that cost bugger all to build.

I don't mind running the pump when we're in it, just don't like to spend up big on electricity (or for that matter on infrastructure) to run the pump and heater all the time.

Cheers Casper

[Blknight.aus]

make an oil burning heater and use that to heat the water.

[cartm58]

Is it gas or electric heated

Best thing is buy a tight fitting cover less rubbish going in when not in use means less requirement to clean it

Although a spa sounds great and fun you will find it rarely gets used so depending on how long it takes to heat up and how long ina dvance you think ahead of using it you can save time and money by just letting it sit idle and running the pump once month for a few hours to stir the water circulate your chemical dose.

[rovercare]

Fit 5KW's of solar to offset it

Don't stress the novelty will soon wear off and you'll be back to not consuming any energy to run it:D

[Bigbjorn]

A small aquarium pump and a coil of copper tubing painted matt black and positioned in the sun works for a mate of mine.

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

Has your neighbor got an external power point somewhere, just hook into there electricity then it won't cost you anything.

It happened to my mother inlaw, who was blind. She got very high water usage bills, couldn't understand why because she lived on her own.
Though at first it was a leak, but the meter never moved when I inspected it. Rang the water supply, and was told when water rates went up a lot of water theft was occuring. sure enough, there was her garden hose hanging over the side fence. The thieving neighbor had the cleanest car in town, as he could wash it for free. Scumbag stealing from the blind

[Safari]

A friend of mine bought one and I suggested putting the heater element on Off Peak. Rang the supplier to get wiring diagram so I could split the circuits to put heater element on different rate. Told by supplier not to worry as once up to heat very little used to maintain it if cover was used. Didn't believe him so got a spare electricity meter from work and plugged it into it to measure total watts, used bugger all about the same as an electric blanket. Will use more when in use or when pump runs. Cheers Rob

[Tombie]

If you need to run the Spa for nix...

You need to get rid of the spa...:(

They are not cheap... I have a 6 person unit with additional insulation underneath and a full insulated cover etc... The cover is replaced immediately after the last person exits the spa...

When running (used 3-4 times a week) and just in maintain mode the rest of the time it easily adds over $200.00 to the bill per quarter (and that was on the old kWh rate).

Add to that, Spa Brom etc... (Spa hygiene is critical for safety of users) & top up water and the actual cost is quite high...

But they are damn relaxing

[Tombie]

A friend of mine bought one and I suggested putting the heater element on Off Peak. Rang the supplier to get wiring diagram so I could split the circuits to put heater element on different rate. Told by supplier not to worry as once up to heat very little used to maintain it if cover was used. Didn't believe him so got a spare electricity meter from work and plugged it into it to measure total watts, used bugger all about the same as an electric blanket. Will use more when in use or when pump runs. Cheers Rob

Average spa heater/pump combo runs for 1-2 hours per 24 hour period and is 1200 - 2000w (element) - Not including the power consumed by the induction motor in the pump!!!!

Thats between 2.4 - 5.0 kWh of electricity per 24 hours... :eek:

On average a Spa will increase household power consumption by ~5kWh per day... @ $0.22/kWh =
$1.10 per day,
$33.50 per month,
$100.00 per Quarter or
$400.00 per year

But as I said, they are really worth the relaxation

[Casper]

Thanks folks,

It comes with a 6" thick insulated cover and is insulated around and under it within the box it's installed in.

I do understand it will cost me something but it is just the running of the pump and the heater while it is not being used which is what will nag at me.

It will however if not used very often then will get emptied, sealed up and covered up and left there as it will add value to the house and is going into an area which is not used now anyway.

If I can run the pump and heater for bugger all when not being used then I am happy to spend the extra on chemical and water etc.

Thanks for your Ideas, the one about stealing the power from next door would be rather easy right now as the next door neighbour has just gone into an old folks home so we're watching the house for the family.

I don't think that would be very neighbourly so I may not do that one :p

Solar is an idea but I may even consider an old school wind mill to pump the water and solar heating and rain water from our tank off the shed to fill it up.

Cheers folks and thanks again.

Casper

[Casper]

Average spa heater/pump combo runs for 1-2 hours per 24 hour period and is 1200 - 2000w (element) - Not including the power consumed by the induction motor in the pump!!!!

Thats between 2.4 - 5.0 kWh of electricity per 24 hours... :eek:

On average a Spa will increase household power consumption by ~5kWh per day... @ $0.22/kWh =
$1.10 per day,
$33.50 per month,
$100.00 per Quarter or
$400.00 per year

But as I said, they are really worth the relaxation

Thats less than I thought it would, I was thinking that it would cost about double that so thats a lot of power for the price of the solar panels, a wind mill or other tinkering ideas.....but no where near as much fun.

Cheers Casper.

[Xtreme]

Hi folks,

My wife's friend has just got her divorce settlement and part of it was a spa to which has ended up at my house so now I need to know how I can heat it and run the pump to circulate the water when we're not using it for as cheap as possible.

Being the tight wad that I am I also don't want to spend much to do it so put your thinking caps on and come up with some good ideas that cost bugger all to build.

I don't mind running the pump when we're in it, just don't like to spend up big on electricity (or for that matter on infrastructure) to run the pump and heater all the time.

Cheers Casper

A friend of mine bought a large roll of black poly pipe, placed it in the sun next to the spa so water circulated by natural convection. Looked a bit messy but worked a treat as far as keeping water circulating and a bit warm at the same time. :D:D

[justinc]

Bestest and cheapest method is to EAT MORE BEANS and ONLY hop in the spa after a big feed.....:o


:D


JC