IACinger

We had friends that put a tub in their three season porch. You would think that the amount of humidity that would actually enter the house would be minimal in that situation, but it wasn't. You would also think that if the porch's glass panes were down, humidity wouldn't cause any problems with the porch ceiling, etc. ...but it did. They regretted doing it, so I opted to put mine outside on a slab next to our porch. If you doubt the amount of humidity that is generated by a tub with the jets on, just sit in one when the temperature is like 10F on a very still night. The fog rising high in to the air is so thick that you can barely see out. Imagine all that moisture entering your house. Is it really worth trying to deal with this?

Was -24F here in Iowa last night...the tub was a toasty 102F, thankfully no wind. Dicey getting out, I grabbed the metal bar I attached to my porch wall as I got out...it was like the tongue on the flag pole thing in "Christmas Story"...stuck immediately. If you take a cup of spa water and toss it in to the air, it vaporized...

My answer to your question is dont do it. All the air blower is going to do is cool down the water as it draws cold air under the skirt and it will cool down quickly,, My dealer said that a blower is not something he recommends (although he would sell me one if I really insisted). Blowing air in, and using ozonators, influences your Ph - takes it down. I did opt to add the ozonator and he was right, the only adjustment I have to make is to add "Ph UP" (I never add "Ph Down" unless changing the water - its alkaline right out of the tap).

I did the same thing in November...a 48"x25' roll from Menards was about $35, add some aluminum duct tape = less heating cycles. Worth it I think!

I tried this once, seeing some logic in the concept. I first power-washed it off outside to get the disgusting particulate matter out from between the folds of the filter - you don't want that in your dishwasher IMHO. It wouldn't stand up straight sitting on the lower rack, so I leaned it over and started the cycle...bad move, it shifted during the cycle and some folds were permanently "dented in" by the rack at the end. At that point I decided that this is just a lazy way of cleaning the filter and not worth it. I now just soak it in a good filter cleaner and then power-hose it off. I think the key is to do it frequently enough based upon your tub use. It should coincide with a good "shock/clarifier" dose, given that you are filtering out the oxidized organics in your water...I have less problem with foaming that way.

I was out the other night when it was 11F, a new record for me. But, absolutely no breeze, the steam was rising straight up in to the star filled night air from the tub. Was warm as toast, tub was 102F. Getting out was fine, following my usual ritual of dressing waist-up before getting out. My wife had gotten out a little earlier, her wet footprints had already frozen on the steps...dang near killed myself slipping. Gotta watch that one... About the chemicals and closing the cover, they say that about ozone too. My tub has an ozone recirculator (if such a gimmick works), it draws in air just about the water line and supposedly injects it back in to the water via the jets when the cover is closed. It clearly has a vacuum to it when the jets are on low, who knows, maybe it works to recirculate anything off-gassed.

TA, what brand of tub do you have? I have a QCA tub, the factory is in Iowa. I visited it, liked what I saw - especially the price. Local tub merchants told me not to buy this brand, called it very low end. Well, it has been fine. It had 2" of sprayed insulation on the inside of shell and another 2" inside the cabinet. But after adding the foil bubble wrap stuff between them, I saw an obvious reduction in heating cycles. I think it was because the numerous jet tubes now had insulation right against them. Cost me $30 to do. Was 12F the other night when I was out tubbing...yer foot prints are frozen by the time you go back out to add the chlorine...almost killed myself slipping on the steps. Ahhh...but the tub was a nice 102F.

My tub is on my patio right next to my screen porch, and can literally step in to it from the steps. When its really cold, on the way out I put the dichlor bottle in an unused drink holder. I have put hooks on the screen porch framing next to the tub to hang towels/robes. When finished tubbing, I reach up and grab a towel or short robe with hood while still standing in the water - you stay quite warm. Once wrapped up, I toss the dichlor in, pocket the bottle and begin folding the cover over as I step out of the water. Lock the cover down and you are in. No need to dry off, get dressed, go back out, etc. Been down to 16F without issues as long as no wind...thats a deal breaker for me, I wont go out then.

I looked on eBay, sometimes you can pick up hooded robes for a pretty good price, just watch the sizing. Check this item # out as an example: 290262968065

I'm in Iowa, cold winters too! I put mine right next to my screen porch on my concrete patio. I can step in to the tub from the screen porch steps (little shoveling needed). I am wind-protected on two sides, but unfortunately not to the north and east. I added two sided foil/bubble insulation and sealed it with aluminum tape top and bottom inside of my tub up against the shell/piping on the wind-exposed sides. What a difference in heat cycle run time that made! Maybe wrap yourself up in bubble wrap for the walk back in....ha!

Yes, I just purchased a QCA spa (Topaz 30) in August so I know a bit about them...I live in Iowa just 50 miles from the QCA factory. A friend and her doctor husband has had one for 5 years, and had no problems with it, thats how I heard about them. As I looked at the products offered at various dealers in my area, they carried Sundance, HotSprings, Tiger River, etc., I determined that they were very nice tubs, well built, with correspondingly high prices. I am believer that you get what you pay for, so I was tempted to pay the big bucks for the name brand. However, on the way through the Quad Cities area, my family and I stopped at their factory & showroom. We spent a fair amount of time there, looking at their products, how they were manufactured, etc. I liked what I saw, reasonable quality, probably not as nice of jets and other amenities, but after getting a price quote, which included delivery to my backyard, I was sold. I was told by the "other" manufacturer's dealers that QCA was the "Mattel Toy" of the spa industry, definitely "low end" and to stay away from them. I was told things that they didn't have, warranty problems, etc. I found out for myself that most of the things I was told were false. Its been running since the first week of August and through nightly use, so far so good, no problems. I paid about $2000 less for this tub, which fit my budget. The insulation is sprayed on 2" thick the underside of the shell, and 2" on the inside of the synthetic cabinet walls, so not bad. I will probably add some insulation to the floor and top underside of the shell and a spa blanket to increase heat retention during these very cold Iowa winters. The skimmer opening could be vertically longer to accommodate higher water levels when more people are in it. Other than that, they all hold water and they all heat up. Its all about what you can and want to pay for your toys.

I'd say think of it as Armorall without the side effects of Armorall. Besides, you'll use about 1 bottle per year @$10 while a new cover is $400 so from that standpoint it’s a no brainer. Spa Tech is right...Armorall actually dries out the vinyl that you are trying to protect...thus, the side effects he spoke of. I treated my cover over three weeks ago, and with wind, lots of rain lately and direct sun, still shines and beads up wonderfully!

The tub I recently purchased only offered a CD player/AM/FM with an MP3 player interface, which is why I didn't go with it. A CD player is pretty obsolete these days, and the AM/FM did not appeal to me, satellite radio is much better if you really want broadcasted music. So, after deciding not to pay the $800 for a stereo package, I am working on my do-it-yourself plan for one. I build my own computers, installed and wired my own tub, install my own car stereos, etc. so this should not be a major problem. A friend's tub only had a male headphone jack/wire in a waterproof compartment that led to an amp and subwoofer/side speakers. You simply plugged in your iPod or other MP3 player and you had instant tunes...it sounded great too. This is my plan. My controller has an audio/video power output jack on the board. Has anyone ever put their own music system in their tub with success?

Its called 303 protectant, any dealer will have it. Great stuff!! Thanks I will look into it. I have customers tell me that saddle soap work good too Totally agree on the 303 protectant! It is a bit pricey, $10 per spray bottle, but think of it as Armoral on steriods.

I live near the Quad Cities too, and just ordered one from QCA Spas factory in Bettendorf. Price is right, not on the "top" list though. A friend has had one for 7 years, no issues or problems so I am hoping. What did you end up doing?