JohnInSJ

Me too - you need to do something about automated spambots on your forum.

Yay **** Spam! Because you know, **** is really hard to find on the internet. Sad. Just sad.

How cold is it outside?

I have the TR Caspian ('07) and love it - trouble-free for us for nearly 2 years now. We looked at the Jacuzzi too, and I honestly cannot recall why we chose the TR over it. Wet test both (ie, get in them!) - likely you'll be fine with either.

I went with the licensed, bonded guy. Filed for my own permit. First attempt failed inspection. Electrician fixed problems, paid fee for re-inspect. I think it was about $600, a couple years ago.

2nd winter with my TR Caspian... in wimpy San Jose we don't need hurricane straps... still trouble free and loving it. Been almost too hot out this week to use it. Almost.

It may have just been one group... since I pushed them all out they've not returned. Probably a queen and some followers fixated on the site.

Ok, so spring is here (in Northern CA at least) and the flowers are up, and the bees and wasps are out in force. Last spring we did not have our tub - it was installed in June - so we missed this phase... wondering if this is typical or if I just have California hot-tub loving insects in my area.... Every time I open the top, there is a cloud of either Bees or Wasps (I'm thinking bees but hey, I don't look too carefully) that were hanging out under the top, along with the soaked carcases of their fallen comrades "resting with the fishes" who just could not resist a dip... So there's 10 minutes of waving off the swarm, and 5 minutes of skimming out the dead before a, er, "relaxing" soak. The cover has a good tight fit, but I have watched the little buggers land on the side and pretty much squeeze themselves in via the seam at the hinge. Unless I'm going to cover the whole thing with some netting, I don't think I can stop them in their quest for a steamy death.... So, is this normal, and is there anything other then waiting it out that I can do?

This depends on the state, municipality, and local laws. For example, this is Wrong in SJ, CA

Me too with my TR caspian... much better water quality, low energy use, quiet.

Good question. If it gets really bad, and stores start folding up, you should be able to get a good deal during the bank liquidation. Otherwise like most high-end stuff I would expect them to hold pretty firm on their prices. If you don't want to haggle, there is always the big box retailers. I wouldn't go that route, but lots of folks do. Really, it's not too hard to hit all the stores in your area, get written offers on similar tubs, check back here, narrow it down to 2-3 with some wet tests, and make some counter-offers. You should end up with a tub you love at a reasonable price for your area.

Oh my. And I like it when it gets down in the low 50s here in San Jose in the "winter" so I can feel that cool breeze. I think the snow monster is sneaking up on you in that photo

Yep, and when they do post, you say they can't be right - lol All of this is moot to me, if anyone wants to know what I pay for electical use in San Jose, CA, in the winter, for my Tiger River Caspian, I have several months of year over year data now, since I didn't have a tub last year - makes it pretty easy to compare. Anyway, I'm going to go soak in my tub before the superbowl... nice cool weather today, should be pretty nice

3KWH/day. Can you not read? Unless PG&E is giving me free power or cannot give me a valid year over year comparison, its working out to that give or take. And yeah, 3KWH is actually a fair amount of power. 8% of my daily power usage. Could it be 4, or 5? sure could. And yeah, this is exactly what I was talking about, how nothing ever changes here.

Wow, nothing ever changes here, does it Been away for a couple months (from the board, anyway) So, pretty cold winter (for the Bay Area, CA) - got the gas fireplace fixed, added a sunroom with electric heat, and temps below average. Let's compare just the electrical... we see: 38 KWH/day this Jan, vs 27KWH/day last Jan - or 11KWH per day difference. Edit: PG&E has a nice analyze function... it says "The change in your average electric usage per day caused a $58 increase for this bill." The 1500 watt electric heater in the sunroom, on for 4-6 hours, burns 6-9KWH Last year we were out of the house for a week, and had no XMAS lights up... since this bill spans the XMAS holiday, I am guessing the lights added to the bill, possibly 1KWH... Still leaves 1-3KWH for the tub, per day. Seems OK to me. I was in that sucker a lot this last month, when it wasn't pouring down rain (and woohoo! my new energystar windows reduced my gas usage by 20%, even with colder temps year over year) Tiger River Caspian...