dlynn

I have never needed spa down, so I can't help you.

The photo has to be on the web. Copy the web address of the photo by right clicking on the photo then select properties. In the properties box will be the web ULR for that photo. Paste that ULR into your message then select the ULR you just pasted and click on the Photo icon on the toolbar. Like this: Photo of the new Platinum III (right click on this photo and look at the properties)

You can use the tub with high ph. Wait a day and check it again, before you try spa down, it may go down a little.

They are not the same as the Sterling Leisure Prestine. The Prestine has some features the PlatinumII does not have, but the shell, jets, pumps, and electrical are all the same. The Prestine has sweep 90 plumbing, metal frame (not wood), and better insulation. For the money the PlatinumII is one of the best buys on the market. And the electrical warranty is 2 years on both tubs. It is so hard to measure power use of the tub. My power bill one month was $16 less than the year before (I didn't have the tub last year). The next month my power bill was $19 more than the year before. There are other factors that effect power usage. I don't think I saved power by getting a tub one month and used more the next because I had the tub. The net effect has not been much yet even with a cold month last month. I did add extra insulation to my tub. I am sure my usage will go up more in the winter.

Why are you so down on Hydro Spa that you keep repeating info you have already apoligized for being wrong about. You continue to repeat the BBB thing when you have already apoligized to this board for mixing them up with someone else. They don't have a bad BBB rating. They are a much larger Spa company than your Arctic Spa company and have been making spas lots longer and sold lots more spas. Go talk up your spa instead of cutting everybody elses. You have a great spa, go talk about it.

Renew is a Non-Clorine Shock (MPS). Normaly you use it once a week at the rate of 3 TBS per 250 Gal of Water. Some people use MPS daily, but it is an Oxidizer not a Sanatizer and is designed to be used as a Shock. You Oxidize once a week to burn off lotions and gunk. You Sanatize daily.

The Platinum III apears to be a version of the Desire by Hydro-Spa. It does have the foil bubble wrap insullation just under the siding, I added that to my Platinum II already. I like the new colors. Looks like a great buy. I wonder if the price will go up.

Do not use Bleach in a Hot Tub. It may void your warranty. Most mfg warn against using bleach. If you get any bleach on the surface it may damage the spa liner or cover. Beach only contains about 6% clorine compared to 62% for Dichlor. Bleach was not made for Spas and Dichlor was. I would recommend using the non-clorine shock, MPS. You shock the tub to Oxidize and burn up lotions and other gunk. If you shock with Clorine you may have to wait to get the levels down to a safe level to use the tub, sometimes 1-2 days. Clorine is a sanatizer but will oxidize at high levels, problem is you need those lower levels to use the tub. Spa maintance seems confusing whether using Clorine or Bromine but after a couple a months you will figure it out. By the way Bromine is no more difficult to learn than Clorine and it is less maintance once everything is set up.

Here is the new Platinum III tub.

Your local HotSprings or Keys Dealer would be responsible for service on a spa purchased from Costco. I purchased my spa from Costco and saved a lot of money for the price paid. I know service is an issue but I have checked with some of our local spa dealers and they want the service business. When they do warrenty service they get paid just the same no matter where you bought your spa from. The new in store Spa should be arriving at Costco any time now, you may want to watch for it, I havn't heard who will be making it this year but the Hydro-Spa model sold last year was an excellent buy for the money. I have heard that Sundance will be doing road shows at Costco soon as well.

Did you get the gap all the way around the cabinet top or just below the controls? I stuffed fiberglass insulation up there all the way around the top from the inside. With the bubble blanket on the water does the bottom of your cover still have water drops on it when you open it?

I considered adding the foam board but the plumming is kind of in the way, so I elected to add the Reflective bubble insulation and I have been pleased with the results. I am sure you could add some type by moving the manifolds a little.

I own a Platinum Elite spa made by Hydro-Spa for Costco. It is much better than I expected for the price, the jets are strong, the construction is sound and everything seems to work great. I really like my foot dome jets and neck jets. I believe the Hydro-Spa branded spas are better insulated than mine, I have added extra insulation. Good Luck.

I don't think any concrete job is any more level than 1/4 inch. I wouldn't worry about it. It would be no different on the shell than a 1/4 inch slope and most concrete has a slight slope for drainage.

I have added insulation to mine, I did not check the power usage before adding the insulation, last month my power bill was $18 more than last year during the same period, it said on the bill the average daily temp in Sep was 2 degrees colder than last year (I do not know how much that colder temp affected the bill). The coldest night I remember last month was 39, most nights were in the 40's. The added insulation was just fiberglass insulation poked in up under where the shell goes over the cabinet. With the added insulation the inside cabinet temp never dropped below 80 in all of Sep with an average low night time temp inside the cabinet of 84 (avg high inside temp 103). I have a wireless temp transmitter inside, got it at Walmart for $13. On Sep 30, I added that metalic reflective insulation on 3 of the 4 outer walls just under the siding, outside the styrofoam panels, my inside cabinet temp hasn't dropped below 99 since then, with the average low night time temp inside the cabinet of 101 (avg high inside temp 111). I plan to finish the rest as soon as I can get to it. The metalic reflective insulation comes in rolls, it is only about 1/4 inch thick but has a high equivalant R value because it reflects heat. It has reflective film on both sides with a bubble pad between. It is totally air tight so you need to leave some vented areas for the motors. I just left about a quarter inch gap at the bottem of the two corners where the motors are and only put the insulation on the top half under those corner panels. I still have one side lift to do. I bought it at Home Depot. It comes in 2' wide rolls 10' long, it takes 4 rolls to cover the entire outside of the cabinet. I just removed the panels stapled it on and put the panels back on. On the center panels I overlapped it so I could fold it up and down and gain access easier, I just stapled the top and bottom and let the panels hold it in place. To see it go to the Home Depot web site and search for Reflectix. The reason I first stuffed the insulation up under the lip of the shell is because there is about a half inch gap there where the heat can escape. I can tell that the added insulation has really helped, the heater light almost never comes on when I am in the tub, and it use to come on everytime before adding the insulation. I will be interested in my next power bill.