Evolution Csxi80 80 Jet, 6 Seat

[musiclvr]

I'm wondering if anyone has this spa and can comment on the noise, and the number of people it seats comfortably? I'm considering purchasing this spa, but note on the Canadian Costco.ca website that somebody's review noted that the pumps are noisy, that you can't hear the waterfall even over the pumps. I have neighbours close by that I don't want to disturb, and frankly I don't want to sit in a noisy spa. Also, I think you can choose how often if cycles/filters? Is that correct?. I'd appreciate any honest feedback on this hottub in general, as well as comments on the panels that pop off or people are having trouble putting back on. Is it worth it to save a bit of money only to have the spa be a pain in your butt half the time? Thank you!!

[Reiner]

I'm wondering if anyone has this spa and can comment on the noise, and the number of people it seats comfortably? I'm considering purchasing this spa, but note on the Canadian Costco.ca website that somebody's review noted that the pumps are noisy, that you can't hear the waterfall even over the pumps. I have neighbours close by that I don't want to disturb, and frankly I don't want to sit in a noisy spa. Also, I think you can choose how often if cycles/filters? Is that correct?. I'd appreciate any honest feedback on this hottub in general, as well as comments on the panels that pop off or people are having trouble putting back on. Is it worth it to save a bit of money only to have the spa be a pain in your butt half the time? Thank you!!

There are two specific threads going about these spas, answering all your questions!

http://www.poolspaforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=19126

http://www.poolspaforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=21666

[J24]

We've had it two weeks. It is better than we expected. We like the size, layout, jets, power, controls, configuration, cabinet, shell, seating. The only thing that bothers me slightly is that the pump makes a bit more noise than I would like when it runs -- not from the standpoint of when you are sitting in the tub, but rather when it runs twice a day during its filtration cycle. It's not horrible, but I notice it when I'm in the kitchen (the spa is just outside near the patio). A spa with a small circulation pump wouldn't have this noise (I don't think).

I'm going to change the mounts under the pumps to hard rubber which I think will kill the vibration noise.

Again, it isn't a huge thing. My wife doesn't even notice it.

There is my honest feedback!

[soakerguy]

If it is controlled with Balboa controls I am pretty sure that even with a 24 hour circ pump the main jets come on twice daily just a few minutes to purge the lines. My Platinum II spa has a 24 hour circ. pump and it cycles the main pumps breifly twice daily and I was told by the manufacture that was to flush out all the jets/lines as the circ. pump doesn't move all the water in every jet/line.

[hot_water]

If it is controlled with Balboa controls I am pretty sure that even with a 24 hour circ pump the main jets come on twice daily just a few minutes to purge the lines. My Platinum II spa has a 24 hour circ. pump and it cycles the main pumps breifly twice daily and I was told by the manufacture that was to flush out all the jets/lines as the circ. pump doesn't move all the water in every jet/line.

I think soakerguy is right. My old spa (Platinum III) had the 24 hr circ pump and I thought that it was a great system. The jet pumps would come on for five minutes every few hours. You did hear it inside the house, just as J24 mentioned. I used "spa-flush" on each drain-refill and never got any crud out of the plumbing, so my conclusion was that the 24 hour circ system works.

I'm a big fan of perimeter insulated spas, mostly because of the ease of serviceability. But the downside is, I think they're louder than the full-foam models.

Wonder how much work it would be to change to a 24 hour circ pump system on the CSXi80? It's on my list of things to check out once mine arrives and I get a chance to examine the details under the hood. Noise is abit of concern for me too, since the neighbor's bedroom is just on the other side of the fence to where my spa will be located.

[soakerguy]

If it is controlled with Balboa controls I am pretty sure that even with a 24 hour circ pump the main jets come on twice daily just a few minutes to purge the lines. My Platinum II spa has a 24 hour circ. pump and it cycles the main pumps breifly twice daily and I was told by the manufacture that was to flush out all the jets/lines as the circ. pump doesn't move all the water in every jet/line.

I think soakerguy is right. My old spa (Platinum III) had the 24 hr circ pump and I thought that it was a great system. The jet pumps would come on for five minutes every few hours. You did hear it inside the house, just as J24 mentioned. I used "spa-flush" on each drain-refill and never got any crud out of the plumbing, so my conclusion was that the 24 hour circ system works.

I'm a big fan of perimeter insulated spas, mostly because of the ease of serviceability. But the downside is, I think they're louder than the full-foam models.

Wonder how much work it would be to change to a 24 hour circ pump system on the CSXi80? It's on my list of things to check out once mine arrives and I get a chance to examine the details under the hood. Noise is abit of concern for me too, since the neighbor's bedroom is just on the other side of the fence to where my spa will be located.

When I added the "reflectix" insulation the noise went way down to just a barely audible hum. I still hear it but to be honest, lets me know all is well when I hear it.

[looking for the straight]

If it is controlled with Balboa controls I am pretty sure that even with a 24 hour circ pump the main jets come on twice daily just a few minutes to purge the lines. My Platinum II spa has a 24 hour circ. pump and it cycles the main pumps breifly twice daily and I was told by the manufacture that was to flush out all the jets/lines as the circ. pump doesn't move all the water in every jet/line.

I think soakerguy is right. My old spa (Platinum III) had the 24 hr circ pump and I thought that it was a great system. The jet pumps would come on for five minutes every few hours. You did hear it inside the house, just as J24 mentioned. I used "spa-flush" on each drain-refill and never got any crud out of the plumbing, so my conclusion was that the 24 hour circ system works.

I'm a big fan of perimeter insulated spas, mostly because of the ease of serviceability. But the downside is, I think they're louder than the full-foam models.

Wonder how much work it would be to change to a 24 hour circ pump system on the CSXi80? It's on my list of things to check out once mine arrives and I get a chance to examine the details under the hood. Noise is abit of concern for me too, since the neighbor's bedroom is just on the other side of the fence to where my spa will be located.

When I added the "reflectix" insulation the noise went way down to just a barely audible hum. I still hear it but to be honest, lets me know all is well when I hear it.

We've had our spa CXSi80 up and running less than a week, the noise of the spa running can't be heard in the house, outside yes. When you turn on the pump to the captains chairs that is the loudest noise, loud for the persons sitting in those two seats especially, talk is hindered when that pump is on the second (high) setting.

The panels as of yet have not popped out and I don't forsee a problem there after we have had them all removed and checked out the entire spa, (this problem was addressed on the other forum that Strong Spa's had fixed this). I have seen no recent entry on this being a regular problem. We've had some nasty storms, weather changes, cold to warming up, winds(60mph) and rain lasting for many many hours....no problem with the panels. Great to sit in, in stormy weather!

The Spa can seat 7 comfortably (1 person sits on the stairs) one of the seats (between the captains chairs) is smaller and would best fit a child. Yes you can choose how it cycles..........2, 4, 6, 8.......hour lengths ...............has three modes of operation, Standard, economy, and sleep. Unless you change the cycling it basically goes into a 2 hour filtration in 12.

The Spa is impressive, looks better than the pictures. The only other spa I was interested in purchasing before we found this spa was a Hotsprings Limelight flare which would have cost easily twice as much. I did have to wait far longer to get my spa than others, (7 weeks) that would be the moving company from what I can tell, Strong had it out of their hands by week 3. The spa was well worth the wait, I was at the point where I was expecting to be disappointed or find that it had been damaged in the transport. The waterfall is a nice feature, and can be turned off/on, you can hear it while water is circulating/heating and on the first level of the pumps and appreciate it visually color-changing if pumps are on the higher levels. Hope this helps.....gonna go take a soak before bed, nite!

[J24]

If it is controlled with Balboa controls I am pretty sure that even with a 24 hour circ pump the main jets come on twice daily just a few minutes to purge the lines. My Platinum II spa has a 24 hour circ. pump and it cycles the main pumps breifly twice daily and I was told by the manufacture that was to flush out all the jets/lines as the circ. pump doesn't move all the water in every jet/line.

I think soakerguy is right. My old spa (Platinum III) had the 24 hr circ pump and I thought that it was a great system. The jet pumps would come on for five minutes every few hours. You did hear it inside the house, just as J24 mentioned. I used "spa-flush" on each drain-refill and never got any crud out of the plumbing, so my conclusion was that the 24 hour circ system works.

I'm a big fan of perimeter insulated spas, mostly because of the ease of serviceability. But the downside is, I think they're louder than the full-foam models.

Wonder how much work it would be to change to a 24 hour circ pump system on the CSXi80? It's on my list of things to check out once mine arrives and I get a chance to examine the details under the hood. Noise is abit of concern for me too, since the neighbor's bedroom is just on the other side of the fence to where my spa will be located.

You could add a circ pump easily. The balboa VS control unit has a connector for it. The plumbing is straightforward and easily accessible. You could easily do the math between 4 hours of running the existing jet pump on low (which is what happens now -- 2 hours, twice a day) vs the electrical consumption of a 24 hour circ pump and see what the cost savings would be.

4 hours of filtration with the existing jet pump seems to be plenty from what I can tell so I don't think I'd gain much from a 24 hour circ pump in terms of water cleanliness.

[J24]

[\quote]When I added the "reflectix" insulation the noise went way down to just a barely audible hum. I still hear it but to be honest, lets me know all is well when I hear it.

By "reflectix" do you mean the lead lined foam noise insulation? I was thinking that would be a perfect solution in addition to rubber mounts for the pump. I think this would be an easy installation.

[looking for the straight]

[\quote]When I added the "reflectix" insulation the noise went way down to just a barely audible hum. I still hear it but to be honest, lets me know all is well when I hear it.

Just a note for the Canadian shoppers/buyers to pass on a post on another thread by JohnnyXR----"Spa been working very good and in Canada Costco dropped price of Spa like about $500 and is offering a coupon discount of $450. I phoned and they said something about 30days from order date to get refund. I explained it had been about 30 days from payment to delivery and they refunded me both discounts. Gotta like that, so after tax I get like just a hair over a $1000 back." Don't cha just love costco's 90 day price guarrentee!