Trigger

Yes that sounds like an accurate description of what happens.

I've got a ProLift III on my caldera, It's my understanding it's made by Caldera and that's what my dealer was offering. I've had it for over 5 years and it's been great. I'd check to see if your specific brand of tub has a "recomneded" brand. As far as style goes I like the ones that have the phematic shocks on them. They make lifting a cover a bit easier.

A friend/Co worker of mine recently bought a house that has an older hot tub in it. (not sure of the make, or model just that it's a 240V unit in his rec room). I gave him advice on cleaning the tub abd starting it up, but now he has a problem with the filter. Hoping you guys might have ideas or seen this: It's an older model that has the filter mounted in the top rail with a screw on cover w/ a pressure relief valve. When ever he turns the pumps on the filtercover leaks. Sounds to me like a gasket problem, but I don't really know, as I never had a tub like this and only saw one other that had this type of filter. I recomended using a little bit of Jacks lube on the gasket or replace the gasket. Anyone more familliar with this style of filter have a better idea or thoughts? Thanks

Congrats!!! I have the covermate lifter with te shocks and it's great. I hop eyou like it as much as I do. Good idea on the extra filters as well. Let us know how the install goes. (some pics would be great.)

That's a great price on the Geneva. That tub usually goes for 10K.

Watkins had provided me with the outside box and switches prior to my tub being delivered. If your dealer doens't provide the electrical box, you can ask him for the specs. I then contacted an electrician who, with the specs and box was able to wire up the outside box as well as the cable that would be eventually connected to the tub. I then had the tub delivered and had the electrican come on the same day to make the final connections and fire up the tub. A few days later the dealer came back and checked out the tub, gave me a breif training on the tub, and also sold me chemicals. True, the electrican had to guesstimate how long to make the cable, but this was relatively easy, as I knew where the tub would be located, and it's orientation, where the electrical holes were in the tub's cabinet, or you could just have the electrican make up cable after the tub is delivered, but you should be able to at the very least get the outside box wired up prior to the tub delivery.

I have a 21' round ABG pool and the only negative that I've heard about oval pools is that an oval has less structual integrity than a circle, and therefore requires the side buttresses/braces and under pool strapping for wall support. This can cost more, be more difficult to install and some people don't care for the look of the side supports. All my lif,e I've grown up with pools (above and inground) and have owend an ABG pool in my current house for the past 13 years, I've never heard anything about an oval pool being more difficult to maintain than a round pool. Round pools actually give you more swimming space than oval, but if you want to swim laps the shape of an oval might be better suited for you. I think you would find more varitey/choices with a round pool and they are generally less exspesive. But if you're only concern is pool matainence (filtering, vacumming, water chemistry, and pool closing during the winter) then I know of no differences.

I have a Caldera Geneva for the past 5 years and am very happy with it and haven't had any problems with it other than the diverter valve handles have slightly discolored. I'm told this is due to the ozone. I might have made a stink and got them replaced but it's not big deal for me. Overall I love the tub. It's big, it's got a variety of seating and jets. I also enjoy the air bubbler. If you're going to do a lot of entertaining, then ypou may find the lounger can get in the way. I personaly enjoy the lounger and it's one of my favortie seats. Regardless of the great prince, if you can't fit in the chair with the neck jets, it sounds like this tub doesn't fit you and perhaps you should keep looking? But as far as quality, the Geneva is a top of the line tub.

Congrats. You did it the right way: looked at quality tubs, sought others opinions and wet tested!!

Hi Taytys, you can get a copy of your manual on line here: http://www.d1spas.co...re-manuals.html It's been my experience that you can get a new cover much cheaper on the internet than the dealer. There are many places that can make you a high quality cover at a very competitive price (including free shipping). The only issue may be if you have a cover lifter that bolts to the actual cover. you may find you'll have to re mount the lifter if the cover is differerent. YMMV. I've also found replacement pillows are also MUCH cheaper on the internet vs the dealer as well. I'd recomend you first research cover prices at places like Roberts Hot tubs http://www.rhtubs.com/ The owner is a member on this forum that goes by the handle of ; Dr Spa . Not sure if he can help you with pillows and intake covers. but a a simple google of "Dimension one spa parts" will give you a slew of places to check out. Befrore ordering online, I'd check the prices with your local dealer, If the local dealer can come close to the internet prices, I'd recomend ordering from the dealer, It's nice to have a local dealer supporting you and who can help you out when you need service orhave a question. Keeping him in business with things like covers and pillows, and supplies is a big part of his business, However it's been my experience that my dealer is 2x the cost of the internet and as much as I like him, I couldn't justify paying him $300 for a set of pillows that I could get online for $125. There's dealer markup - but that's just insane.

I'll bite. I have a dichlor tub with a corona discharge ozinator that runs 24/7 and I think it makes a huge difference and would strongly recommend one. This past year, I haven't been using my tub as much as I'd like and I've gone WEEKs without adding sanitzer and the water quality is still great. I contribute this to the O3. Purely anecdotal evidence, but for me it works.

Yes. I consider it poor workmanship. Actually It could be negligent workmanship. I live in Central MA and both above ground pools I've had there were concrete blocks placed under the pillars. I've looked at some pool installation manuals that I could find on line and the installation manuals also call for cement blocks to be placed under the pillars. Do you have the installation manual for you pool? Does it call for blocks under the pillars? Can you contact Zenith and see what the recomend? I would gather as much info as I could, such as statement from the contractor who noticed the blocks were mssing, installaiton guidlines both from the manual and pool manufactuer and make a claim against the orignal installer.

Is the MA dealer over in Dudley? Art 's a nice guy and they are a very good dealer, but the fact that he is 2 hours away is significant. N1oty brings up a valid point with the sales tax. As much as I like Art over in Dudley, If it were me, I'd see if I could get the guy in NH to move a few hundred on the price and go with him. When you need service you will be going to the local guy and unless the local guy is a complete tool, I'd be inclined to work with him.

Well, we solved the mystery of the depression. We discovered a pile of sand beside the pool, and it appears a small animal had burrowed under the pool and it must have caved in, causing this depression. We didn't notice the burrow at first, as one side of our pool is up against a deck. But looking under the deck....there it was. I'll smoke bomb the burrow to ensure nothing is still living in there and backfill the burrow as best as I can. Short of emptying the pool, is there anyway I can get rid of the depression in the liner?

this weekend I noticed and odd shaped depression on the bottom of my 22" 54" Easther Williams AGP. It's about 1.5 inches deep and about the szie of a small dinner plate/saucer. My wife and I suspected that we probably had a leak, and the leaking water washed away some of the sand, hence the depression. However, we can't seem to find the hole, and we don't seem to be loosing any water. What, other than a leak would cause this depression? It wasn't there last season. If it was a slow small leak, are thier ways to detect small holes? (I've heard of certain dyes that you can put in the water near the suspected lead???). Is there a way to repair the sand depression? thanks!

I'm not a dealer, or a paid blogger. Just a regular guy who has enjoyed hot tubs. I've owned 3 different hot tubs and have been an active member in the hot tub on line community for many years. Over the years from listening to others, reading revews, learning about what's out there, several manufactuers always seem to raise to the top for customer satisfaction and quality. Master never has made that list. Most everyone will agree thier sales tatics are high pressure, and somewhat questionable. Their prices seem to be high, and I've read several articles that make me question thier build quality. Personaly I wouldn't buy from them simply because of the fraudentlent traveling spa show that corporate turns a blind eye to. That, and I still chuckle about Terminators photos that he posted a few years ago at the What's the best hot tub site. The Watkins tubs seem to rate very well. Watkins makes the Hotsping,Caldera, Tiger River, Hotspot and Limelight tubs. I don't think you can go wrong with any of thier tubs. Hotsprings are the flag ship tubs, but can be a bit pricey. I and my friends have found you get more bang for the buck with the Caldera line vs the Hotpsing line. I've also owend a Tiger River which is now 7 years old and still running great at my sister's house. Good luck!

isn't East Texas Hot Tubs in your area? i'd call Chris O. (AKA an old poster Terminator)and see what he could do for you.

Since you are reviving a thread that has not seen any activity for about 5 months and was started in 2008, and your IP address is suspect you sound like a shill to me! (comcast business account in the same area as Arthur's Pools and the same IP has been used in the past to defend this business on this forum. In this thread JHardesty and Better Business Bureau have the same IP. Also, so does banned spammer abovegroundpoolexperts which is what it says at the top of the Arther's Pools website, in addition to LindaT who joined the forum 4 minutes before you but is still validating and WaterD who slammed the same competetor that Better Business Bureau slams above.) Anyone else besides me think that this is a shill post? Thanks Waterbear for keeping an eye on this and checking out the addresses. While the ABG pool area of the website isn't the most active, the last thing we need are phoney posts from dealers and thier shills. I thought we were done with that a few years ago in the Hot Tub area of this site. Glad you're on top of things.

Wow! It looks great! How much $ do you think you put into the whole thing? Did you end up stripping the latex paint off or just go over it with the SW?

I have the Altamar by Sundance. I live in the Midwest, highs of 50's and lows of 20's lately. Not as cold as the Northern states, but still below freezing at night. Current temp at 10:30 AM is 32. I guess I was not aware that leaving the temps high cost the same. I was thinking much like a house, cheaper to maintain lower temps when you are away. I could be wrong and would love to hear from anyone who knows for sure. I would sure like to drop right in without the 30 minute wait. No regrets on the tub, that is for sure. Wally i've seen this debated many times over the years, and it's pretty much accepted that with a quality unit - such as a Sundance,- you should keep the thermostat/heater at the desired temperature. Your unit is designed for cold weather use, and if everything is working correctly (Cover in good shape, heater and thermostat operating correctly and the integrity of the tubs insulation is intack) don't bother turning it down. Given the fact that your using it every day, it probably doesn't even loose that much heat. The only time you should be turning down the temps is when you don't plan on usin the tub for an extended time (2 weeks or more) and there is no chance of loosing power in freezing conditions.

HI Wallyeye, Thanks for you inital impressions... Can you remind us what tub you have? Also where are you located? (you mentioned you've already have below freezing temps). Question: Why turn down the temp of the tub? It's my understanding that there really isn't any significant cost savings in doing so.

HI Clarence, My best friends were recently in the same position as you. They were looking at the Hotspot Rythem, but found the caldera Vanto to be the exact same tubs (same manufacuter) just different name for a grand less. Have you taken a look at the Caldera Palatino? It's the same as the Tempo. But like my friends, you may find it for significantly less $. The Clearwater tubs are not well respected (please read for yourself the pro's and cons). Personally I prefer a quality full foamed tub than a budget thermal style tub, espically so in cold weather climates. DO a bit more research on the clearwater tubs, and before you make a decsions, do yourself a favor and talk to a caldera dealer about the palatino.

Jim is that you?

I've been tubbing for about 7 years now. Absolutley when you first get a hot tub, it's used more. I walked around with pruned skin for about the first year of having the tub. . But that's not to say that after 7 years and 3 tubs later that I don't still use it. Especaily in the winter time. It's great. I'd say I use my tub about 2x a week. Nothing is better after a hard day of yard work, or shoveling or when you just want to relax. Just recently while advising my best friends who were buying a tub my wife and thought about what our next tub would and wouldn't have. We see ourselves as always having a tub assuming it fits into our lifestlye and budget. How much will we use the tub is a very important question to ponder when considering a hot tub. They're not cheap, there's definatly a cost just to install one, and they do require upkeep. To me nothing is "uglier" (tacky??) as a run donw neglegted hot tub sitting in a yard. As one poster recently wrote, if you're getting a hot tub to be party central, or as a status symbol, chances are you'll stop using it after a while. The novelty will wear off. While I don't know of anyone personally who did this it makes sense to me. It's not like a pool where you may find yourself gathering around it for cook outs or spending the afternoon playing in it. It's different. I recomend you think about why you want a tub, what your expectations are, do your homework, work out a budget, take your time to learn about what you're buying and I think you'll make the decision that's right for you. Are you one who likes long soaks in a bath tub? while on vacation do you find yourself seeking out the hot tub? Do you have friends that have a hot tub? What's been your past experience when using a hot tub?

Intex answers this question on thier Website: http://faq.intexstore.com/faqsup/pub/FaqSupportServlet?action=home&country=USA&frmcontact=&hid_windowname= Unfortunately the FAQ doesn't provide too much help other than basicaly saying, an Intex pool can be winterized. I have a conventtional above ground pool (21' Esther Williams round) and do not have any experience with Intex pools, but here's what I do (and since thier FAQ simpley says add the appropriate amount of chemicals, it looks like this shold be fine) I would clean/vacum the pool, remove the ladder, drain to just below the inlet/outlet/skimmer/ disconnect the pump (store indoors) plug the hose inlet/outlet and skimmer and then add winter chemicals. You local pool supply store (I go to NAMCO) can set you up with the proper chemicals. I would shock the pool, add 1 gal of winterizer and string a chlorine float acrosss the top. I also add an inflatable pillow to support the winter cover. I am uncertain on what to do for a cover. You can google "intex winter cover" and get a debris cover for about $30 that covers the pool to keep leaves and sticks out. It looks like it secures around the pool with a rope. However, it seems you are late in the year and in a rush and may not be able to wait to recieve a cover mail order. (?) I do not know if putting a convetional winter cover on your intex pool is a good idea or not. I am concerned because a typical winter cover ($40-60) does not let the water drain through it and accumulates on the top. I do not know if an Intex pool frame can suuport a winter cover with rain water, ice, winter snow on it. I am also concerned that a conventional winter cover cinches around the pool with a wire cable and ratchet. This gets very tight. Once again, can an intex frame can withstand this? Sorry, but I just don't know. Perhaps a call to Intex would help? Some folks don't cover thier pool. I cannot speak to this if it's a good idea or not. I've always covered my pools with a water proof cover. Good luck.