Roger

Yea Durasport has been around a while and they are a decent value type tub if that's what you are looking for. Strong doesn't have a reputation yet other than some rookie reviews but is working on building one. I think Strong has been around a couple years now. Another value type tub if that's what your looking for. The more you spend the longer a tub will last. It will be more energy efficient and the better it will be backed in most cases.

We will need to know how many amps you are supplying to your tub.

A cattle tank heater. But I don't know if it would add much speed to heating.

Call Thermospa, I know they can sometimes not be very helpful but maybe they can tell you the manufacturer of their jets (there's only a couple) They are available online for replacements.

It has been colder and darker as winter has come to us. Your heat and lights have been working harder. What happened at this time last year to your power bill? Are there any puddles around your spa that weren't splashed out? 60 to 110 to heat your tub initially and with heavy use and colder temps and more lights might not be so bad.

Sounds like the circ pump to me.

As I said it is not recommended to run an extension cord. I'm not saying you can't but your not supposed to. Find your sub panel though and make sure you are feeding your tub with a 15 amp supply. If you can build your own extension cord a couple feet long it would be better. The longer the cord the more the draw.

Your not supposed to.

It quit snowing here in Northern Mn. 2 full days of snow though maybe a bit more. Maybe 2 feet.

How much was the tub new and how much is a comparable Arctic now? Seems a little light to me.

Says $3999 now?

If there's not a plug on the top of your pump which is attached to the motor. Then you will have to open the union highest on the pump.

If you like the feel of a garden hose you'll be fine. I don't think you got ripped off, I think you got 1700 dollars worth of hot tub.

If you want a mineral system with Bromine it's the Spa Frog. I think there's others also. I'd skip it unless you do notice a difference. Or want it. The rumored down side to a bromine floater is it feeds your water sanitizer even when it doesn't need it. And bromine/chlorine are abrasive to some of your plumbing components. Lots of people use them.

Cavitation = air in the lines. Open up the plug on the top of pump 2 and see if it's all water or if it burps air. Shut off the breaker first. Be prepared for a bit of a mess.

Or there is air in the lines someplace and it's cavitation.

I'm not surprised. You'd think they would though. There's enough Hot Springs guys around. Is it part of the country specific or didn't make the cost savings cut?

Has to be the board then

Find the flow sensor just past the heater on the return line to the tubs plumbing. Check to see that the contacts are clean and functioning properly.

Check the heater element. It may be shorted or burned. When you have the catastrophic water loss it may have burned up the heater. You temp problem before likely compounded the problem. There may be a couple things wrong but I guess I would check the heater first and get it heating again. Especially this time of year, depending on your location. Then if it still stays on and overheats we can diagnose from there by checking some sensors. But you'll have to watch it close when it's heating. Sorry we missed your post. Busy.

I have a Cal that is 9 years old still runs good after a bit of work. Smart move now you can explore the hot tub world without a major investment that may have been wrong. You will learn what you want in your next tub.

I would say that the likely cause of your wife's dry scalp is the very high usage. Ozonators can be good for those times when your not using your tub for a long stretch (3-4 days) and to allow you to use slightly less sanitizer between uses. But in your case using your tub once or twice a day you put in enough chlorine to keep it sanitized. And if you can use just the right amount to keep your water sanitized and not more an ozonater gains you nothing as far as dry scalp. Have her only use the tub twice a week for a couple three weeks see if the dry scalp goes away. Keep the chlorine level at 2-3 PPM after your soak and skip the shock while she isn't using it. Have her confirm it's the chlorine by skipping the tub except for a little and then maybe we can talk about maybe modifying your routine some MPS and bleach. Get a re-agent test kit and dial in your waters balance (PH, Alkalinity) Treat Balance and Sanitation as 2 different things.

Seems a little high to me. Have you opened the hood? Take it's pulse.

Please continue to keep us posted. As much as you and some others seem to think some of us are against value type tubs. Your wrong, we have said all along. They are a less expensive option to a higher priced, better designed, better built, longer lasting more energy efficient tub from manufacturer with a long standing reputation of quality and customer support. Some of us survive on value type of tubs.

Triple filters and ozone means about the same maintenance as one filter and no ozone. Don't let a sales pitch sway you into thinking that you will have any better water or less maintenance because of filtering. And ozone will reduce the quantity of sanitizer required during times of non use. But you will have to sanitize just as much with slightly less quantity.