Free Tub - Some Advice If You Would Be So Kind..

[dannyboy]

Hello,

I seem to be the proud owner (maybe not according to the cal spa fans) of a free hot tub. My neighbor decided to give me his 2001 Cal Spa pneumatic 2200. After spending only 20 minutes in a successful move from his yard into mine I have some questions I hope you may be able to answer now I have stated looking at this thing and read all 33 pages of posts here.

He mentioned there seemed to be a leak from the left hand heater pipe sleeve. This guy decided to just squirt glue in every crack he could find, but for some reason that didn't fix it . I have managed to remove all the glued PVC and have new sleeve joints for the heater flow through. Upon replacement, it will basically be a new plumbing job from the safety suction system to the flow through.

The problem I have is that he also has offered the 240 wiring required from his garage but not until he moves so I have no way of powering this thing up.

Is there a way to just fill the tub to check for leaks or has the motor got to be running to produce the normal pressure for them to be exposed?

If I do fill it without the possibilities of power for about 3 weeks, will the water be useless and all stagnant?

The way my neighbor has the power presently set is just a GFCI in the main circuit/breaker box in the garage then about 100ft of conduit to his tub. I live in Colorado so is this possibly acceptable? He had an electrician install this but I wonder if I require an additional sub panel located near the tub (or 10 foot form tub, 90 foot from panel box in garage). I was hoping that this thing would be super cheap (here's really hoping!!) and I could just mirror his setup as I have positioned the tub in exactly the same place as he had it. Saving on the cable/wire, the tub and the 50a GFCI breaker is a plus...

One last question is that the sleeve on the heater flow through I have purchased was a split sleeve with a fairly large, clear rubber washer. On the PVC connection to it's left....the sleeve connector to the rest of the PVC, there is a thin rubber ring/washer. Which should I use.... The large clear washer that came with the split sleeve or the thin rubber one...?

Just want to ensure I fix that leak.

I'll put some photos up later to explain better.

Thanks for any help you can give me on this. I'm hoping it's not going to be a major headache. If there are problems with it, as long as the liner has no cracks and is in good condition, it's salvageable (at a price).....right????

cheers

dannyboy

[dannyboy]

Oh, another question...can anyone tell me the difference between the 1100, 2200 & 3300 Cal Spa models?

Mine is pneumatic so is this something that can be replaced one day for a fancy digital controller?

thanks!!

[cplarsen]

To be up to code these days, you need a shutoff by the spa.

As for finding a leak, go ahead and fill it, wait a couple of days, then check for water. Then drain it again. You won't find a leak as fast as if it was under pressure, but it's the best you can do till you power it up.