bradcreech7804 Posted May 25, 2021 Report Share Posted May 25, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cranbiz Posted May 25, 2021 Report Share Posted May 25, 2021 The most important check is to see it full and running with no issues. If it's free, take a chance. If you are paying good money, you can't really check anything without power. You would need roughly a 12K generator that supports a 220V 50A outlet if you brought your own power to wire it up to test. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradcreech7804 Posted May 25, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2021 Can I test with 110 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradcreech7804 Posted May 25, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2021 2 minutes ago, bradcreech7804 said: Can I test with 110 Can anyone help me on this at the location now only have 110 here anything I can do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cranbiz Posted May 25, 2021 Report Share Posted May 25, 2021 Can you? Probably. Post up a picture of the wiring diagram on the Spa pack. It would probably involve changing jumpers and dip switch settings. It's going to need to be filled to test the heater and the pumps. At 110V it's also going to take a long time to see any temperature increase to actually test the heater. You might get 1-2 degrees an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratchett Posted May 25, 2021 Report Share Posted May 25, 2021 I would never buy/take a drained/empty tub - that is a can of worms you don't want to open........ When you remove the water and let a tub sit dry, the air will get to anything metal (like the heater element which may start rusting) and the seals which can start to shrink and deteriorate in as little as one week after a spa has been drained. Hot Tubs have the best lifespan when left filled with hot sanitized/balanced water and running. Real talk - if you watch the local classifieds daily (since pros are also watching for used spas to flip and re-sell) you can often score a used (WORKING) hottub for between $1000 and $4000 in decent to good condition once you know what brands to look for - the trick is to only look at newly listed spas which you can see filled with water and functional in the photos (if it's empty - skip it even if it's a top name brand). I personally would skip this spa unless the owner will fill it and turn it on so you can see it working (note - different leaks appear at ambient temperature verses water heated to 100F). Spas are a luxury item which requires maintenance for optimal operation, most people can't even maintain a vacuum cleaner's filters, let alone a hottub. Many people get bored and look to sell their tub before it depreciates too much in value. I see good deals for used spas at least half a dozen times a month (although like I said, the best deals get scooped up in less than 24-36 hours). Just remember that dealer warranties do not transfer, so don't pay 85% of retail price because it's a 1-year old used hottub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted May 25, 2021 Report Share Posted May 25, 2021 1 hour ago, ratchett said: since pros are also watching for used spas to flip and re-sell Shhhhh They obviously had the spa running at some point...What happened to the electrical? (Red Flag) So what can you do... First fill it up and go back tomorrow. Next you will have to get at the back end of the pumps and remove the dust cover that is dead center of the back end of the motor. There you will see a slot for a flat head screwdriver (bring a finger sized flat head in case it is tight to access) place it in the slot and see if ALL the pumps will turn and are not seized. Bring a multi meter and test the heater element for continuity. Open panels and look for white chalky areas that indicate a past/present leak. Green areas around the base (algae) usually at a corner will indicate a leak as well. Very important to inspect the base of the spa for rot. We get Kijiji (Craigslist) buyers that ask us to move a spa they just bought online and we go to tip it up and the bottom falls out. Open the spa pack and look for darkened or burnt areas. What condition is the cover. If it is heavy... $500+ Remove and look at the filters...if they are gunked up it will tell you a little bit about how they cared for it. To hook it up 120V look at the schematic on the inside cover of the spa pack. Should tell you how to convert to 120V How will you move it? Is there a clear path to get it out of their backyard? But despite all this #1 rule when buying a used spa...Never buy a spa you don't see running and up to temp or it's buyer beware Rule #2 Free spas are never free. People get rid of them for a reason... usually a repair cost estimate. Good Luck 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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