Bought Used Spa That Doesn't Heat Well

[Rolexor]

I think the topic title is fairly self explanatory. We bought a used 8 x 8 above ground spa last year. It runs on 220 and seems to run forever before heating up, last year it added $165.00 to our electricity bill in July, and we live in So Cal where we get temps of around 100 degrees during the day so I thought the ambient temp would keep it managable, at least until the bill came. As a result my wife and I have left it dormant until this last week I just dialed it all back in and am heating it up as I write.

I turned on the heater at 2:30pm and it is now 7:45, as of right now it is still too cool to go in, I would rate it as swimming pool temp or so.

We are planning on having a large In-Ground Spa (about 12 x 12 plus a wading area of 6 x 8) made when money becomes a little less tight, so I was thinking should I just buy a gas heater now and plumb it to the spa? Or does anyone know of any inexpensive options I might try?

Thanks,

Greg

[grahamtasia]

Do you know the spa make and if there is a dealer in your area?

[poollady]

I think the topic title is fairly self explanatory. We bought a used 8 x 8 above ground spa last year. It runs on 220 and seems to run forever before heating up, last year it added $165.00 to our electricity bill in July, and we live in So Cal where we get temps of around 100 degrees during the day so I thought the ambient temp would keep it managable, at least until the bill came. As a result my wife and I have left it dormant until this last week I just dialed it all back in and am heating it up as I write.

I turned on the heater at 2:30pm and it is now 7:45, as of right now it is still too cool to go in, I would rate it as swimming pool temp or so.

We are planning on having a large In-Ground Spa (about 12 x 12 plus a wading area of 6 x 8) made when money becomes a little less tight, so I was thinking should I just buy a gas heater now and plumb it to the spa? Or does anyone know of any inexpensive options I might try?

Thanks,

Greg

You should be able to replace the heater only. If you know the make and model of the tub, a local dealer should be able to help you.

[grahamtasia]

There also might be something wrong with the heater element. You could also check into getting a new one.

[Guzz]

I think the topic title is fairly self explanatory. We bought a used 8 x 8 above ground spa last year. It runs on 220 and seems to run forever before heating up, last year it added $165.00 to our electricity bill in July, and we live in So Cal where we get temps of around 100 degrees during the day so I thought the ambient temp would keep it managable, at least until the bill came. As a result my wife and I have left it dormant until this last week I just dialed it all back in and am heating it up as I write.

I turned on the heater at 2:30pm and it is now 7:45, as of right now it is still too cool to go in, I would rate it as swimming pool temp or so.

We are planning on having a large In-Ground Spa (about 12 x 12 plus a wading area of 6 x 8) made when money becomes a little less tight, so I was thinking should I just buy a gas heater now and plumb it to the spa? Or does anyone know of any inexpensive options I might try?

Thanks,

Greg

That's a pretty high bill for the middle of summer, which means the spa is probably not insulated, you may be able to do that yourself. a spa will heat up, depending on the kw heater at about 4 degrees + or - an hour.

[Rolexor]

I recently replaced all of the siding on the spa and looked for some sort of manufacturer indentification but couldn't find any. The only thing I see is Nu-Wave Spa control. Do you know if that is the heater or does that control the heater? It has a timer on it and the selection switch for it to heat by time or temp, also the pumps plug into it, I see two plugs for pumps and one other that is a regular home type plug for 110, but I don't know where that goes.

It looks like I can go on eBay and buy a new spa pack for about $300,

New Spa Pack on eBay

Or I can buy for about the same amount a gas heater,

Used Gas Heater on eBay

I don't know if the new pack is the correct one for what I have, but like I was saying before I want to build a really cool inground spa in the future so if the gas one would allow me use what we have now and grow into what we want I would like to explore that. Any help that anyone can offer would be appreciated.

[Guzz]

I recently replaced all of the siding on the spa and looked for some sort of manufacturer indentification but couldn't find any. The only thing I see is Nu-Wave Spa control. Do you know if that is the heater or does that control the heater? It has a timer on it and the selection switch for it to heat by time or temp, also the pumps plug into it, I see two plugs for pumps and one other that is a regular home type plug for 110, but I don't know where that goes.

It looks like I can go on eBay and buy a new spa pack for about $300,

New Spa Pack on eBay

Or I can buy for about the same amount a gas heater,

Used Gas Heater on eBay

I don't know if the new pack is the correct one for what I have, but like I was saying before I want to build a really cool inground spa in the future so if the gas one would allow me use what we have now and grow into what we want I would like to explore that. Any help that anyone can offer would be appreciated.

Gas is going to be a very expensive option, get a new heater, if you have a 110v, that is why it is taking so long to heat, rewire for 220v, consult a certified electrician.

[Rolexor]

Gas is going to be a very expensive option, get a new heater, if you have a 110v, that is why it is taking so long to heat, rewire for 220v, consult a certified electrician.

It is already 220v. When you say that gas will be an expensive option, can you elaborate? Do you mean that it will be expensive to operate or to buy the equipment or both? My main concern is the operation expenses.

Thanks,

Greg

[Guzz]

It is already 220v. When you say that gas will be an expensive option, can you elaborate? Do you mean that it will be expensive to operate or to buy the equipment or both? My main concern is the operation expenses.

Thanks,

Greg

It will be expensive to operate if you want to maintain the spa at a constant temperature. That is why all spas these days are electricly heated. If it was cheaper to do otherwise everyone would.

[Rolexor]

It will be expensive to operate if you want to maintain the spa at a constant temperature. That is why all spas these days are electricly heated. If it was cheaper to do otherwise everyone would.

Not to argue that point but more for my information, why is it then that gas heaters are used on in ground equipment? I was thinking that gas was more effiecient and less costly to operate, and that above ground spas used electricity more out of convenience and portability, or for some safety issue due to the limited size and maybe heat issues with the gas.

[Guzz]

Not to argue that point but more for my information, why is it then that gas heaters are used on in ground equipment? I was thinking that gas was more effiecient and less costly to operate, and that above ground spas used electricity more out of convenience and portability, or for some safety issue due to the limited size and maybe heat issues with the gas.

The inground industry is now also getting away from gas heaters, electric heat pumps are way more efficient than gas.

[Rolexor]

The inground industry is now also getting away from gas heaters, electric heat pumps are way more efficient than gas.

Ok, so a heat pump is an electric heater like you would find on an above ground spa. I wasn't sure what it was. So now my question still stands, should I look into a heater for an inground pool/spa and plumb that, instead of replacing the one on my above ground spa, so that it will forward reaching?

What kind of cost would I be looking at?

What do the BTU's really mean?

What would I need to heat a volume of 624 cubic feet of water in a reasonable amount of time? That is the volume of water for the spa I envision building.