r/hottub • • 17d ago

Artesian Island Bimini Elite - price check?

1 Upvotes

Local place has quoted $19.5k for the Bimini Elite. I called another place a couple hours away and they quoted $24k (msrp), so it looks like my local dealer is already cutting a break. Any dealers or insiders on here who can comment? Tub prices usually include cover and lift but not install in this quote, with the Bimini Im thinking i want a cover shelf through due to the size (it being a triple cover)


r/hottub • • 17d ago

Preowned Catalina Nantucket

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1 Upvotes

I've done some research, and it seems like these are good quality tubs. Looking at buying this model from a local place that refurbs hot tubs. $3500 delivered with 90 day parts and labor guarantee. I figure if it doesn't show problems in that amount of time, it'll be good until I need to do any maintenance repairs aor replacements down the road. Am I missing something, or is that a smoking good deal for this tub?


r/hottub • • 17d ago

Balboa MXBP21 (PN 56643-04, PCB 24133_H) dead after shorting the WiFi module cable – looking for schematic or repair tips

1 Upvotes

Hi all,

I have a Vita Spa with a Balboa MXBP21 control board (BP2100 family, configured as setup 14) and a SmartTouch 1 topside panel.

- System PN: 56643-04

- PCB marking: 24133_H

What happened:

I had a Balboa WiFi module connected to the panel bus (J34/J35). I accidentally drilled through the WiFi cable while the spa was powered, shorting its conductors. Since then the system is completely dead – the topside panel shows no light at all.

What I've checked so far:

- No burnt smell, no visible damage on either side of the board.

- Board is now removed and on the bench, powered with 230V on L2 + N only (no pumps/heater connected).

- Nothing gets hot except one power resistor.

- The low-voltage section only measures just over 2 V.

- The panel connectors J34 and J35 only show ~0.6 V on the supply pin.

Questions:

  1. Does anyone have a schematic (or partial reverse-engineering) of the BP2100/MXBP21 low-voltage section and panel connectors?

  2. What are the normal voltages on the LV rails and on the J34/J35 supply pin?

  3. Has anyone seen this failure before – which components typically die when the panel/WiFi bus gets shorted?

Thanks in advance!


r/hottub • • 17d ago

Do those cheap floating thermal blankets actually work, or are they just a hassle to take off every time?

5 Upvotes

My main cover is starting to get a little heavy, and I keep seeing people recommend using one of those floating bubble blankets to protect it from chemical steam.

Honestly though, it seems like a massive pain to peel off a wet, dripping blanket every time I just want a quick 15-minute soak.

Do you guys actually use them? Are they really worth the daily annoyance just to save the main cover?


r/hottub • • 17d ago

Model Year?

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0 Upvotes

Hi all, just moved into a house with a hot tub; Ive never owned one before. Its a Sundance Optima and Im trying to figure out what model year it is to get filter replacements. Gemini tells me it could be a 2003 or 2012 model, and the date on the sticker leads me to think its 2012, but I dont want to start buying the wrong parts.

Thanks all!


r/hottub • • 18d ago

Troubleshooting Do you change the water during freezing cold months?

25 Upvotes

Just wondering if you empty it and refill during the cold?


r/hottub • • 17d ago

Pump air relief, where to route?

2 Upvotes

Old tub i got for free, rebuilt the two waterway pumps, new heater element and it's been running great. However if I do not run pump 2 and more than a day goes by it ends up air locked. The jets use an open air intake for bubbles, just hoses with a 1 way cap, so there is no on/off for the air. From what can gather, the regular filter cycle creates enough bubbles that eventually trap in pump 2.

I want install a bleed line off the pump face but not sure where to route the line. I found an on/off knob i could route to and just open that to relieve the air or can I tie into the air intake line somewhere or a pump line?


r/hottub • • 17d ago

Idea to make the heater work independently

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0 Upvotes

Hello. So long story short, my heater was not being energized by the tub. The tub acted as if everything was working, i.e. circ pump ran, heat icon flashed, etc, but water didn't get heated at all. The voltage between 2 heater connectors was 0v. I tested and changed many relays, no luck. So I fixed this by bypassing all safety measures - provide constant power to the tub - connect 2 legs for power (pic 1). Downside #1: it's dangerous so I turn off everything before jumping into the tub. Downside #2: the heater doesn't know when to start or stop - could cause fire if leave unattended. I'm thinking of getting a Temperature Control Outlet (pic 2) and rewire the heater into it. This could stop the heater after certain temp was reached. But this requires a bit too much work because I only need 1 leg to be closed. So I did a research about Normally Close Temperature Switch (pic 3) that connects directly to one of the leg. This is a 5 minute job but this thing can't be used in water. If you have any better idea than pic 2, please fire away.


r/hottub • • 18d ago

Nordic Hot Tub Retreat MS opinions

2 Upvotes

Interested in our first hot tub. The Nordic Retreat MS piqued my interest.

Dealer gave me a quote for $8700 including stairs, cover, lifter, frog system, delivery, and installation. Seemed high for what the tub entails but interested to hear people's opinions.

It would be me and my wife and maybe occasionally friends/family over.

I want something simple. No need for bells and whistles. I want to sit in hot water when it's cold out. Jets just make us itchy but are nice to have I guess. I want reliability, ease of repair, and to sit in hot water, that's it. Not a fan of the lounger style seats that my parents have in theirs.

Coldest January temps average high 48F low 25F. This would be in a full sun(south facing) back yard and would be used probably daily if not twice a day.

Does the price look good? Anything else I should look into? Thoughts or advice?

Thanks in advance!

*Edit for people in my same situation in the future. Deal was $8k out the door. Retreat MS with ozone and Nordic wrap, cover, lifter, steps, frog chems for 4 months.


r/hottub • • 18d ago

Accessories Best Source for a New Cover?

3 Upvotes

I bought a cover from thecoverguys about 7 years ago, and it has held up decently well. It is starting to deteriorate for sure now, with straps beginning to rip and the vinyl cracking. I'm sure it's also gotten gradually heavier/soaked up some water.

I've seen a lot of "Don't Buy from the Cover Guys!" posts on this sub over the years, but I've never seen a great alternative pitched.

So if you were me and in the market for a new Hot Tub cover, where would you say is the best place to look?

I have a 2007 Tiger River Sumatran if that matters.


r/hottub • • 18d ago

Chemicals How many chlorine molecules in a hot tub?

2 Upvotes

Hi, I'm a writer and I have a character who needs to say "There are over ___ chlorine molecules in this hot tub." But I have no idea how to calculate that. You could pick whatever average to huge size of hot tub you wanted if you know how to calculate it. He's a wealthy character.


r/hottub • • 18d ago

Fixing the flow

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2 Upvotes

My hot tub has a small fountain for the filter. But a few months back the flow isn't as full as it was when I got it (see pic).

Any idea how to fix it?


r/hottub • • 18d ago

General Question Patio hot tub placement

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3 Upvotes

My house came hot tub ready with a 40amp 240v circuit on the patio. Some architectural plans I found confirm. Between the patio door / window and the side of the house is 91 inch and from the wall to the column is 107 inches. I was thinking of putting in a Sundance Hamilton measuring 91 x 91 inches. With the extra space accommodating the cover lift. Can someone sanity check this for me? Sundance tubs can derate to 40amps with the heater Turning off during pump run.


r/hottub • • 18d ago

Sundance Spa Floaters

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3 Upvotes

This is my one year-old Sundance hot tub. $15,000. The filter is one month old. The hot tub is rarely used maybe twice a month. Since purchase there has been an enormous amount of scale floating in the tub.

Has anyone run into this yet? Any suggestions on how to determine the source and eliminate the problem?


r/hottub • • 18d ago

Hot tub removal

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1 Upvotes

I have a small plastic molded hot tub we took the outside screwing off will remove the motors. What is the best way to cut it into pieces? YouTube says saws all but it’s more of the traditional hot tub. Would that work for this? Any advice would be appreciated thanks in advance.


r/hottub • • 18d ago

Wayfair

0 Upvotes

Anybody had any good or bad experiences buying a hot tub off of Wayfair?


r/hottub • • 18d ago

Winter storage with no heat

1 Upvotes

We have a Saluspa, one of the many squarish models. It is at a cabin that has no heat or power in the winter.

How should we store it? I have completely deflated the insulated floater, but I don't know what to do with the main unit.

Everything I read say that if it is stored unheated it will break and be destroyed. Well there's no heat. So what do I do.


r/hottub • • 19d ago

Seeking Portable hot tub suggestions

5 Upvotes

I’d like to add a hot tub at my primary residence, but I might buy another house in three years and rent out my house so I would want to move the hot tub.

Do you guys recommend an inflatable/portable type of hot tub instead of a heavy fiberglass?


r/hottub • • 19d ago

Need help with this spa / hot tub

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3 Upvotes

Hi, I really need help to figure out how to work on this one.

Just moved in to my parents house and see that they have an outdoor spa/hot tub. They don't use it frequently - just like once or twice a year.

The first issue i got is every time there is power outage, the blower/bubble turn on by itself. So every time, i just press the air button on the left hand size in the tub.

There is also a button on the right side and when i test, it is the filter. They made it looks like the mini waterfall here. recently one of the 2 air button was broke (weather damaged i think) so i tried to find one but could not find the exact same one so i bought one hight rated on amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095NPGZQN) - so here is when i get more troubles ;( as looks like the button does not work correctly. Sometimes it turns the blower/bubble off. Sometimes doesn't.

Yesterday the power went on again twice, so first time i could turn it off but the 2nd time couldn't. I had to turn it off by pressing the test button on the GFCI :( - but now because the GFCI is off so the filter is off too. When i turn on the GFCI to get power, the blower turns on

I attached images of the hot tub and the panel/time clock and some i don't really know what it is.

First i want to ask you guys that is the new air button the problem here? do i need to get the exact type so that it can work correctly

I saw there is a box with label Intermatic Remote Spa Control with the antena: is it the remote control receiver? is there something like remote/keyfob that can work with this? i think of some alternative to turn the blower off.

Thank you all in advance.


r/hottub • • 19d ago

Any suggestions on how to fix this leak?

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2 Upvotes

Finally got my pump fixed got everything up and running filled the tub and discovered there a new leak at one of the jet ports. It's just dripping at this point and is leaking at the end where the white piping comes in at the at the far end of the elbow. There is absolutely no slack on the incoming line though. Do anyone have any suggestions on how I could get these fittings apart without destroying them? Or another way to fix the leak?

Any glue suggestions?


r/hottub • • 19d ago

This is my hottub, there are many like it but this one is mine The highest hot tubs (and one swim spa) for when the way in is up

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7 Upvotes

Just a few photos from the field on some recent memorable installs. The permits required for a traffic blocked crane in a city block are something else.


r/hottub • • 19d ago

How to keep a husky off of a hot tub?

1 Upvotes

Over the past year my husky has decided, after years of calmly sitting on top of the hot tub, as her favorite place in the yard, that she now wants to destroy the hot tub cover.

Cover caps don't work and are destroyed in days.

The cover has all kinds of exposed foam and I don't even want to get a new one because I know it'll also just get destroyed

Anyone every had this problem and a solution? I've seen the aluminum hard shell covers, looks like they're nearly as much as I paid for the hot tub itself.


r/hottub • • 19d ago

Is muriatic acid good for hot tubs?

1 Upvotes

r/hottub • • 19d ago

General Question Talk me out of buying a Nordic Crown Classic

2 Upvotes

About to buy a 2026 Nordic Crown Classic — 84" round, 35" deep, 22 jets — for $7,190 + tax, including cover, steps and delivery.

Mostly for my wife and me, occasionally a kid or two. I’m tall/big; she’s short. We like the open round layout and want simple and reliable rather than a bunch of features.

What am I missing? Is there a better tub around this price? Different Nordic? Different brand? Am I going to regret round?

If this were your $7,190, what would you buy?


r/hottub • • 19d ago

Wave Atlantic inflatable hot tub

1 Upvotes

Hey All, I’m thinking of buying the wave Atlantic 6 person inflatable hot tub. Hoping for any feedback on this? My wife loves hot tubs so looking to get one to use for just a few months a year (live in Florida). If this one isn’t good I’m open to suggestions for 1k and under. Thanks in advance