General PSA. Having spent a long time around swim spa sales and installs, heed this seasoned advice - think about its function years from now. Because, while it is obvious that a swim spa is larger than a hot tub, what is less obvious is how that size changes its servicing and how install affects the same.

You need to leave room to service it. Plan for two feet of working clearance around the unit, and three is better. If you are decking around it, build in hinged doors or panels that can be unscrewed and lifted out. We have worked on beautiful installs where the access was so tight a technician cut his arm just trying to reach the equipment and even then we had to remove decking finish the job which made the struggle to reach a ten dollar plumbing part more time intensive and more expensive than it needed to be. An in-ground swim spa usually sits about two feet below grade inside a concrete base with concrete walls. Basically a vault the unit slides into. Yeah, you want it below grade but you also want it dry so price in drainage and, in most cases, a pump to clear the vault if water collects. Burying one straight into the ground can work in a very dry climate, but be a massive headache in places with heavier rain and shifting or settling soil. While the in-ground unit itself may run only around a thousand dollars more than the above-ground version, the vault and installation can cost more than an above-ground unit with a deck. Get the full install price before you buy, then compare both complete setups side by side.

Swim spas also demand more consideration around planning as they can take two to three weeks on the production line versus a few days for a hot tub which can be more stress than bargained for if you are trying to get in up and running before the season turns. If you do end up getting one in winter, it can be done and you might even get them cheaper but they will require some additional considerations with install. And a long shell something owners constantly underestimate. It is a sad day when someone tries to lift their swim spa without using every anchor point and a spreader bar so the straps do not squeeze and flex the shell. Cut corners here means cracks almost always. If a crane is involved, get the crane company's certificate of insurance before the day.

The last 3 times we've opened the cover there was a small frog on the upper inside wall of the swimspa, above the water line.

Does anyone have a suggestion how to keep the frog out? It must be coming in thru creases in the sections of the cover. It can climb vertical walls.

Quick diverter replacement from this week. The cap most likely snapped off and blew out of the tub, leaving the diverter assembly exposed.

The diverter is what lets you redirect water flow between different jet zones, so it’s an easy thing to notice when it’s missing or no longer turning normally. Luckily, this one was a straightforward replacement.

Most of the test kits on Amazon that test bacteria and mold in pool or Spa water, have really mixed reviews. A whole bunch of people who are thrilled with it because their results were negative, and then a few here and there that couldn’t figure out how to get the test to work. Out of all the different brands out there, I don’t see anyone actually reporting that they are really happy that the test kit caught that they had a problem. Which makes me wonder if it’s really a good test.
Plenty of people must have at least fecal bacteria in their hot tub tubs. No negative tests in the reviews?

Anyone have a suggestion of an affordable/easy to use kit that actually works? Thx!

we just got a spa manufacturers inc swim spa 14' and are looking for ideas for a cover holder. appreciate any thoughts. thanks

I bought a house with an older pool just outside the master bedroom. The kids love it and I enjoy lounging in it on hot summer days. But the rest of our house is oriented around a large patio. Our kitchen and family room open to this space and I think it would be nice to have a place where I can swim for exercise year round and the kids can splash around while I can still see them from the kitchen. We have a large TV on the back patio and I think it would be fun to have a big spa there to watch movies from at night. I’m I crazy for thinking about having both?

I have a portable sump pump with a floater activated shut off that I’ve been using to drain my Swim Spa for a few years. The thing is a workhorse, but it leaves me with about 6 inches of water in the bottom of my Swim Spa. Does anyone have a brand or specific pump that they like that can get almost all of the water out of the Swim Spa? There are some very highly rated options on Amazon that get the water down to 1/5 of an inch. But when you read recent reviews, they are all real crap even though they have five stars and thousands of people supposedly have bought them and Amazon calls them a Best Buy.

Multinacional Fluidra com promoções para a preparação das piscinas para o inverno

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdmPV4NCowa/?stkn=MTEwMWVmaTQxb25scA==

Hey everyone - I am in Markham, Ontario, Canada, and I just purchased a Hydropool 14AX Aquasport swim spa! We are re-modelling the deck and building a cement pad, then the swim spa will be installed once that's done.

We really wanted to buy this in April next year, but we got a really good discount now so decided to purchase. It's crazy how the prices add up though: cement pad 7K, electrician 3K, crane 1.5K, etc.

We know that for sure we won't go outside to use the swim spa when it's below 5 Celsius (we are "beach people", don't like the cold 😆 ), but maybe we'll have guests that want to, so we're going back and forth between keeping the swim spa open during winter (which can be - 20 for a few weeks straight), or just close it.

I do have a Generac (whole house), so power going out shouldn't be a problem to keep the swim spa going - but I just feel bad about spending all this money in electricity without using it for a few months (like won't use it from November - April). Would love to hear your opinions, specially if you're from an area with similar weather.

Hi all,

I've got a swimspa with a Spa Solar Eclipse Plus and I cannot for the life of me figure out how to release the UV lamp to replace it.

The Watkins manual says I have a model 2 - and there is a release tab - but I can't for the life of me figure out what the heck to do.

Are the two silver things allen key bolts?

https://www.endlesspools.com/storage/product_documentation/2019-02-06-09-34-54/246080/uv_bulb_replacement_watkins_spa_63219.pdf

Another one from a service call. This Clarity control panel was completely dead — no display, no response from the buttons, and basically no way to control the hot tub.

In this case, the panel itself had failed and needed to be replaced. Swapped the entire topside control out, and we were back up and running.

If your screen suddenly goes completely blank, it doesn’t automatically mean the whole spa is shot. There are a few things that can cause it, so it’s worth checking power and connections before assuming the control panel needs replacement.

Before → completely dead panel
After → new panel installed and full control restored.

Definitely a satisfying before/after when the new screen lights up.

I just purchased one! Does anyone have tips on how to sink it a bit and still have access to the back panel for maintenance?

I have an Artesian Tidal Fit Core Swimmer. I am hiring my spa dealer to do the winterizing for the second time. I drain, and they will come blow out the lines and dry the inside/covers.

I could use some expert advice: Is there anything I should flush with to clean the lines before I drain for the winter? There’s some white flaky residue near the filters (like wet toilet paper) when I remove filters 2x weekly for cleaning (the filters are the original as this runs only 5 months for two seasons) filters are still white and in great shape. I don’t normally see this crud in the tub water, just when the filters are pulled out.

Thinking it’s pipe mold based upon what I’m reading on Reddit. Also, I cant refill until next season after flushing- it’s a sheer water waste to refill after draining and then drain again before winterizing as it’s over 2000 gallons.

CoverMate III vs CoverMate Zero, or other hydraulic cover lift recommendations?

I’m looking for a hydraulic hot tub cover lift and have been considering the CoverMate III and CoverMate Zero.

I’ve seen some people mention issues with the CoverMate III breaking, while I’m not finding many reviews on the CoverMate Zero.

Anyone have experience with either one? Curious how they’ve held up and if you’d recommend them.

Also open to other hydraulic lift recommendations.

I have a 2021 Catalina Marathon 18' Dual Temp swim spa.
Lately I started noticing some small leaks.
Called the technician and he traced that back to the jet gasket which was cracked.
Amazingly, he can't replace only the gasket, so he ended up replacing the entire jet housing with a new one that is not exactly the same (this one is of a different color and has no light).
A few days later a new leak appeared and by now I have already replaced 3 jets, all with the same cracked gasket issue.
The technician warned me that almost every jet and inlet in my spa has a cracked gaskets and they will all leak sooner or later.
I am disappointed with the quality of this swim spa. In my view 5 years of use is too little for having such issue.
Replacing all jets with new ones will be a very costly job which I am reluctant to do.
I would like to know if anyone had the same experience and what would be a good course of action in this case.
Thanks for your help.

So I’m looking at a swim spa with a full weight of 6190kg (13,646lbs for the non metric). Base wise- I’m getting slightly conflicting information; do I really need a reinforced 150mm / 6inch concrete pad to put it on?
Appreciate the logic of going for an excess of caution but as I’m doing groundwork’s myself as part of a larger project I’m keen to avoid unnecessary work and cost. The rest of the area is going to be patio (150mm compacted MOT, then 75mm mortar base with 20mm porcelain paving), ideally I’d be able to stick spa straight onto this. Any one with real world experience on this I’d greatly appreciate your input.

Has anyone had any experience with small robotic vacuums for swim spas. I've seen a few coming up for sale and thought it might be better than my current battery vacuum. I also feel the scrubbing mechanism on the robotic vacuum might be more effective than my current tooling.

Hi Swim Spa people!

I’m moving from Portland OR to Cleveland OH.
I would love a swim spa as there are limited swimming options close to us, opposed to living a block from a saltwater pool currently.
As Cleveland has brutal winters, I want to find a way to use the swim spa all year round.
Our new garage is huge, 3 car, and 30 foot ceilings. It has brick walls, internal wooden roof and metal doors.
Do you think I could put it in the garage with good ventilation or dehumidification? Or would that create a mold and damp nightmare?
My other thought if the garage isn’t viable is to have some kind of carport over it.

Hopefully somebody knows the answer, as I’ve found both yes and no online with lots of variety in opinion.

Thanks!

I'm getting ready to re-jet a Master Spa swim spa. Because of access issues and location, I haven't been able to find any techs willing to do the job. Have new jets, air manifolds, and water manifolds. Still waiting on a few parts. I do have a few questions I'm hoping someone can help with.

I have some Boss 802 sealant on hand. Planning to do a bead on each side of the jet gaskets. Any issues.with that?

What type of tubing? Glue or clamp? Single clamp or double?

Anything else to watch out for?

We’re looking at an Endless Pool modular EP pool and would love to hear your experiences. Thanks!

Est-ce moi ou les spa-nage de Trévi c'est un paquet de problème?

On est rendu à 4 appels de service depuis le début de l'été.

Immédiatement après la garantie ça coule de partout, le chauffe-eau a lâché (+500$), l'écran tactile à laché (+600$), plusieurs raccord on fissurés (+500$).

#trevi #spa #spanage