Giving up on pool - how much work is a hot tub?

[QuiltinMom]

We have a 33' round above ground pool and I can't ever get it balanced and clean. The kids don't show a lot of interest in it between their summer activities. So, I give up.

We are considering selling the pool (if we can get anything for it) and getting a hot tub instead. We will purchase used, but when speaking with a salesman at the State Fair he made it sound like you just toss in some shock once a week. I know better then to believe a sales person that is trying to make a buck. So, I am coming to the experts. How much maintenance is there in a free standing hot tub? How often do you test the water and what process is there to maintain it?

Are there any brands that I should stay away from? Again, we are going to find a used one, but if it is drained and just sitting how do you know what to look for? Is it OK to turn on the pumps/jets for a brief moment to make sure they are working?

On selling our pool, how do I know what a good price to sell it for would be? I just want it gone ASAP.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. THANKS!!!

 

[jblizzle]

You are having to maintain a body of water. The chemical maintenance is virtually the same. With the occasional need to deep clean the hot tub and fully drain it.

You just use a smaller quantity of the chemicals to get the desired change ... and of course there is generally much less debris to clean out of a hot tub.

Wife wanted a hot tub, I told her maintenance was up to her when we got it and I took care of the pool. We no longer have a hot tub

If I were to get another one, I think I would want one with a SWG.

As far as selling your pool, you might have the most luck by offering it for free if they come and take it down and away. I would not expect for you to get much since it is likely the liner will have to be replaced anyway.

 

[Newdude]

The hot tub to me was a lot more work. 250 to 500 gallons can swing much faster so the daily testing was critical. If we had been busy for a few days and the kids asked to use the hot tub, I was never confident to let them without testing and adjusting first. Which took time (30 minutes or so to adjust and stir) and became a downer when they couldn’t just hop in right now. That being said, many many people figure it out and love constant usage in their hot tubs.

With a new to you tub there is a cleaner called Ahhh some. You run cycles and drain and repeat until the funk stops coming out of the jets. It makes foam on top of the water and is so scuzzy that you’ll know it’s good when it’s clean foam.

The old pool can be sold on several apps like OfferUp and Letgo. Or and ad in your local paper. It depends on who If happens to be looking right now. Sometimes it takes time. Just like selling anything else. Depending on condition and demand, most used things can sell for around 50% but takedown and haul away of the pool may lower that % substantially

 

[Donldson]

I think the best price you can get for an AG pool is getting someone who will haul it away and put down some grass seed for you. With the cost of the liner that will almost certainly shrink and need replaced there isn't much savings to make paying for a used AG worth it.

I concur with the above: maintaining the chemistry of a hot tub is often more work than with a pool. If part of the reason for getting rid of the pool is trouble with the chemistry I would reconsider a hot tub. This is doubly so with a used tub which, if not thoroughly purged, could come with a whole host of chemical problems.

 

[Newdude]

I also was on my own 7 years ago. TFP and pool math would have helped substantially. So you got that going for you.

 

[Nigel459]

On the other hand, a tub is way smaller so if things go south you simply drain and start fresh, easy peasy.

Once my tub is balanced, things stay pretty rock solid. Low volume means very low cost of chems to get there. It does take a bit of time to get to know what “balanced” is with your fill water as a starting point, etc. I.e. for me it’s an oz or two of muriatic acid (over a number of additions) and a couple of pounds of salt. I would also highly recommend a salt water chlorine generator—it has been a game changer for me. It’s pretty set-and-forget for me at this point.

Good luck

 

[Oly]

Agree with the previous advice. I drain and hibernate my spa in the summer and only use it in the cooler months. I also test my spa once a day and when I am in it. Levels move much faster in a spa than the pool. The water volume is also much smaller and we use it every day sometimes twice a day. I fully drain, purge and clean the spa every 9-10 weeks.
That said we really enjoy the spa and would not be without one. Spa time on a cold day with my spouse is time well spent and well worth maintaining the spa, my opinion.

 

[Holydoc]

I think the best price you can get for an AG pool is getting someone who will haul it away and put down some grass seed for you. With the cost of the liner that will almost certainly shrink and need replaced there isn't much savings to make paying for a used AG worth it.

I concur with the above: maintaining the chemistry of a hot tub is often more work than with a pool. If part of the reason for getting rid of the pool is trouble with the chemistry I would reconsider a hot tub. This is doubly so with a used tub which, if not thoroughly purged, could come with a whole host of chemical problems.

I agree with the above. I have a 27' AGP and a large hot tub. I have had a hot tub, not the same one, for over 25 years. I love them and use mine just about every night. There is nothing like having a glass of wine sitting under the stars while the hot tub massages your worries away.

Now with that said, the 20K gallon pool is MUCH easier to maintain than the hot tub. You have to think of a hot tub as a very small pool. When 2 people are in my hot tub, it is like 50 people in my pool. Keeping a hot tub up is much more work because of that ratio. Bottom line, don't choose a hot tub because you think it will be easier to maintain. Choose a hot tub because you want the water therapy it gives.

Good luck.

 

[QuiltinMom]

On the other hand, a tub is way smaller so if things go south you simply drain and start fresh, easy peasy.

Once my tub is balanced, things stay pretty rock solid. Low volume means very low cost of chems to get there. It does take a bit of time to get to know what “balanced” is with your fill water as a starting point, etc. I.e. for me it’s an oz or two of muriatic acid (over a number of additions) and a couple of pounds of salt. I would also highly recommend a salt water chlorine generator—it has been a game changer for me. It’s pretty set-and-forget for me at this point.

Good luck

That is kind of what I am thinking, smaller amount of water to maintain, easier to adjust as needed. Looking in to a salt water system as an add on. THANKS!!!

 

[QuiltinMom]

I agree with the above. I have a 27' AGP and a large hot tub. I have had a hot tub, not the same one, for over 25 years. I love them and use mine just about every night. There is nothing like having a glass of wine sitting under the stars while the hot tub massages your worries away.

Now with that said, the 20K gallon pool is MUCH easier to maintain than the hot tub. You have to think of a hot tub as a very small pool. When 2 people are in my hot tub, it is like 50 people in my pool. Keeping a hot tub up is much more work because of that ratio. Bottom line, don't choose a hot tub because you think it will be easier to maintain. Choose a hot tub because you want the water therapy it gives.

Good luck.

THANK YOU!!! I think a hot tub would be very beneficial for us. Hubby is a general contractor and has had knee problems for several years. We are looking for the benefits of massage and water therapy. I love the idea of hot water. I could care less about a cold pool. That could possibly be part of the reason why I hate maintaining the pool and messing with it. The kids rarely have time to use it with their other activities and it is just not worth the time.

We also have a special needs daughter and we are wondering if it would have any health benefits for her. We need mostly calming.


UPDATE: We may have snagged a FREE hot tub that is only 5 years old. It is SunDance brand and is throwing a "FLO" error. The owner is wanting to upgrade and just wants to get rid of it. YIPEE!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me.

 

[Newdude]

You'll have to see how it goes with your daughter. It might be calming or the heat and bubbling activity might be upsetting. Both my kids hate the hot water. They wont go in unless its a medium-warm tub. But now my 10 year old is a diabetic so both ways can mess her up medically (which would also affect the mental aspect) If yours is just a mindset/mental issue as opposed to physical (pyhsiological ??), it could work wonderfully

 

[QuiltinMom]

THANK YOU for all of the responses. We are going tomorrow to pick up a FREE Sundance hot tub that was still in use today. It is a couple hours away from us, but worth the drive. Since we were able to get it free I think I am going to invest in a salt system for it. Where is the best place to learn about the salt system? I read in other threads that the ControlOMatic SmarterSpa salt generator is recommended. Can I just buy it off of Amazon or should I purchase it from a brick and mortar? If brick and mortar is recommended, do any of them support this forum? I want to do business with someone who supports this forum.

What else do I need to have on hand to start it up for the first time? We will have some work to do to clear a place for it, pour a cement pad and do a little bit of electrical work. I saw on the Amazon sight for the salt generator something about not letting the transformer get below freezing? How do you prevent that? I am also going to buy some AHHSOME and run it through,

So much to learn, so excited and a bit nervous. I will keep reading and learning as much as I can.

THANKS again for all of the input.

 

[QuiltinMom]

You'll have to see how it goes with your daughter. It might be calming or the heat and bubbling activity might be upsetting. Both my kids hate the hot water. They wont go in unless its a medium-warm tub. But now my 10 year old is a diabetic so both ways can mess her up medically (which would also affect the mental aspect) If yours is just a mindset/mental issue as opposed to physical (pyhsiological ??), it could work wonderfully

My daughter is primarily intellectually disabled, ADHD, speech apraxia and not so much on the medical end of things. She loves to take a hot shower, so I don't think the hot water will bother her. I just hope the jets are relaxing to her. Hoping for some benefits of detoxing (if a spa will even do anything like that).

THANK YOU for your input.

 

[Newdude]

At the very least it can be a mental detox. Or Uber relax. Or whatever we want to call it, it’s super nice.

 

[Nigel459]

I saw on the Amazon sight for the salt generator something about not letting the transformer get below freezing? How do you prevent that?

In winter I just ran an extension cord into the spa motor housing for mine, was fine. Plugs into a gfci ?

 

[Rattus Suffocatus]

I will be the one dissenter who thinks the portable hot tub is fairly easy to maintain so far. Since you have to change water every 3 to 4 months, more if you use it a lot, then you can be a lot more sloppy in methods and still be okay. Also adding teaspoons of chemicals instead of half gallons means it is cheap to maintain. But you still have to maintain it. Having a cover on most of the time keeps it pretty clean as well. You can do bromine floaters if you want to be lazy with it.

Having said all that, adjustments need to made daily when you are using it just like a pool. You can slack a little in the really hot times that you won't use it... You won't at times ... Especially if you are in a hot climate in the summer. They rock the rest of the year tho...

 

[QuiltinMom]

I will be the one dissenter who thinks the portable hot tub is fairly easy to maintain so far. Since you have to change water every 3 to 4 months, more if you use it a lot, then you can be a lot more sloppy in methods and still be okay. Also adding teaspoons of chemicals instead of half gallons means it is cheap to maintain. But you still have to maintain it. Having a cover on most of the time keeps it pretty clean as well. You can do bromine floaters if you want to be lazy with it.

Having said all that, adjustments need to made daily when you are using it just like a pool. You can slack a little in the really hot times that you won't use it... You won't at times ... Especially if you are in a hot climate in the summer. They rock the rest of the year tho...

Thank you, that is a bit more encouraging.
I am thinking a smaller body of water will be easier to maintain. Some of out issue had been keeping the water level high enough. We live in the country and are on a well, so.if there hasn't been a lot of rain then we also don't want to use a lot of water from our well.

I am.going to try and talk hubby in to one of the SWG systems. The previous owner was using salt in it.

What else do I need to have on hand for set up? I ordered some AHHHSome cleaner. What salt is recommended?

Anything you wish you had known about doing your initial set up that you want to share? We will need to pour a cement slab and run electricity. Any suggestions or how much bigger the cement should be then the tub? Tub is 7.5' x 7.5'.

Thanks for the help!!!

 

[QuiltinMom]

I will be the one dissenter who thinks the portable hot tub is fairly easy to maintain so far. Since you have to change water every 3 to 4 months, more if you use it a lot, then you can be a lot more sloppy in methods and still be okay. Also adding teaspoons of chemicals instead of half gallons means it is cheap to maintain. But you still have to maintain it. Having a cover on most of the time keeps it pretty clean as well. You can do bromine floaters if you want to be lazy with it.

Having said all that, adjustments need to made daily when you are using it just like a pool. You can slack a little in the really hot times that you won't use it... You won't at times ... Especially if you are in a hot climate in the summer. They rock the rest of the year tho...

Thank you, that is a bit more encouraging.
I am thinking a smaller body of water will be easier to maintain. Some of out issue had been keeping the water level high enough. We live in the country and are on a well, so.if there hasn't been a lot of rain then we also don't want to use a lot of water from our well.

I am.going to try and talk hubby in to one of the SWG systems. The previous owner was using salt in it.

What else do I need to have on hand for set up? I ordered some AHHHSome cleaner. What salt is recommended?

Anything you wish you had known about doing your initial set up that you want to share? We will need to pour a cement slab and run electricity. Any suggestions or how much bigger the cement should be then the tub? Tub is 7.5' x 7.5'.

Thanks for the help!!!