I just picked up a cheap inflatable hot tub by Mspa. I had a similar set up years ago and liked it but the lack of a proper heater and the fact that it injects cold air in to the unit (in place of jets) makes them only usable for a short time (10 min. or so) in winter months here in the NE USA. This unit didn't come with any ground cover and only has a thermal blanket type cover so I added 1" foam under the unit and an inflatable ring cover to sandwich between the included cover and the water line. This inflatable ring is also nice to use when you will be "in and out" of the tub throughout a day/night. It will allow for a quick cover and uncover without unzipping/zipping the included cover.
I intend on making the following modifications, I will post pictures and descriptions as I go in an effort to assist others.
-Install a stand alone pump & filter. The included filter is a small canister filter that clips on to the inlet, this protrudes in to the tub and will easily be knocked off/broken by feet, backs etc. Its also very small.
-Install a stand alone gas heater. The included heater is cute but basically useless. When filling up the tub it takes at least a day to bring the water up to 104 (and that 104 doesn't feel like 104 at all but I will confirm) Once full and at temp. if the tub us on (bubbles) it drops to 102 in a min. or 2 and then drops below 100 in under 10 min. After that the recovery time is an hour at best.
-Install a stand alone temperature sensor. Monitor the water temp and turn on/off the new pump, filter and heater combo. Going to be WiFi/smart phone controlled as well
-Install an air switch (or similar). Turn on/off the new setup remotely or when additional filtration is needed
-Add an ozone injector
In the future I may come up with a way to preheat the air that the pump uses to make the bubbles, but that's not a priority as the new heater should have no issue keeping up with the cold air. Just looking to potentially save on gas use.
Most of this should be done this coming weekend, hope to have pictures posted as I go.
I intend on making the following modifications, I will post pictures and descriptions as I go in an effort to assist others.
-Install a stand alone pump & filter. The included filter is a small canister filter that clips on to the inlet, this protrudes in to the tub and will easily be knocked off/broken by feet, backs etc. Its also very small.
-Install a stand alone gas heater. The included heater is cute but basically useless. When filling up the tub it takes at least a day to bring the water up to 104 (and that 104 doesn't feel like 104 at all but I will confirm) Once full and at temp. if the tub us on (bubbles) it drops to 102 in a min. or 2 and then drops below 100 in under 10 min. After that the recovery time is an hour at best.
-Install a stand alone temperature sensor. Monitor the water temp and turn on/off the new pump, filter and heater combo. Going to be WiFi/smart phone controlled as well
-Install an air switch (or similar). Turn on/off the new setup remotely or when additional filtration is needed
-Add an ozone injector
In the future I may come up with a way to preheat the air that the pump uses to make the bubbles, but that's not a priority as the new heater should have no issue keeping up with the cold air. Just looking to potentially save on gas use.
Most of this should be done this coming weekend, hope to have pictures posted as I go.
