Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: CameoDaddy805 on May 02, 2006, 12:40:44 am
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Hi everybody,
I am new to this forum and I have a few questions, hoping someone out there can assist.
After wet testing the Hot Spring, Caldera, Jacuzzi and Sundance spas; as well as visiting the Artesian, Dimension One, Coleman and Cal Spa showrooms, I have decided on the Sundance Cameo. I am awaiting delivery in 4 weeks, while I design my patio!
My first question is: Do I need an outdoor shower for guests? For all you spa owners out there, do you have guests shower prior to entering your spa? Or are the filters sufficient to keep the water clean?
Second question: The start up chemical kit Sundance provided is called Brilliance. Is this a good brand to use? I have kids, not sure if this makes a difference on the type of chemicals you use?
Lastly: Not having to do w/spas....can anyone recommend a good bbq forum? Looking for something similar to this one.
Thanks!
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An outdoor shower is required for all spas except HS which use 100% no bypass filtration and can run with no chemicals.
Steve
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I'm going to screech this thread to a halt for a moment.....
cola, did you just say that the HS lineup, due to 100% bypass filtration needs NO chemicals?? :o :o :o
What about sanitizing the water? My understanding (as limited as it can be) is this:
you need a sanitizer, regardless of the tub. Bromine and Chlorine I'm way more familiar with than Baquasomething and the other stuff.....but regardless, the goo's gotta go somewhere, unless you plan to do near daily dump/fills....
CameoDaddy805,
you don't NEED an outdoor shower for guests, but if you WANT one, and are able to fit it into the scheme of things, go for it! I've read posts from people that successfully keep their tubs full of water for several months at a time, they either shower just prior to getting in the tub or make sure not to use hair/skin products after a shower, and only use the tub when they know they're not gunked up...
So far we've only had one guest use our tub, and my experience was so-so. She uses perfume, body lotion, etc...and her suit wasn't rinsed quite enough. I had some minor foam issues immediately after, but it wasn't TOO bad. It's amazing how little it takes to get the entire tub foamy, though.... *lol*
Our Grandee's been here a month....I believe I'll do the recommended 1st month new tub drain/refill today while I'm off work....
Best of luck!!
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Despite what cola says (and I'm hoping he's just being funny) you don't need a shower. I do have one but that's because I had the porch built onto the back of my house and wanted water for cleaning and filling purposes. I decided I might as well add a shower, too.
(http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up4/164/1042164/normal_13%20Gilbert%20St.%20Construction%20_05_245a.jpg)
I use it and I let my guests know its there but I don't require them to use it. 'Course with the problems I sometimes have with foam, maybe I should require it... :( :O
Phil
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We don't have guests shower first, but we also don't let any skanky people in the spa anyway.
Brilliance is a brand of Bromine. Unlike other bromine, it contains no chlorine, so it's good if you are averse to using chlorine in your spa for any reason. For bromine, it's a bit on the spendy side, and can only be purchased at Brilliance dealers- not all spa places carry it.
I used it several years, I just recently switched to dichlor.
It's made by the good people who also make Baqua Spa- my opinion is that it's a last ditch effort to retain customers who can't get Baqua (which is even more expensive) to work.
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Cola is just teasing...picking up on the looooong filtration thread that has been reitred to the Dead Horse section!..Phil, I love your outdoor shower! Is your porch heated or do you just use the shower in the summer?
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I saw a nice one at Costco the other day.
Here are some on e-bay.
The first one pictured below is sort of like the one at Costco.
(http://i21.ebayimg.com/02/i/07/00/38/50_1_b.JPG)
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TAHITI-II-WOOD-POOL-OUTDOOR-CAMPING-GARDEN-SHOWER_W0QQitemZ4459847220QQcategoryZ3243QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-outdoor-portable-shower-pool-patio-spa-backyard_W0QQitemZ4458285807QQcategoryZ3243QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-POOLSIDE-OUTDOOR-SHOWER-STATION-POOL-BACKYARD_W0QQitemZ4459392823QQcategoryZ116416QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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...Phil, I love your outdoor shower! Is your porch heated or do you just use the shower in the summer?
Bonibelle,
It's a screened-in porch behind my kitchen. The shutoff valves are under my kitchen sink and I can drain the excess water from the spigots below the shower when it gets too cold out. It''s very handy.
Check here (http://gjpix.com/kiteman/2689409) for the photo log I made last summer when we had it built.
Phil
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okay, I'm the dope, I didn't catch on to the teasing. :-[ Outdoor showers look cool, but ummmm....if you don't hook them up to cold AND hot, they'll be a bit....BRISK. Especially if it's a deep well supplying the water. ;)
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The only time I would shower is if I was very dirty. (sweaty greasy girmey) Occasionaly my wife will shower before jumping in, but she coats hersefl in baby oil and moisturizers and all that girly goo gunk.
Over all I do not belive a shower is manditory, and wouldn't ask guests to shower before getting into my hot tub.
There are a few folks around here that routinely shower before getting into the tub, but i belive they are in a very small minority.
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Yo Daddy, whut 'up? ;)
I think an outdoor shower is a GREAT idea. I tried to have one installed in my new house when it was being built, but the design didn't allow for it. Here's why an outdoor shower works.
First, newbies getting into spas often get HOT and need to cool down. Jump out, turn on the cold, get in. It also works during the summer for expereinced spa users, who want to cool down some before dressing. I have this at my pool (except the kids use it to WARM up) and they love it.
Second, if you walk aroung the spa barefoot, your feet get dirty and carry SAND. Washing this stuff off before getting in the spa saves wear and tear on the jets.
Third, and most importantly, there's JUST something about watching a fine looking woman wash her hair in a shower, especially when she's wearing a string bikini... :P
HEY, you did ASK....
Drewski
8)
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but she coats hersefl in baby oil and moisturizers and all that girly goo gunk.
HMMMMM... I'm thinking FOAM??
;D
Drewski
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...Outdoor showers look cool, but ummmm....if you don't hook them up to cold AND hot, they'll be a bit....BRISK. Especially if it's a deep well supplying the water. ;)
Tatooed_Lady ,
;) I'm civilized - HOT & cold running water! That way, it's practical three seasons out of the year.
Phil
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HMMMMM... I'm thinking FOAM??
;D
Drewski
No foam. She does create oil slicks! My friends who come by with thier bathing suits create all the foam.
:P
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Third, and most importantly, there's JUST something about watching a fine looking woman wash her hair in a shower, especially when she's wearing a string bikini... :P
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g198/hymbaw/shower-beach.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g198/hymbaw/poolmaster_poolside_shower.jpg)
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I bought a plastic tub around 20"x12"x5" and put water in it. I have everyone put their feet in the tub then they go up the stairs to the spa. I figure it would rid of most of the sand/pebble stuff stuck to the feet.
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I bought a plastic tub around 20"x12"x5" and put water in it. I have everyone put their feet in the tub then they go up the stairs to the spa. I figure it would rid of most of the sand/pebble stuff stuck to the feet.
yup
I dug around the garage/laundry room and found one of these too.
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NE-Phil: Is that an entire enclosure you built? It is really nice. How much did it cost and did you do any of it yourself? - Ron
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NE-Phil: Is that an entire enclosure you built? It is really nice. How much did it cost and did you do any of it yourself? - Ron
Ron,
Yep, it's enclosed but with screen - it's not a four season room as we didn't want to worry about humidity and moisture. And we have a great view considering we're smack in the middle of a small city.
OK, it cost a bundle. In fact, I've never totaled it up. I don't want to know. :P ;D But the fact is we haven't done anything like this for ourselves since we've been married and we're middle aged now with all the accompanying aches and pains. It's been worth every penny!
No - I did none of it myself. That's why it looks so nice. ;)
Oh, I take that back. I did hang up the wall decorations! :O
Phil
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Phil: We are getting our HS Envoy Friday AM, electric Friday PM and start up course with the dealer Saterday. Very exited. We decided to build a concrete slab off our brick patio. It is 12 steps from the slider out the back of the eat in kitchen. We also have a 12 x 17' jalacied (have no idea how to spell that) aluminum screen room. My wife didn't want to put it in there. I think it may have been the wrong decision. She was woried about the moisture but with the windows cranked open it would have been fine. It is a 3 season room. It would certainly have saved us around $2,000 (slab, electric, sprinkler moving). Oh well. We just bought an outdoor shower, have not used it yet. We were thinking of running hot/cold water to it somehow. I don't understand how yours works in your new room. Where does the water go?
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Phil: By the way, the room really does look great. I love the way you did the wood angles and such. What type of wood is it and what is the roof made from? - Ron
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...Where does the water go?
Phil: By the way, the room really does look great. I love the way you did the wood angles and such. What type of wood is it and what is the roof made from? - Ron
Ron,
The shower is on the outside wall of the house. The kitchen is right behind that wall. I had a plumber extend the plumbing under the kitchen sink to that outside wall, both hot & cold water. Under the kitchen sink are the shut off valves so I can turn off the water when the temperature outside goes below freezing (I'm N of Albany, NY on the Hudson River - I see you're a bit S of me. Hey! We're almost neighbors!).
Oops! I just reread your question. The water actually goes straight down between the boards. There is a four foot masonry block foundation under the floor that sits on slate. When we first dug it out last year we had a lot of rain and I kept thinking it would hold the water. Nope, it just drained right through. For that reason, I decided any water from the shower would not cause a problem and I DO NOT drain the tub into it. That goes out to the street.
Thanks for the compliments. I didn't want to do a typical vertical or horizontal wall (boring) so I had the contractor angle it at 45°. It did turned out great! The wood is just knotty pine and I had the painter use 3 coats of high quality exterior varnish.
The roof is made up of 3' x 12' corrugated polycarbonate sheets. It's not perfectly clear like glass but it's the next best thing. You can find more information on it here (http://www.suntuf.com/).
Originally, we decided not to put the tub outside on a slab just because we didn't want to be bothered with mosquitoes during the summer (we're about 100 yards from the river) nor did we want to have to shovel a path through the snow (and off the cover) in the winter. This porch was the next best alternative. Otherwise, I would want it outside to enjoy the sky. Personally, I don't think I would enjoy soaking as much if the spa were inside a room.
I am glad I used this kind of roofing as I enjoy looking at the stars. I can see a fair amount of the West and South sky. One night even saw a meteor!
You never know. I think you'll like it outside on a slab. Make sure you have some place to hang plenty of towels! ;)
Phil
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Phil: Thanks for taking the time with that long post. I hope you have many hours of great and healthy soaking. Great room. - Ron