A step-by-step guide to leak-free PVC solvent weld joints for hot tub plumbing, checked against Oatey, Weld-On, Griffon and Tangit instructions, including primer and cure times.
26
Oct
Oct
I spent a weekend with an off-grid, wood-fired hot tub. The fire worked, but with no thermostat, filter or sanitiser it overheated and the water had gone off by the next morning. Here’s my honest review and how I’d make one work.
19
Oct
Oct
Why water gets into a hot tub air blower, how to dry it out safely, and how a check valve plus a high blower or Hartford loop stops it coming back.
18
Oct
Oct
A step-by-step checklist for restoring or repairing an old hot tub or spa: structure, leak testing, identifying and flushing the pipework, checking the pump, blower and spa pack, and getting the water safe again.
Air Source Heat Pump Related
5 Things to Consider Before Fitting an Air Source Heat Pump to Your Hot Tub
13
Oct
Oct
An air source heat pump can cut your hot tub running costs by more than half. Here are the five things to check before you buy one.
Materials and Construction Related
Hot Tub Waterproofing, Tile Adhesive and Grout: What to Use and How
13
Oct
Oct
How to waterproof a DIY block or concrete hot tub, from preparing the surface and applying a pool membrane to the flood test, adhesive and epoxy grout. Includes a correction to my old PVA advice.
07
Oct
Oct
Humming, rattling, gurgling or screeching? How to work out why your hot tub pump is noisy, from a failed capacitor or blocked impeller to cavitation and worn bearings, and what to do about it.
28
Sep
Sep
Configuring a Spa Pack is perhaps the last thing on your mind. I know from my own experience building a tub, getting things done as quick as possible is quite often a priority. You just want to fill it up, heat and get in it. This is the end goal.
Design / Ideas Related, DIY Hot Tub Building
Can I Use a Liner on My DIY Hot Tub? (Why I Don’t Recommend It)
12
Sep
Sep
You can technically put a pool liner in a DIY hot tub, but liners aren’t rated for hot tub temperatures and there are no jets designed to seal through them. Here’s why I don’t recommend it, and what to do instead.
08
Sep
Sep
Rob’s space didn’t suit a standard plan, so we drew up a custom design with L-shaped seating and jets on one side. Here’s how his block-built DIY hot tub came together.