Ready, Rest, Economy, Sleep: what each Balboa heat mode does, how to switch between them on your topside, and when each one makes sense.
Category Archives: Plumbing Related
Design / Ideas Related, DIY Hot Tub Building, Materials and Construction Related, Plumbing Related
How to Change an Air Button and Latching Relay on a Hot Tub or Pool
20
Mar
Mar
Air buttons and latching relays are cheap and easy to replace. Here is how they work, how to spot failure, and how to change both.
Plumbing Related, Support & Maintenance
How to Replace a Hot Tub Blower (Check Valve and Hartford Loop Included)
26
Apr
Apr
Replacing a hot tub blower is a manageable DIY job. Here is how to do it safely, and why a check valve plus a Hartford loop keeps water out.
22
Apr
Apr
How to design and plumb a waterfall or fountain for a DIY hot tub, including dedicated pumps, flow control and a solenoid valve on/off switch.
DIY Hot Tub Building, Plumbing Related, Support & Maintenance
Cartridge or Sand Filter for a Hot Tub? Which Is Right for Your Build
10
Mar
Mar
Cartridge or sand filter? How each type works, how they compare on filtration, cleaning and cost, and which one I’d fit to a DIY hot tub, spool or plunge pool.
07
Jan
Jan
A simple guide to how hot tub plumbing works: drains, pumps, filter, heater, jets, blowers and check valves, plus common problems.
Design / Ideas Related, DIY Hot Tub Building, Plumbing Related, Support & Maintenance
What Is the Best Way to Heat a DIY Hot Tub? (2026 Running Cost Comparison)
12
Dec
Dec
Electric, air source heat pump, gas, heat exchangers, wood and solar compared: what each really costs per unit of heat at today’s UK and US prices, how fast they heat, and which one I’d fit to a DIY hot tub.
Design / Ideas Related, DIY Hot Tub Building, Materials and Construction Related, Plumbing Related
Hot Tub Control Room Design: Distance, Height, Size and Layout
06
Nov
Nov
Where to put a hot tub control room and how big to make it: distance, elevation, space for equipment, services and maintenance.
05
Nov
Nov
Everything you need to identify and replace a hot tub pump wet end: parts, when to replace, frame size (48 or 56), discharge and unions.
Design / Ideas Related, DIY Hot Tub Building, Plumbing Related
Hot Tub Pump Union Sizes Explained (With a Collar Size Guide)
30
Oct
Oct
Hot tub pump union sizes are named after the pipe they fit, not the collar you measure. Here is how to pick the right one.