Category Archives: Reviews & Info

Balboa CLIM8ZONE II Mini – First Look and Review

Balboa CLIM8ZONE II Mini

Balboa CLIM8ZONE II Mini is this Air Source Heat Pump for you? I must admit, when the first Clim8zone product was released, I was rather scathing in my review. I still don’t like that product today. Here we are 18 months later, and I am looking into Balboa’s next foray into Air Source Heat Pumps – the Balboa CLIM8ZONE II Mini. Is it going to be any good? Let’s dive in and take a look.

For clarity here – I am wiring this review based purely on the documentation and specifications that Balboa have provided for the unit. It is not going to be released for another 6 weeks so I have not seen this unit in person. However, I must say that I have supplied enough air source heat pumps to customers that I know what I am looking for in terms of specs and details.

Off Grid, Wood Fired Hot Tub Review

Wood Fire Off Grid Hot Tub

Off Grid, Wood Fired Hot Tub Review – I had the pleasure last weekend of getting away with the family. It was actually another anniversary of my Mother’s 21st birthday – strange how I’m in my forties yet she never gets any older! Anyway, with these mathematical improbabilities aside we went away as a family to a house in the country that happened to have a hot tub. We had a great time.

Hydro Royal Heat Pump Review

Hydro Royal Heat Pump

In this post, I will review the Hydro Royal Air Source Heat Pump. With many different brands of air source heat pump on the market, why have I closed Hydro Royal for the US market. Quite simple – its made in the USA and comes with a 10 year warranty. Yes, you read that correctly, 10 year warranty! Anybody offering a 10 year warranty on their product has some serious build quality! Let’s take a look at the features of the product and how we can incorporate these into our DIY Hot Tub and Plunge Pool Builds.

3 New Products for Gecko Alliance in 2022

Gecko Alliance

I had the pleasure of meeting the Gecko support a couple of weeks back week. The first thing that I said to them was that I don’t supply enough of their kit to my customers. I guess just as we all have a “go to” drink at the bar, I tend to have a “go to” set of kit for my specifications and hot tub designs.

Do I need a Permit for My Hot Tub?

Hot Tub Permit

The short answer is that it depends. Not the most helpful (yet) thing you have read but please do read on. It does depend on where you are located. If you are located in the UK for example, then no, you do not need a permit for a hot tub. You are able to build tubs and pools without a permit or planning permission as it is called over there.