what is involved to renovate attached hot tub

5 years ago

We purchased a home with great pool with attached hot tub. I love the hot tub idea, but ours is awful. Four jets on the walls so powerful they splash hard and end up with water in your face and it is unbearably noisy. Very hard to heat. It does spillover into the pool.
Wondering if possible and practical to renovate or improve the hot tub without getting into a full pool restore. Not a great picture to show hot tub, but currently is covered and in winter mode.

Comments (4)

PRO
Mystic Pools, LLC
5 years ago
I'll take a guess that you have a common pump for filtering and for the jets? In other words, there is not a separate pump for the jets only. If so, you will never get the full benefit of the jets and as mentioned, the heater will not heat the water properly as the flow is restricted by the jets.

I'll bet the filter tank pressure rises dramatically in the "spa" mode as well. Improper flow through a heater will deem it's failure after a period time. The filter too will be damaged over time from excessive flow and or pressure.

The one pump set up was a common practice in the 70's and the 80's by the national builders.(all for the bottom line) Unfortunately, some builders still practice this method today which, as far as I am concerned, is wrong.

To have the proper set up on your spa, it involves core drilling for new jets, suctions, adding a separate pump, etc.. Trenching and running new pipes to create a 2 pump set up.

It's a big reno project. There is no "quick fix"

Pump sizing and pipe sizing is very important to match properly on any swimming pool and especially critical for a spa.

If you can post photos of the inside of the spa and of the equipment, it would be additionally helpful.
uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
5 years ago
I have the same issue as Leigh. I hate the attached raised overflow spa and want to consider jackhamming it out and reshaping the pool. It appears to be a lot of work and probably more $ than I'd like to throw at it. Any comment as to complexity and cost?
Related Discussions
Soaker Tub vs. Air Bubble Tub?
Q
Comments (12)
The Bain Ultra tubs (and I would think most airbubble tubs) are very low maintenance unlike many whirlpool tubs that need monthly cleansing cycles. Resale-wise I think alot of people are looking for a master bath with a tub that does something therapeutic, so I don't think it matters if it's air or whirlpool. If you're not worried about resale, I would say do what you feel is right for your lifestyle. Having the air gives you the choice of using the tub as a soaker or as a therapeutic option if your back is hurting, you've pulled a muscle, etc. With the soaker, soaking is the only option you have. I personally, like to leave my options open. Just my $0.02.
...See More
Water Hammer in bath tub valve?
Q
Comments (1)
angie, you might get more help on the plumbing forum :) Monica
...See More
Do I have to have a bath tub?
Q
Comments (27)
It doesn't matter how old the thread is when it is the first thing that pops up on a Google search when looking for the answer to this question.....And then, someone repeats this kind of nonsense on a new thread "A bathroom has a bath tub. It's legalese. It's not a "full bath" without a bath tub." I found this gem first thing, while looking up the reference to this exception where New York doesn't require a bathroom AT ALL. §RR306.1 Toilet facilities. Every dwelling unit shall be provided with a water closet, lavatory, and a bathtub or shower. Exception: Owner-occupied one-family dwellings subject to the approval of the code enforcement official. "NYS has several modification to allow construction of owner-occupied single family homes that have minimal technology, and may heat with wood or other renewable source of energy. This language allows, for instance, construction of Amish residences with little electricity (other than battery operated smoke & CO alarms) and with outhouses rather than bathrooms. Hunter camps may have a similar minimalist construction. NYS has a special condition with respect to the Amish population and to the prevalence of minimalist hunter cabins in the Adirondack Park." http://www.dos.ny.gov/dcea/pdf/AmendmentsDisposition2015.pdf
...See More
What's causing this leak next to the bath tub?
Q
Comments (19)
I’m not sure where your leak is coming from, I just wanted to tell our experience so you can gauge whether it might be a possibility in your case. One of our guest bathrooms had a leak that we originally assumed was from the shower. We hadn’t lived in the house for very long, and we hadn’t even used that shower yet when my sister came to visit. She stepped out of the shower and realized that water was squeezing up between the tiles when she stepped on them. Naturally, she informed us. My hubby had the entire bathroom completely gutted in half an hour! (It was a small bathroom with a Fiberglass shower, the tiles popped up like toast out of a toaster, and he’s just a beast... lol!) we see evidence of long term damage and provide my sister with another bathroom to use for the remainder of the visit. We didn’t start the bathroom remodel immediately, and when we did start it was slow going. We were very fortunate because we had barely started the remodel when we got another weather front move in with a whole lot of moisture... (It has been snowing a lot during her visit) and that’s when we realized the bathroom was leaking from another source! Hubby again ripped up the bathroom, and this time ripped out part of the wall that is on the exterior and that’s when we realized the leak was coming from outside. It took us a bit to figure out but we finally determined (with outside help) that it was because that wall was directly against an exterior chimney that had not been flashed properly. We left that bathroom unfinished for quite a while while we fixed the chimney problem, and waited for some more really good rain storms to make sure it was indeed dry before we finished our bathroom remodel. We were just fortunate that we have a lot of other bathrooms and this was just a guest bathroom. Anyways, I hope your issue isn’t something like that!
...See More
PRO
Mystic Pools, LLC
5 years ago
An experienced contractor performing this should not find it complex.

A structural engineer would have to be employed to ensure the existing structure is sound to accept the change and provide details on how a new structure is to be attached.

It is a lot of work. Costs can vary greatly. I could not put a ball park number on it as every site and condition is different. Variables such as, creating access to the work site with heavy equipment, costs for restoration of access after completion, removal and then repair of patio for pipe runs, sufficient electrical power at equipment for additional jet pump, cost of pipe based on run... etc.

Quite a bit to consider. Any of it is possible provided it's within your budget.
Leigh W
Original Author
5 years ago
The pool is still covered and strapped down, but yes your details fit the description. It was built I guess about 15 years ago. A lot of work and money to renovate.
Thanks for the answer.

what is involved to renovate attached hot tub

Comments (4)

Mystic Pools, LLC

uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)

Related Discussions

Mystic Pools, LLC

Leigh W
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

what is involved to renovate attached hot tub

Comments (4)

Mystic Pools, LLC

uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)

Related Discussions

Mystic Pools, LLC

Leigh WOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Leigh W
Original Author