angie, you might get more help on the plumbing forum :) Monica

And another nut bar hit's this site. You have been given most perfect advice from some of the best boys on this site. Why don't you listen ? 104F is the safest temporary temperature rize for the human body not to excede a 15 minuet time frame. After you alter the thermostat canceling your U.L. approval your tub now become not legal and insurance companies love that. How are you going to alter the high limit after you screw with the stat ? Most of those tubs come with timers. Is that going to be altered ? Do you have any idea how poisonous chlorine gets after it is heated behond safe levels ? And what is that safe level ? Do you have any idea how stupid it is to shut off the pump with over heated water ? I guess not. The water now does not move. You are now in a poaching tub. Sorry, i take that. I know you will leave the tub when you get too hot, but let's say your not feeling well. Had a bad day. Under medication or not up to snuff. Fall asleep, Wake up dead. Then what ? It could happen. I was a power engineer at a holiday inn for years and have pulled many unconscious people from the wet sauna ( and we locked it off at 104F. with an outside manual timer maxed out at 15 minuets. We took the water away because they were flooding the heating elements and shorting them out so they went to the pool and poured chlorinated water from empty beer cans onto the heaters. Chlorine poisoning and burned lungs. Nice vacation. I guess you have already made up your mind and we will not turn you. Good luck and be carefull. Maybe warmer clothing when riding your bike ?

Thanks guys! I was told I need to upsize the gas meter anyway. We installed a huge gas line (2 inches diameter I think) from the meter to the heater. We just passed inspection on this, so I need to get the gas co. out here. I dont think they charge to upsize it. It sounds like I should do the 400 btu. I am not sure about the cost of labor...we are still working that out, but it sounds like it will be worth it.

Our tub is a pre-fab KeyBackyard Spa which we bought from Sam's club. The heater has never worked right. I called the company, now defunct I might add, and they had me call a repairman who talked to me on the phone and told me that there wasn't anything wrong with my tub so he wouldn't come. I don't know anything about the heater it self. I know that it can be accessed by removing the spa sides. If it was something that my husband could do, I know that he would try!