Hot tubs

[Bury the Trash]

 

[Aceface]

Here is my home made hot tub, as you can guess it was made mainly from an old ibc and clad in old pallet wood. I bought two sheets of Kingspan insulation and a 3 metre copper pipe (for the heat exchanger) and a pack of self tapping screws and a string of solar powered fairy lights that were on special offer in the super market. I would not dream of buying a hot tub, but I really enjoyed making it and it really didn't take much doing. It is only used three or four times a year and it is always a massive hit with the family at BBQ's (I am sure if I had bought a modern spa tub, no one would be interested in using it, but they all love the diy one). I only ever burn scrap nail filled broken pallet or painted wood, and because it is insulated (includind a hinged lid), the heat is mostly retained for a day or two and only needs a modest topping up fire. YouTube is full of ideas how to make hot tubs out of ibcs, cattle troughs and old iron baths etc. (search under ibc hot tub, or diy hot tub or "hill billy" hot tub for inspiration)

 

[Mow]

If you don't add chlorine or regualarly take it up to at least 60c you are asking for serious trouble!

Why do I need to add chlorine when it's getting emptied every couple of days??

 

[Exfarmer]

Why do I need to add chlorine when it's getting emptied every couple of days??

If you are refilling with chlorinated water every couple of days then you should have no issues, but you must be spending a fortune heating it!

 

[Mow]

If you are refilling with chlorinated water every couple of days then you should have no issues, but you must be spending a fortune heating it!

It's no different than a bath,heated with logs

 

[milkloss]

The water has to be changed after every customer.

How do you scratch the protein off the sides?

Reminds of a man that did b&b: he told me the worst couple he had were two blokes and when they left it took them all night to wash the lube off everything before the next customer!

In case you didn’t know salty water does the trick, cuts the lube straight off.

 

[Steevo]

Why do I need to add chlorine when it's getting emptied every couple of days??

Probably the same reason people wash bulk tanks even though they’re going to get refilled again next milking.

 

[Mow]

Probably the same reason people wash bulk tanks even though they’re going to get refilled again next milking.

It's not something I do after I have a bath Steevo? Anyway,well worth it if anyone is considering one,has increased my bookings by about 30%

 

[Steevo]

Hot tubs and baths aren't quite the same imo.

People use soap in a bath, I doubt they would in a hot tub

I'd clean the bath most days to remove soap scum, limescale etc.

The bath would air dry for around 24 hours between uses, which would reduce bacteria build up.


Providing a service/facility for paying members of the public is a whole different ball game also. Duty of care and all that.

 

[Big Eddy C]

We have a hot tub for one of our holiday let's, for some people it is a massive draw! It is a criteria they select when they are searching for accommodation to stay in. As long as you dip it every day and check the chemicals you should not have a problem. Water is changed around twice a month, depends somewhat it looks like. Fake tan from groups of ladies tends to ruin the water!

 

[ollie989898]

I dont get the attraction. Sitting in a bubble bath of chlorine then showering after? Wouldnt attact me to a property. Most people I know who have them dont use them the last one I saw was an unused one where someone had built the small conservatory extension around it. What a mistake-a to make-a. Prefer to see high quality fixtures and fittings.

Where is your imagination?

 

[Farmer_Joe]

Here is my home made hot tub, as you can guess it was made mainly from an old ibc and clad in old pallet wood. I bought two sheets of Kingspan insulation and a 3 metre copper pipe (for the heat exchanger) and a pack of self tapping screws and a string of solar powered fairy lights that were on special offer in the super market. I would not dream of buying a hot tub, but I really enjoyed making it and it really didn't take much doing. It is only used three or four times a year and it is always a massive hit with the family at BBQ's (I am sure if I had bought a modern spa tub, no one would be interested in using it, but they all love the diy one). I only ever burn scrap nail filled broken pallet or painted wood, and because it is insulated (includind a hinged lid), the heat is mostly retained for a day or two and only needs a modest topping up fire. YouTube is full of ideas how to make hot tubs out of ibcs, cattle troughs and old iron baths etc. (search under ibc hot tub, or diy hot tub or "hill billy" hot tub for inspiration)

Is the heat exchanger just 28mm copper bent into a coil
?

 

[Aceface]

Is the heat exchanger just 28mm copper bent into a coil
?

I have just measured it at 22mm external diameter, I do remember plugging the end with insulation tape and filling the pipe with dry sand until it was solid full ( and now sealing the top with insulation tape ), so I could bend it around a plastic tube from bale wrap or some such cylinder, without flattening or distorting the pipe. (As seen on various youtube posts.)

 

[Farmer_Joe]

I have just measured it at 22mm external diameter, I do remember plugging the end with insulation tape and filling the pipe with dry sand until it was solid full ( and now sealing the top with insulation tape ), so I could bend it around a plastic tube from bale wrap or some such cylinder, without flattening or distorting the pipe. (As seen on various youtube posts.)

Nice idea, when plumbing you get springs that go inside but only good for a small bend, sand is excellent ideal

Does it just auto circulate via convection I believe the term is?

 

[Aceface]

Nice idea, when plumbing you get springs that go inside but only good for a small bend, sand is excellent ideal

Does it just auto circulate via convection I believe the

Yes a convection current is automatic when the water in the pipe is heated it flows upwards and back out into the tank, and cold / cooler water is sucked in to replace it continuely through the lowest end of the pipe, you can touch the lowest (inlet) part of the pipe when the fire is going, but not the upper pipe, as it is too hot.