Does anyone have a lay z spa?

[Tryingtokeepsafe]

The inflatable ones? I’m really tempted and always wanted one.

Can anyone tell me about the running of one, mainly rough costs??

Tia

@Tryingtokeepsafe

No it’s a concrete floor thankfully so no problem there.

@BikerWife if I was to use mine say Friday to Sunday... can you turn it off completely in between time and it just take ages to warm up so turn it on early Friday morning? Or does it have to ‘tick over’ in between?

This time of year it takes about one hour per degree of temp to heat, and about 2 hours per degree to cool with the lid on. So, if you plan on only using weekends it will be at ambient temp by the following Friday. Say 12 degrees. This will take 26 hours with the heater on to reach 38. You will need to turn it on 26 hours before you plan on using it the following weekend.

Alternatively, put it on every night for 8 hours which will maintain 38 through the week. The overall cost will be about the same, with the advantage that it’s ready mid week too if you want it.

@skipperjonce sorry what do you mean about 12 degrees? Do you mean outside temperature?

Are you saying it’s better to keep it on all the time rather than whacking it on just before weekends then off after weekends?

We bought a second hand Vegas 3 summers ago.

It was only ever going to sit outside (on pavers) open to the sky.

We got 2 good summers out of it; but the fact remains, LayZSpa aren't great. Leaking 'egg' every time.

You need to spend/dedicate a few hours on the FB pages.

Ours 'did the job' but we then bought an Intex, new, probably a 20-25% higher cost; but it is that much better.

Ask yourself what you want out of your spa.

We wanted 'proper outdoors, open to the sky'. I cannot be doing with them in sheds and tents 😂 Each to their own!

I didn't want a pub bar/surround sound/Netflix on a 48" telly. I wanted a place to sit and chat, at 6pm, most evenings. Okay, yes, with wine... 😂

We keep our Intex heated to 38 degrees 24/7; but we hop in every evening for an hour. We bought an insulated cover, like a spa duvet, and DH assured me our electric costs have barely risen.

We use Bromine, this year, not chlorine, as it's non smelly and non- costume eating!

I tend it every day; either filter washing, tab in the floater, test strip and add chemicals. You cannot neglect a spa but expect it to be fine.

We love ours. I know it's chavtastic, but the pleasure we get from sitting in it, quietly chatting, most evenings, is priceless.

As for the logistics of 'keeping it on/ turning it off' etc, you MUST join the LayZSpa owners FB page.

The answer is 'it depends'.

[quote Tryingtokeepsafe]@skipperjonce sorry what do you mean about 12 degrees? Do you mean outside temperature?

Are you saying it’s better to keep it on all the time rather than whacking it on just before weekends then off after weekends?[/quote]
I was using 12 degrees as an arbitrary ambient temp. Depends where you live I guess!

If you will be using it at least every 3 or 4 days it looks to be better to leave it on a ‘medium’ setting all the time, e.g 30. Then turn the heat up to max 4 or 5 hours before use.

We have a Hawaii lazy spa, ungraded from a Miami. I love it! Yes they are expensive to run but we don't have a Bath and I just love floating in the hot water. Works wonders for aches and pains.

To help reduce running costs you can set a base of king span closed cell insulation. The thicker the better. That prevents heat being lost through the base and C really makes a difference. You can find second quality insulation that will work on eBay for a fraction the price of b and q. We also have an insulation and more hot tub jacket and that helps prevent heat loss from the sides. I took a huge gamble and filled the inflatable lid with expanding foam and so that helps avoid heat loss in the top. Ours is under a gazebo. I LOVE it!

Thanks. I have some kingspan on its way! Will have couple layers or those rubber mats too. Then the actual lay z spa floor cover thing. Have also bought a thermal jacket and top Hoping Monday to Friday morning the heat won’t drop too much and I will turn it down and then whack it up Friday morning ready for evening. I have put up some fairy lights, can’t wait to get it set up.

Any tips about setting it up? I’m worried about the chemicals? Everyone says different things! A neighbour has a proper hard shell one and says he hasn’t changed the filter for years bleugh,

I have the starter kit, is it easy to understand what I do? What happens then, I dip test it every day? I see you get tablets or granules... which are better? Do you just chuck them in??

@Tryingtokeepsafe

Thanks. I have some kingspan on its way! Will have couple layers or those rubber mats too. Then the actual lay z spa floor cover thing. Have also bought a thermal jacket and top Hoping Monday to Friday morning the heat won’t drop too much and I will turn it down and then whack it up Friday morning ready for evening. I have put up some fairy lights, can’t wait to get it set up.

Any tips about setting it up? I’m worried about the chemicals? Everyone says different things! A neighbour has a proper hard shell one and says he hasn’t changed the filter for years bleugh,

I have the starter kit, is it easy to understand what I do? What happens then, I dip test it every day? I see you get tablets or granules... which are better? Do you just chuck them in??

I dip mine probably once a week now but I’m used to it’s needs. Every day at first is good until you get used to what it eats.

The 2 important bits are the free chlorine and the pH. Just make sure you add enough pH + or - to get a nice neutral pH, then the chlorine. Think dose sizes should be on the bottle, but now I have a rough idea what’s needed and whack a load in.

You should whip the filter out and jet it off under a fast tap every day, and change it completely probably about once a month depending on how grotty you are! I also change my water completely once a month, but my hot tub seems to be the preferred hangout for most of the preteens on my road so 🤮

I took a huge gamble and filled the inflatable lid with expanding foam and so that helps avoid heat loss in the top.

So you just squirted it full of expanding foam???
I've got an Intex, it has a zip on lid and I brought an inflatable to put between the water and the lid, now considering this idea for next year.

I have bought a thermal jacket and lid from insulate and more. I’m reeeeeeally hoping that I can let it tick over (have no idea what temperature is best for this) Monday to Thursday and whack it up Friday to Sunday as that is when it will be used? I have been looking at tariffs for electricity. I currently pay 17.4p per kWh..... I have no idea what that means in terms of the cost to run the hot tub. Any ideas how I would work out a rough calculation??

Is it obvious with the dip test strips if everything is all good and if I need to put other stuff in?

@Tryingtokeepsafe

I have bought a thermal jacket and lid from insulate and more. I’m reeeeeeally hoping that I can let it tick over (have no idea what temperature is best for this) Monday to Thursday and whack it up Friday to Sunday as that is when it will be used? I have been looking at tariffs for electricity. I currently pay 17.4p per kWh..... I have no idea what that means in terms of the cost to run the hot tub. Any ideas how I would work out a rough calculation??

Is it obvious with the dip test strips if everything is all good and if I need to put other stuff in?

The heater uses approx 2kw/hr, so when heating it will set you back 30p/hour. If it’s heating around 6 hours a day then approx £1.80 per day, or £55 per month.

@Chasingsquirrels

Yes, I put some small air holes in and several holes for the gun straw thing to fit in. Took me 3-4 hours and cost £50 but between that, my 7cm closed cell insulation and a insulation and note jacket it's actually doing really well. I turned it down from 40 to 34 on Wednesday night at 10pm and at 10 am Thursday morning it was still on 37c so very little heat loss. It also heats up much quicker when I want it up to 40c

The dip test has a colour chart on the side of the container that you compare to and will tell you what you need to add.

I'm sure I read you can't use them once the temp gets to 4 degrees outside. Might be wrong though. We always pack ours away by this time of year due to that

Also if you're putting it inside a room/shed/garage are t you going to create a steam room effect? That would drive me potty!

Thanks HotPatootiebootie. I've put mine away for winter, but I'll certainly bear this in mind for next year.

I've got mine on 4 of these interlocking mats, and I thought that was thick at 2.5cm! 7cm is massive.

Yes have thought about steam.... can’t do anything about that though. It has a door, the has a lot of gaps that will help as it is part of the garage and will just have to open the door!

It is half full of cold water and today going to try fill it from the hot tab. I’m confused though as they now don’t come with a Floater and it has a chem connect so if I use tablets I have to reach all the way down to the bottom to take that off al the time and put it back on?? I have short arms and will have to take my top off to reach or top will get wet?? Or should I ignore the Chen connect and buy a floater??

@skipperjonce could you explain once again about the cost, sorry! I need to keep the cost down as much as possible. It is insulated but I’m looking at wether I need to change suppliers. I don’t really want to change but perhaps I will. So you said:
The heater uses approx 2kw/hr, so when heating it will set you back 30p/hour. If it’s heating around 6 hours a day then approx £1.80 per day, or £55 per month.

I have set it to 30 degrees. I will use it Friday to Sunday.... so of course it will go up when I whack it on. How do I work out what it will cost when it is kept on at 30 degrees? As it has a thermal jacket and lid coming, will the heater cut off automatically if the temperature sits above 30? For example Sunday I get out, I wrap it all up, I would presume the jacket etc will keep the temp up much higher for longer than without one... so if I set it at 30 and it is day 34 degrees as the heat is kept in with the insulation, will that be costing me to heat?? I’m getting a bit confused and really not good with the science and maths involved!