Business Energy Advice

By Daniel P Jung

Every spa owner knows that there will come a time when their spa heater will fail. When this time comes you need to be ready to make a decision whether to replace your hot tub heater or repair it. This article will discuss some of the issues that may help you make this decision.

One of the first questions to ask is how old is you hot tub heater. The older a heater is the more likely it will continue to intermittent breakdowns and eventually total failure. If your heater is older than 5 years I would suggest you consider replacing it. The odds of another failure greatly increase with the age of the spa controller.

If your older spa pack is analog, then you should really think of upgrading to a digital spa controller. A digital spa pack comes with a LED or LCD top side controller providing many advantages. You can change the temperature right at the hot tub without getting out of the tub. The digital controller is much more accurate meaning your water will stay at the temperature it is set for. The topside display will also give you the exact temperature of the water. Digital spa packs have solid state construction meaning there are no moving parts to break down.

Replacing a failed heating element is perhaps the least expensive spa repair. A heater element can be repaired by most spa owners without calling a service technician. If you are comfortable with this type of repair you may find the cost is around $100.

A digital spa pack normally has built in programming options. These options give owners flexibility on temperature control and pump circulation options. If a customer is away for a week they can select an economy setting which would turn down the temperature and cycle water less frequently. These programming option help to reduce operating costs.

Are you an electrician? If you are like most people, and are electronically challenged then your options for repair means calling a pool or spa repair shop. This can quickly become very expensive. Hourly rates, bench rates and travel times mean that a faulty $25 heating component can cost more than a new hot tub heater.

Which is the better option? Cost ultimately decides this. Most people are surprised to find a new digital spa pack with full warranty and new parts starts at around $500. Be aware that one repair visit for your older spa heater can run $400 or more. What is the better investment?

Spa packs are universal. Most dealers will not tell you this, as they want you to replace your spa pack with the same one you had. This is the same as a GM telling you, you need to use only their brakes? Shop around and don’t be scared, spa packs all do the same thing. When looking for a replacement pack always consider quality and the warranty.

I hope this article has provided you with the information needed to make a decision to replace or repair your spa pack.

About the Author: Daniel P Jung is owner and founder of Northern Lights Wooden Tubs, an industry leader and supplier of Wooden Hot Tubs. He also manages one of the Internet’s most popular online

hot tub parts stores

. Here you can find the best

spa heaters

from industry leaders such as Balboa at manufacturer direct prices

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=325882&ca=Advice

byadmin

Keeping warm in the winter can be a challenge, especially when you’re faced with high heating bills. Most people use space heaters and other direct contact heating to keep them warm while running their furnaces on low in the background. Whether you’re using propane tanks in Manchester CT, or power from your local energy company, there are ways to save on heating costs. Here are a few of them to get you started.

Whole Home Insulation

If you haven’t already done so, make sure that your home is fully insulated for the winter. It’s not enough to just insulate the attic and not the rest of the home, especially if you have an older structure. Your walls need to be insulated to keep the cold air from coming into the cracks and crevices of the outer walls of your home. You can have a company do this for you, or you can do it yourself. It’s one of the best ways to keep the heat in and save on heating costs in the winter.

Window Coverings

Your window coverings should have a thermal backing. Thermal coverings can help keep the cold out. You can also cover your windows with plastic to ensure that no cold air seeps in from that area. This is a simple task that can be done within a few hours, depending on the size of your home. When you’re out buying propane tanks in Manchester CT, stop and pick up a roll of plastic. It’s inexpensive and could make a big difference in the amount of cold air that enters your home from the windows.

Layered Clothing

When you’re at home in the winter, layer up your clothing to keep from having to turn up the thermostat. Add a layer of long johns to your normal clothing, and this could make a big difference in how you feel. Heavy sweaters that are easy to remove are also ideal in winter. Wool socks and other warm materials can be beneficial when the winter months arrive and you’re not able to pay for the increase in power needed to keep warm. You will need to keep your pipes from freezing, so turning your furnace off entirely to use a space heater or any other source of alternative heating is not recommended.

Start your search for propane tanks in Manchester CT now, and start seeing a difference in your energy costs.