Hot Tub not as described

denise38

I purchased a hot tub in October. It was sold to us as being very energy efficient and would use approximately £40 of energy per month in use. The supplier knew where it was to be positioned on a raised deck outside our kitchen door in a rural open setting. He was sent pictures prior to delivery.

The hot tub was installed and it was only after it had settled in that I began to take note of energy consumption. I soon realised that it was actually using twice as much energy as they had stated. I contacted them and they came out and completely changed the brain. This was not a fix and the consumption was just as high. I could sit in my kitchen and watch my meter ping on as soon as the hotub started heating. It is supposed to periodically check temp and if at temp do nothing but if not it will heat water .Should only heat for 10 minutes or so ,Mine was coming on every 90 minutes approx and heating for 40. Out they came and put another brain in it which was worse. Later found they had put a 2kw heater in and not 4kw that we had paid for.

It quickly became apparent that the tub was not retaining its temp .Only after I had proved by paying for an electrician to come out again that my wiring was not leaking and the energy was being used by tub.This machine is supposedly used in Canada yet couldnt be used in east coast of Scotland. Supplier gave us a bag that covers tub and this almost resolved problem we are still using the amount of energy when its not in use that it should when in use once a day for 20 minutes according to their figures.. We now suspect that the lift off cover is letting wind in and causing drop in temp. He has been back and completely fastened the lid down so nothing gets in and has metered it. Coming back tomorrow and I supsect it will return similar readings as when covered with bag .
I suspect they are going to wash their hands of it. As I am not fit to lift a tight fitting cover on and off every time I want to use it this is will not be a long term solution solution. I suspect they are going to expect us to pay for the bag if we want to keep it. May be wrong but thats impression hubby got.

My arguement is I have a product that was sold to me and that it is not as was described . I could live with £15 more but £40 is a bit rich. They will claim it is the location that it is too exposed. Had they said this at start we wouldnt have bought it or may have looked to put it elsewhere and build a shelter. They have now changed their website to say Running costs for hot tubs are massively variable as they depend on so many different factors such as the spa’s location, the chosen temperature, the climate, the regularity of use and of course the individual’s electricity tariff. This is a new addition and wasnt there when we bought it. Thankfully we have a copy dated that shows this info was not on before Xmas. I feel we have been missold this and that its not as described or fit for purpose.
Am in within my rights to ask them to take it away and give me my money back?
I dont really want this option but it may come to that. I would settle for them to leave the bag and come back in Spring and move it free of charge. However all this has cost us an extra £150 including electrician to come out again and feel that they are less than sympathetic. Stupidly only paid with debit card when I should know better.

keyser666

Sorry didnt read,you will find most wont with a wall of text, if you could split it up that would help

jfdi

How well insulated is it round the sides and underneath?

Ours was really bad, even with the 6" of polystyrene on top, so my husband stuffed leftover roof insulation between tub and cladding, being sure to leave a gap around the motor area, and our consumption dropped by half.

We now switch it off after use, and as long as we use it again within 48 hours it only takes about 2 hrs to get back up to 37'.

denise38

It is really well insulated although I saw them put more king span in yesterday . Bit naughty as supposed to be testing if its the lid.putting more in kind of invalidates the test . We tried putting it in holiday mode and just heating when we needed but the temp drop was too much and cost ed same
Pretty sure its wind getting under the lid .we are exposed to the elements basically live in a field with no shelter . Stunning views but exposed .

Exile_geordie

My friend has a hot tub and he leaves it on constantly and he achieves the rated energy use.


What you will find though is that heating up cold water uses up far more energy than just leaving it on.

Poppie68

Sounds like you need to build some kind of shelter around it. Ours is in a summer house because our garden is very exposed to the elements ...the summer house works a treat.

paddyrg

Over the winter months can you put a pop-up gazebo over the top to protect it a little more? One with removable sides if you still go and sit in it to admire the icy views!!

denise38

Short of having to pay again to have it removed it will need to stay where it is. Too exposed to put any cover over it . reason it is losing its heat is through the moveable lid or so we think. Lid was strapped down last and it used 10 units not having been used yesterday .So used it would be using 15 . It had been using 22 units when there was no cover over the lid. At no time were we advised not to put it there or that energy consumption would depend on location or climate. These tubs are supposed to be used in sub zero depths of Canada . I feel so annoyed that we were sold something that would cost £480 a year averaging £40 a month. If I average nearer £90 how will I ever achieve £480 a year. £90 x 5 months over autumn and winter would wipe out the whole year . Apparently I am the only one ever to complain about consumption and it would appear I live in an anomaly .

Peter333

Exile_geordie wrote: »

My friend has a hot tub and he leaves it on constantly and he achieves the rated energy use.

What you will find though is that heating up cold water uses up far more energy than just leaving it on.

I can't believe that someone not only posts such misleading information on a moneysavingwebsite, but actually BELIEVES it to be true.

Oh dear.

Unless you are in your hot tub 12 hours a day, why on EARTH would you leave it on constantly?!

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/saving-pennies-or-dollars-hot-tub-usage/

Without running the numbers at all, I can tell you that it’s cheaper to heat the water on occasion rather than keep it constantly hot. Hot water will constantly lose heat to the environment, and the greater the difference between the environment and your hot tub, the greater the heat loss at any given time.

It's not rocket science.