DIY Winterize your Intex Hot Tub!
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- čas přidán 6. 08. 2024
- We're now into our 5th Winter!
Spa cover by www.masterspaswi.com/ A supplemental Video on our second winter. • Intex Hot Tub, 2nd Win... ) Let me show you how to do this for $1200! Intex, Coleman, Saluspa, All Brands!
I have owned two fiberglass hot tubs ($6000! and 220Volts) and now I'm an 'inflatable-spa-type-guy'. Relaxing in this soft inflatable on cold WINTER eves has been more enjoyable than in hot tubs that cost 3X as much! Plus,, I can pack this thing up and take it up to the camp for the Summer! It works all winter long AND I can move it to wherever I want it! NICE!
The complete lumber list is at the 06:10 mark.
00:00 - Intro.
01:35 - Winter Photos.
06:10 - The Complete Lumber List.
08:00 - The Illustrations.
15:00 - Assembled on our deck.
17:00 - Closing. - Jak na to + styl
You know, after i built my enclosure following your plans, i was so happy with the finished product that I have shared this video over 1,000 times
I knew I couldn’t have been the only person with this idea. I plan on doing a box similar to yours but then closing the corners in so we can use them as a place for drinks. Yours look great!
We also filled in the corners with shelves. And they're strong enough to use as step-ins too. Thank You for watching.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with everyone! Very generous of you to share your skills!
Thanks for sharing, I love your idea. Thank you for not only showing but explaining and letting us know how to diy step by step. Good job
I am so glad I came across your video 👍🏻
Extremely well put together video, good descriptions, and visuals. I'll ne referencing this when I start my build it's very well thought out and easy to follow
This is a fantastic idea, thanks for all the details and great work on the final project!
Thank You!
Wow, what great work, my kind of guy! Love the precision on your plans/drawings and will certainly be giving this a try to insulate my tub here in the south of the UK (although we scarcely get temperatures much lower than 5°C for anything more than a day or 2 in winter. I plan to use perspex over the wall timbers before attaching the top sheet of timber and will drill small holes and fill with expanding building foam rather than rockwool type insulation but cant wait to gibe it a try. Thank you so much
Brilliant idea! and thanks for sharing!
Very nicely done!
I am going to use your plans and appreciate your efforts explaining so. Seeing how handy you are at fabricating, I'm surprised you didn't build a cover. Thanks again
12/2023 costs are $450.00 plus tax for hot tub at Sam's Wholesale and about $775.00 including tax from Menards for remaining materials. I did add a vapor barrier for panels, but this doesn't include the top which I plan to make. The material cost includes the 2" foam board for the top but I still need to buy marine grade vinyl sheeting to wrap it in.
Lot's of Great Ideas - Thanks! Our second winter with our IHT in south central PA. 👍😎
Nice,, I'm thinking about building these things as a side job/income.
Terrific job
That's great, I am going to try this as it gets cold in the UK in winter.
If you have any questions,, just ask. Start with the standard inexpensive cover,, and then build down from there. Build an enclosure like I show in the video,, and then throw a blanket over that on your coldest nights. Get a small generator for insurance!
Will do the same although it doesn’t get as cold. I want to save power and want a nice surround so it’s visually looking nice and keep it warm in winter. Thanks for the inspiration.
Great video
This is a brilliant video. Thank you. I have just brought a lazy spa. It's still in the box. Over here in the UK energy prices have gone through the roof. I am definitely going to copy your idea here. Thank you
Glad to help! Our 2nd winter is now ending!, but still, we will leave the spa panels and the cover on! The electric bill drops to like $10/month during the Summer,, can't tell fer sure actually.
Dude, thank you for this
You're Welcome!
I have mine outside on our deck on a circular 2" foam base, then I wrapped the exposed pipe with thick insulation. I also throw a blanket over the egg. Also about $60/month in peak cold (Montana). Love your idea, nicely done.
Did you insulate the sides or the top?
Excellent! Yes,, starting with the existing inexpensive spa cover and working downward from there is the way to do it! Enjoy!
Great info👍
Great idea love it thanks for sharing God bless you always
Thank you! You too!
And as soon as it starts snowing again (soon), we will be posting a supplemental video! This is our second winter and we're loving it! In New England you need to have a garage, a snowblower,, and a Hot Tub!
@@intriguingmegalithicperspe1764 you are so right thank you so much have a beautiful day God bless you always
What a cool video. I am curious how much adding additional insualtion makes versus just the air itself in these tubs. I've kept mine out all winter long, set to 104 degrees (actually 106 because I modified mine) over a New Jersey winter and it raises my electric bill about 80 dollars a month, we also pay 27 cents a KWH (very high). Sometimes I feel funny being in the swimming pool business with access to "real" hot tubs yet I love the simplicity of an inflatable. I never use the bubbler and tubs with a zillion jets are just a leak waiting to happen, even though I'm able to fix things myself still not something I want to deal with. I was lucky enough to find these tubs on a end of season closeout for $160 each, I bought two so I'd have a backup. Too bad I can't post a photo here in comments< I just took my first snowy soak in the tub of the winter season. I too consider myself an inflatable hot tub guy :). Thanks for sharing your video, it's giving me some food for thought keeping mine up all winter.
Man, I just came across this video. Awesome idea. I have the Saluspa Laguna and was thinking of ways to insulate it better. When do you plan to put out a version 2 build? I’m really anxious to see the modifications-spray foam, access to drain, access to inflate, etc..
Thanks!
Thank you. I'm gonna buy a inflatable now. Been on the fence for 2 years because we want to use it in the winter in upstate NY. - degree temps at times. Excellent design!!!
I would recommend doing the 4th panel in a way that you can get to the air refill and drain more easily. Consider that into your design. I am doing a full build for a friend soon and am including that maintenance item consideration right now.
I might DIY the new design in a new video too.
-H
I have a similar spa in a 3 season room that I plan on using year round Michigan. I believe intex doesn't want the pump exposed to freezing temps. It's probably the weak link w/ freezing. It can't keep itself warm in freezing temps. This is a great video, but I think I would definitely spend more time insulating the pump unit. That is the weakest link for freeze issues because it's away from the heat source. Beautiful end finish BTW, I wish I has your skills
Yes,, throw a blanket over whatever you build to cover and insulate the Pump! But No,, that pump keeps itself circulating and warm no problem. The real task is to keep from losing the heat in the bulk of the tub! Oh,, and not losing power for more than a day too! We lost power for 8 hours,, and THAT made me nervous. Maybe this year I'll get a little honda generator,, just in case. Yes,, I can see Mount Washington from my back yard. It gets Cold here in upstate NH.
Add a light bulb base inside your heater box to accept a heat lamp bulb. Plenty of added heat to protect pump from freezing. Now if the power just stays on....!
Great Video and great idea. My hot tub sits directly on the ground, not on a deck. What would be you suggestion for best insulation? Should I use pressure treated 2x4s and plywood on which to set the foam insulation and hot tub? thoughts?
Foooorrr Cheap!
That is very impressive 👍
I have a square tub and I'd like to see if it's possible to do this frame but with a shelfing going all around it as would be staying where it is.
Fantastic job
Did you try did it work? I’m thinking of doing the same!
@@aribernays
No, I changed me mind and put wood all around to shield from weather and give privacy
just got this hot tub for 270, and thinking about doing something like this. Wasn't really thinking about insulating, as I am in Florida, but... maybe? hmmm gotta think about it, but yea that might be a good idea.
My inflatable is the latest Bestway Saluspa Laguna from Costco. It is 71" in diameter. Will this create too much room for air to cool inside the box?
The inflatable tub I want is 85" wide 😢. Gonna try anyway 😄
This video is awesome. I am a single woman and planning on doing this myself but have a couple questions. My hot tube arrived today! I have watched your video 10 times. LOL I don't know if there is anyway to contact you via email or phone. I have never tried to reach anyone of which I have watched a You Tube video of and maybe I can't/ Either way thank you so much for this video! It I'm sure has made many people happy.
You're not the first person whom has mentioned that I should make these panels and sell them as a hot tub kit. And I have considered it too! And I'm considering it more and more as I'm about to look for a second job! Hmmm
I'm in NH and I would require that people come and pick up their panel kits.
Do you think people would do that?
@@intriguingmegalithicperspe1764
What a great idea - you producing these kits! Why could you not ship the kits, since everything gets shipped these days?
Suggestion: The inside walls (under the plywood) should have a vapor barrier over the insulation. I would use visqueen. This will keep the insulation from becoming waterlogged (reducing the r-value). I'd also paint the inside plywood, again, to keep moisture from ruining it.
We did paint the inside panel,, to make it look better this year. But I would recommend using a water resistant plywood on this inside. It's a fiberboard and I forget what it's called. I'm thinking about doing a third video on this DIY project and I will include that. After two years though,, it's still holding strong. I did lift the panels (ALL) just last month because she wanted to move the hot tub away from where the new deck is being built now. (Yes,, we are building more deck space,, Oy) and the panels are light as they were two years ago. So I don't think anything other than the caulking that I did two years ago for vapor barrier is needed.
@@intriguingmegalithicperspe1764 i used your design on my hot tub, and i swear to you, it works perfectly. The other day i changed out the water in the tub, after running my washer all day, i soon ran out of hot water and the fresh water in the tub was cold. I expected to have to wait a few days for it to warm up. Well today i went out and uncovered the tub and found the water at the mat of 104 degrees and ready for use. Thank you so much for this video. I obviously embellished on mine a bit but the dimensions are all the same. Cant wait to see what the encasement will do in the winter.
@@jamesdickson7510 Excellent. It's a sensible idea and affordable! Well done! Enjoy!
Why unfaced insulation?
I dont have nothing like that for mine this year so at what point do i drain and put mine away for the winter ?
In response to some good questions and comments, I recorded this supplemental video. czcams.com/video/KmHXxTefSDc/video.html We are now enjoying our 2nd Winter with this inflatable tub!
Hey man, that's a brilliant idea. I'm using my inflatable in Germany, where temps usually don't drop below 20°F - but keeping the heat inside the tub is quite the time factor as well, so your idea is perfect - and it looks good as well.
My question though is: would you say you could reduce the outside volume (noise-wise) by insulating the heater a lot or do you maybe have another clever idea to help reduce the complaints of neighbours? :D
Thanks so much!
Another question: do you keep your tub running at all times to maintain temperature and prevent freezing or do you turn it off sometimes in winter as well?
Hello and sorry for this late reply. I did not insulate the heater box. My reasoning for that is that the water in the pump is always moving,,, it NEVER stops moving. The circulator and filter function are always circulating and filtering. So,, it would have to get even colder than the MT Washington valley to freeze.
AND the heater barely makes any noise at all! Does your heater and pump make a lot of noise?
We are about to go into our 3rd winter and I am doing a bit of redesign to the 4th panel (the heater side panel) so that it's easier to pump up the sides and to access the drain. AND I might just insulate the box,, but it's not for noise reasons.
Thanks for writing! I hope this helps!
It is plugged in and circulating/filtering all the time, but the heater turns off and on when needed.
@Intriguing Megalithic Perspectives ...Ours is an Intex 28431 E PureSpa Plus 85" x 28" 6 person spa....will the 94" spa cover fit it? I'm assuming the wood sides can just be made a tad longer? Thanks
The diameter of the your inflated and full of water hot tub is the key dimension to answering your question. Please measure the distance across the diameter. Then follow the directions in this video. OK? Thanks.
This is great, I wish I has a list of exactly what to buy, LOL or someone to build it for me?
The Lumber List is Time-stamped in the video. Hover your mouse over the timeline at the bottom,,, As for building the panels,, how much would you pay for them as pre-built to fit your inflatable tub?
Nice design i would make the walls lighter. I dint think you need 16 on center inside the walls if your skinning both sides.
Sure,, go 2' on center,, but try not to go any less than 2x4. Start with the standard cover and then design downward from there. 2x4's are cheap enough.
Do you have any issues with the pump breathing with the cover over it? Appreciate your video, I have my walls built, floor in, and getting ready to build a cover.
pump breathing? I'm not sure what you mean. But no, there aren't any issues with the pump other than on REALLY COLD nights I do throw a winter blanket over the pump housing! The heat from the heater keeps it warm, but there's no harm in trying to save even more of the heat!
Can you please tell me how much it cost to run in the winter?
Really interesting...I have one question though, why did you put the heater outside and not inside in a corner ? (For more insulation )
Excellent question! And I tried that in the initial design,, but simply,, it didn't fit under a standard square cover, which was a huge part of keeping the cost down. Those two panels at that corner,, would have needed to be heavily customized to make it possible to fit the pump into the corner. Bulging outward anyways by 6 inches further. Ultimately I decided to make all four panels the same for simplicity and easy disassembly/removal,, and turned the pump housing into a step system to get into the tub.
Some inflatable tubs do use a pump that isn't as distant and bulky as the Intex. If they can sit closer,, then Yes,, I would encourage/rethink the design to put the pump and filter into the corner.
Thank You for asking that logical question.
Nice. Just wondered though, did you frame your lid similar to the side panels? Also did you insulated with same or use the old solid sheets? Thanks for the details :)
The lid/top is a standard spa lid. I purchased that online. $460 The design starts with the lid/top,, and builds downward from there. Using 2x4's as shown in this video, the Intex spa fits nicely. I only used solid sheets under the spa and under the heater.
@@intriguingmegalithicperspe1764 that makes sense Harvey. I thought the lid you bought was just the actual sheet material cover, which I presumed you had fitted over a self made lid frame. Thanks for sharing, well explained and thought out project. I need to source one in the UK now lol
I really wish I can do this myself but I have zero confidence despite the wonderful instructions you provided. I wondering if there is a service for hire for this project..
Where are you located?
@@k.reativec.arpentry4862 in new jersey
Nice,, somebody is picking up some extra income,, on my idea!
Did you use any pressure treated wood? Do you have to worry about moisture in the lumber? Looking at building this this weekend (:
I did not use PT wood. Just regular wood and it's been fine. But it's only been two winters now. When I disassemble this spring, I will decide if I'll poly the bottoms. The only part that is showing any weathering and stress,, is the inside 1/2" plywood. I will likely put more screws into it to hold it flat this spring.
All in all this design is really working out great for us. I'll never buy another hard-shell hot tub again. no way.
What kind of tub did you buy and keep me posted! I hope I can help!
@@intriguingmegalithicperspe1764 , I'm just wrapping up a build of my own. Great plan! I decided to put pressure treated wood on the bottom plate just to prevent rot since that's where the majority of water will com into contact with with wood. I am a little concerned about moisture in the insulation as well. Any updates on how it's holding up to moisture? Do you keep the stock inflatable cover on under the hot tub cover? I would think that would significantly limit moisture/evaporation. Very excited to see how this cuts down on energy bills.
Hey thank you for posting this. I followed your instructions and built the walls and am going to be finishing them this weekend. I managed to fit my coleman spa and the heater/filter inside the 94 inch square. i think my height is an inch or two different from yours. I am wondering who you went with for the cover? Thanks again!
Start with the height of your own inflatable hot tub,, and work down from there. Basically H +2" = the height of your own panels. I'll look at my credit card receipts for the cover manufacturer. I should have posted that link a long time ago.
So I'll get back to you. -H
no worries. i got impulsive and built one myself. i used the remainder foam board from the floor (which i had cut out in long steips or planks) and got two more foam boards. i used some loctite (and duck tape) to attach the planks to the new foam boards as lips/overhang. this fit as a nice kid to the structure. i attached the two foam boards together with a lot of duck tape so that they would act as a hinge and open and close over the middle of the enclosure. after making sure that this fit i then covered the bottom of the lid with a 10*10 tarp and the top of the lid with a 12*12 tarp. i attached these together through their ringlets with some zip ties so it is nice and relatively water proof. this fits nice and dry. then for support/reinforcement i took two left over 8 foot deck boards that i run across the middle of enclosure and parallel to the hinge that i wrote about and just under the edge of each foam board. there is a gap in the lip of the lids (still with me?) so the deck planks can sit sandwiched between the lid and the enclosure. this provides support for the lid and also introduces an incline so that water and suck roll off the lid. sorry for the long winded mess here. i would post a video but i already built the thing. i can take it off and put it back off in a minute. if anyone is interested i can put up diagram etc. thanks for the plans for the enclosure and the ensuing inspiration. i was out in it last night and temp was in 30s -40s and it was great.
@@johnmaloy5494 hey I'd be interested to see your lid I am actually building this surround now!
@@johnmaloy5494 I can get the jist, however as you know when doing a project like this it’s easy to mess up and have to redo it and the materials are super pricy these days. It would be great if you could post a pic or even a quick video of what you did as there are some parts I’m foggy on. Even if it’s already put together, a visual cue with some narration would help close the gaps! Thx
Spa cover by www.masterspaswi.com/
Do the screws have to be torx or can they be any bit?
Outside screws nowadays are typically torx. But they could be anything. As long as they're outside screws so as to not rust,,,
Can you refigure your drawings and material list that would work on the smaller 71" x 71" x 26" high Coleman Salu Spa Ponderosa hot tub? I would like to make this design but need to follow written directions. Unfortunately I'm not much of a designer.
By going back and reviewing your plans based on the 77" Intex tub, I just reduced all dimensions to work on my 71" tub. So, I'm figuring my T-111 outside walls at 87 1/4", the inner framed plywood side at 82 5/8" and wall height at 27". I probably won't go with 16" OC spacing to save weight, but other than that, I think this will work. I will customize my own top with 4" thick covered foamboard. Thanks so very much for posting this and giving me the idea to do it myself!
how much additional power does this run in the winter months?
January was the coldest and the electrical bill was $60 over last years January,,,,
Any reason one couldn’t use cellulose on the inside (higher R-Value)?
I will use spray foam next time. It will cost more,, but it will be lighter.
How hard is it to fill with air. That port seems covered
Excellent Question! And in-fact,, as I'm getting ready to build one of these for a friend,, I am planning on changing the design to make it easier to get to the air refill port AND the drain port. Our tub IS starting to lose a little air occasionally,, as it's now 3 years old. Unscrewing and lifting away that panel so that I can get at the Air refill and water drain,, is a PAIN. I've had to do it twice now,, and need to do it again soon. For my next (modified) design, I would/will make the square hole in panel #4 much larger so that my friend can easily reach them just by taking off the pump enclosure.
Where did you get the step treads from ?
The steps I made from a pine butcherblock type of leftover board to save money. And I wouldn't do that again. Infact, I'm replacing them this weekend with PT decking. The pineboard cracked at every edge and was a pain to keep fixing. Stay with materials that were intended to be outside. Vinyl or Pressure Treaded.
How much insulation did you buy for this
Please see the complete lumber list at 6he 6:10 mark.
1200 dollars I hope that was counting the hot tub
Hey there! I am a PR from Amazon brand and have been following your channel. I really enjoy your content and would like to collaborate with you. How can I get in touch with you?
Hi Beverlyan, I'm in NH. What's a PR from Amazon brand?
@@intriguingmegalithicperspe1764 I am a staff member of an Amazon store that sells products such as hot tub thermostats. I wanted to inquire if you would be interested in testing our product.
@@intriguingmegalithicperspe1764 I‘m seeking the collaboration of hot tub thermostats. I wanted to inquire if you would be interested in testing our product.
$1200 = materials + spa cover + cover swing away.
what the h*** is t-111 wood
Google it. T-1, 11. It's an exterior vertical plywood siding. Comes in two styles. quite common actually.
$1200? That is a lot of electricity.
During the Summer it's about $20/month.
Nice work and all but 1200$? There are much cheaper ways to essentially do the same thing, at 1200$ for the encloser you could have just bought a true non inflatable spa.
$1200? + $600 might as well get a real hot tub😂
A real hot tub requires serious electrical work to have it installed and in no way cost $1,800 all in. Even a used hot tub would likely cost $6,000+ after purchasing the tub and having it installed. It's 30% of the cost to do it this way with the inflatable one. And less maintenance too.
You could have bought a decent real hot tub used if you had shopped around 🤦♂️.
I have been down the path of the used $6,000 tubs too! Oh,, I love it when people say "I took good care of it and drained it when not in use,, it's never been frozen!,," You go ahead and buy an old tub for less than $1500.
Why not just buy a 700 dollar storage shed.
because then you can't look at the stars at night,, or enjoy the falling snow,, or just enjoy being outside during the winter. Clearly you have never had an outside hot tub. You should try it.
@@intriguingmegalithicperspe1764 you have a point. A great one actually. I just bought one last Saturday . It's a portable one. Paid 298 for it. A steal I think. I'll try this option.
$1200 just go buy another hot tube in fiberglass
Go to a hot tub shop and tell them you want a tub for $1200! Then come back and post what they're reply was!
@@intriguingmegalithicperspe1764 of course your not getting a new one one unless it a Intex or spa In box model but you can certainly get a good used unit
@@intriguingmegalithicperspe1764 but the video was good 👍