hot tub

[Nick2422]

I put my hot tub on the patio outside the house while the pool got a refurb. Guests seem to like it. Hadn't expected that.

However there are issues:

It is an HSE (in UK) requirement that it is emptied every week or after every guest whichever is the sooner.

This on its own is a significant issue. it takes 1 hour 40 mins to fill up and then 12 hours to get back to temperature. Not ideal for same day changeovers.

There has to be a permanent floating chlorine dosing device, which the guests keep adjusting.

The guests have frequently fiddled with the temp controller, although this is easy to do while trying to turn the blower or jets on. Then they complain 

after they leave, that wasn't warm enough!

I had a meter on the hot tub for my own private use, and before all the price hikes it used £80/month, without me emptying it. I suggest this will now be c£200/m.

I have now discovered:

You are supposed to wipe down the splash zone regularly!

You have to keep records of the water tests and what chemicals you have then added.

You have to check it every TWO hours.

You have to have a risk assessment document and a written control scheme.

There is apparently a very real risk of Legionnaires being creates in dirty hot tubs.

You should send off water samples monthly for microbiological testing.

I could go on.

I would welcome any advice!

How does anyone get on with a wood-burning tub? they heat up in 2-3 hours apparently...

Good hosting to you all,

Nick

[Normen0]

@Nick2422 It sounds like with all the rules in the UK regarding hot tubs, you should just remove it from guest use if you can’t have it ready in a same days turn over.
Or maybe add it as an option for extra fee but you would have to keep track of who is paying to use it and not allow back to back guests booking your space with the option to use it. 
All in all, it sounds like it’s too expensive and too time consuming. 

I have a permanent hot tub at my place and manage place another with a plug and play hot tub. The plug and play is a nightmare. People are always messing with the temp settings and disregarding the rules, notices and waivers. I hate it but I manage this place for a friend. 
I have so many less issues at my place. I live on site. I meet all my guests and run over the hot tub functions. We keep the bromine and other chemical levels where they are suppose to be so there is no chance for disease.  With the cost to run it and changing it over it’s clear to me that you need to shut it down! 

[Nick2422]

Thanks for that Normen sounds like you have been through this. Yes I use chemicals: chlorine tabs in the floating thing, shock chlorine and Ph+.

A friend with a holiday let has a wood burning hot tub. he fills it with clean water for each guest, leaves it cold with a stack of wood and lets them get on with it. 

[Neil577]

We’re having a wood-fired hot tub installed and are thinking about allowing guests to use it. Ideally I’d want say 24-hours notice from guests to use it, I’d fire it up so it’s ready when they want it.  How can I arrange a suitable optional fee, and have the listing be clear it’s not just a “jump in and go” tub to manage expectations. I don’t want complaints they couldn’t use it on a whim.