[jtjtjtjt]

Hi all.

The wife and I will be moving to Vegas soon. The plan is to have a new home built, probably by DR Horton, Richmond American, Pardee, or some other cookie cutter home company.

We're considering a swim spa and wondering about solar heating for it. Has anyone had one of those installed? If so, how do you like it? Did you use solar heating for it? Any reputable installers you'd like to recommend?

Before we sign on the dotted line for a new house, I'd like to have some guesses on what to expect.

Although I see lots of good information on the various threads here, this is the first of many questions for me...

Thanks.

Jeff

[airics]

solar heating MIGHT add an extra month of swimming on either side….. put a gas heater in and you can swim on New Years Eve we do… nothing like a 15,000 gallon hot tub at 102 degrees...

[jtjtjtjt]

how about both gas and solar? Alternatively, how about electric and solar? I say that because most of the swim spas I see advertised mention built in electric heater (220V). So I'm thinking the way to go might be to use solar and electric. But I have no idea how long it would take to heat the swim spa with the built in electric heater and how much it would cost. And I have a similar lack of knowledge for solar heating of the swim spa.

I remember my days in Orange County CA 30 years ago with a hot tub that would get heated in an hour. Wonder if I'll get the same performance with solar and electric?

[lvoc]

Originally Posted by jtjtjtjt

how about both gas and solar? Alternatively, how about electric and solar? I say that because most of the swim spas I see advertised mention built in electric heater (220V). So I'm thinking the way to go might be to use solar and electric. But I have no idea how long it would take to heat the swim spa with the built in electric heater and how much it would cost. And I have a similar lack of knowledge for solar heating of the swim spa.

I remember my days in Orange County CA 30 years ago with a hot tub that would get heated in an hour. Wonder if I'll get the same performance with solar and electric?

You are getting into an apple versus orange discussion.

There are effectively two kinds of spas. Those which are small swimming pools and left cold except when used and the self contained spa which is generally a well insulated box with a top which is kept heated all the time. swimming pool type spas are heated with gas or solar. Basically you take all the free heat you get from solar and then use gas to actually hwt it to a usable temperature. The solar is actually of only limited use in the winter so many don't bother.

I also question your new home decision. At the present new homes in LV are an economic disaster. The only one that makes any sense is a true custom but that is a very expensive alternative.

YOu will do a lot better to find a resale with a pool that you like.

[vtvette]

We have a 600 gallon spa attached to a 20,000 gallon pool. We also have a 400,000 BTU gas pool heater. We have never heated the pool but, the heater will heat the spa from 55degrees (the coldest our pool water gets in the winter) to 103 in about 40 minutes. We use the spa several times a month (weekends) in the winter and there is no real discernible difference in the gas bill.

If you are not already aware, pools in Vegas add very little value to the home at resell time. Hard to believe but it's true. They can also be very expensive to put in. You can find just about anything you are looking for in a resell home in Vegas. When the wife and I looked at homes when we moved here two and a half years ago (with lvoc) we saw many beautiful homes. Also consider, with a resell home in an established neighborhood you can get an excellent idea of the neighborhood through reputation, crime statistics and other research. A new construction neighborhood will be a total crap shoot. You don't know which way the neighborhood may go.

Just a little food for thought.

[jtjtjtjt]

Thanks for the replies.

The swim part is important. And it is important to be able to swim in the winter, so substantial heating is required. I want to stay in good shape and swimming will do that. The swim spa instead of a pool looks to be what I would prefer with lower maintenance time and cost and not a lot of space used. I don't care what it looks like, but the wife does.

OK, you convinced me that buying a used house is the way to do it. Unfortunately, the wife has never owned a used car and always bought a new house so we'll be buying a brand new house. We're retirees with substantial savings and low income. Not worried about resale value since we will be here many years. Probably until the wife dies at which time I will probably relocate to Mars or the Moon or a space station.

I'm looking at the Endless Pool brand and wondering about solar heating it. But I might go with a lesser brand if there is an experienced installer of the swim spa and the solar setup who will do good work.

[LVAllen]

Solar heating won't allow you to swim in the winter, it just extends the spring/fall time by about a month in either direction. I believe the Endless pool includes a water heater, so your most important factor would be insulation.

[Trash Can]

Originally Posted by jtjtjtjt

.......

The swim part is important. And it is important to be able to swim in the winter, so substantial heating is required. I want to stay in good shape and swimming will do that. The swim spa instead of a pool looks to be what I would prefer with lower maintenance time and cost and not a lot of space used. I don't care what it looks like, but the wife does.

.........We're retirees with substantial savings and low income.......

If your main reason for wanting a swim spa is fitness, why not consider using one of the community pools such as Desert Breeze or Whitney Ranch Aquatic Centers? It certainly would be a lot less hassle and expense. No construction, no cleaning, no heating, no maintenance. Cost is $1/visit for seniors 55 and older, even lower if you purchase a pass. It would get you out of the house with a chance to meet other retirees. The place is filled with seniors in the mornings. They also offer aquatics fitness classes for a little variety.

Of course, if you want a pool/spa for recreational use as well, forget the above, but it is something to consider.

[lvoc]

The endless devices are of the standalone jacuzzi sort. Fiberglass with good insulation and a top. They are electrically heated and remain hot all the time.

They are reasonably expensive. You might also consider installing one somewhat below ground...makes in and out easier.

Solar and gas have no role in such a device.

[jtjtjtjt]

Thanks for the info. Looks like I have a few phone calls to make.

I liked the idea of a spa that did double duty as a swim area but I also like the idea of having those two areas at different temperatures. 102 or so for the spa, 80 for the swim tank. And if it is always hot and well insulated, I think I'm looking at the dual zone systems that have a separate area for spa and swim.