SELF-CLEANING HOT TUBS - ENERGY EFFICIENCY PART III
Posted by Greg Butler on Mon, Apr 12, 2010 @ 12:41 PM
Self-cleaning hot tubs, and their cousins, the Serenity line of hot tubs employ a method of insulation that simply attempts to address the limitations of other methods of insulating a hot tub by creating a DOUBLE THERMOSHEILD. Through the years, the manufacturer of these hot tubs, has tried the other methods and like other aspects of their hot tubs, they make every effort to improve each feature.
Essentially, instead of the millions of tiny dead air spaces as in full foam, and instead of ONE GIANT DEAD AIR SPACE, this method employs 2 dead air spaces - one around the piping and the shell/bowl and one between that and the cabintry. Vents can be installed to vent one cavity, but not affecting the second and thereby not adversely affecting the pumps due to overheating.
The limiations of full-foam are eliminated and the primary concerns of a simple perimeter lock are addressed. Dig-outs are gone, pipes are supported, pumps are vented, R-Values are maintained or improved, water is not absorbed and servicing is a piece of cake!
In this method, excess heat from the pumps is recycled and used to keep the hot tub warm - this is key in the perimeter lock method as well - but in this case, the pumps can be vented and because of the 2nd thermosheild, all heat is not lost.
Should a leak occur, the letter "H" is cut into the bubble-foil wrap on the perimeter. The same is cut on the interior wrap. A third is made in the polyfilm barrier which supports the plumbing. The leak is fixed and the letter "H" is sealed back up with reflective tape - the same stuff used on heating systems in homes - on each layer on the way out so that no integrity of the system is lost.
Comparatively speaking, a dig out in a full-foam hot tub can take hours. In just a few short minutes, a leak in a hot tub using this type of insulation can be fixed and forgotten!