Hot Tub Repair

[KukaneJim]

Is there anyone who knows how to repair a hot tub here on the east side? I'm pulling my hair out because nobody does it in Keaau/Pahoa. I bought a very nice Baja Sportub 1059 back in 2010 from that guy who had a display room in the old HIW building on Kanoeluhua. He's long gone and in 2020 I needed a repair. Water Works referred me to Dereck Somers of Right Way Spas who screwed me. He made appointments and never showed up. This went on until he stopped answering my texts at all. Nobody else repairs spas except Reflections Pool and Spa, but their guy is inexperienced and said he really couldn't do it. I really need a reference if anyone knows someone. Years ago, there was a guy in Pahoa named James who did a great job. I sure wish I could find him. I know he still lives here cuz I saw him drive by recently. He called his company Affordable Pools and he sported a lot of tattoos. Maybe somebody knows him. If you guys can help, I sure would appreciate it. I'm in HPP. Mahalo.

[knieft]

Golly. You hear lot of savage and unnatural things about people these days.

A movie line from Where the Buffalo Roam…

[Obie]

What's wrong with your hot tub ?

[KukaneJim]

What's wrong with your hot tub ?

I'm told it's the control center which is an enclosed box of circuit boards and switches. I bought a new one for $685 and couldn't get anyone to install it. After a year of trying to find someone, I installed it. But, it still doesn't work. That guy Dereck Somers look ed ta for 2 minutes and said one of the boards is bad. I bought a new board, but he missed three appointments to install it. I pay everyone cash so they don't have to claim it if they don't want to. The owner of Water Works told me last month Dereck is the only hot tub repair guy willing to come over to Hilo, so he can pick and choose and do whatever he wants.

[1voyager1]

Well, you stirred me up again, and renewed my interest in our spa.
Don't think I'll be able to help you in finding someone to make repairs on  yours.
Baja has been out of business for a number of years.
I take care of everything myself.

When we bought our home, it came with a Baja spa.
It was and is still functional.
The main reason we use it seldom is the cost of electricity to heat it.
That's why I put solar power and hot water in.
I'm planning on adding solar water heating specifically for the spa.
Operating cost should then be just to operate the pumps.

 
Just went out with a flash light and found a Model number underneath on the filter basin - 1064.
Not sure if that's right.
The number feels wrong.
I'll check tomorrow in daylight.

Using a tape measure and pencil, I figured it's 250 gallons and has seating for 6 to 8 people.
From the control design, it probably  was made in 1994.
EDIT: Made in 2004

We never do more than 2 people, plenty of room.
Coming from a northern climate, a Hot Tub should have very warm water.
Now in Hawaii, we keep it in the low to mid 90*s to cool down on hot days and for comfort in the evenings.

I'll use it much more often after installing solar water heating for it.
This should stir me to pick up hose and fittings to get it done.
I do have manuals and other things downloaded from online.

[KukaneJim]

Mahalo for all the information, Voyager. Your Baja spa is a lot larger than mine. I can only accommodate 2 people. It's the smallest one they made. Even though Baja went out of business, their parts weren't proprietary as I've found Baja compatible parts everywhere. I just need someone knowledgeable and has the experience and tools to make it work. I have also downloaded manuals and even detailed schematics, but I'm 70 years old and I really don't have the ability to understand this stuff. Me and the wife really miss using our hot tub.

[1voyager1]

This thread and my earlier response to it have reignited my interest in our spa.
I had discontinued trying to use it because of the cost of electrical power to operate it.

I had installed a rooftop PV system, and did not want to add purchased power. 
As I remember, it was raising monthly power costs in the $40/mo range.
I figured it wasn't worth that much just to have it on continually simply to maintain the water's temperature  for an hour or two's maximum use daily, often having no daily use.
So, I shut it off again.
Don't forget that I am a notorious skin-flint.

M'Lady's out of town right now.
Her computer is out of use as well as she is the only one who watches TV.
So, they aren't in service.
I shut my PC off also.
In the last couple of days the spa's power usage has been almost the same as what was used by the two PC's and TV.
I used our 200' of garden hose to slowly add 250 gals of solar heated water to the tub saving the cost of heating that water.
Then, I raised the temp another 2*F to reach 92*F.
94*F or more is actually a little too warm when not compensating for a northern climate's temps.
That temp is comfortable for me soaking day or evening, and isn't costing anything extra.

Got the spa on 24 hours now.
Temp and electrical usage are holding steady even in the recent cloudy days.
Don't have to enlarge our PV system either.

EDIT: We have a 5 Kwh rooftop system.
A 6 Kwh installation would probably cover everything but would cost more because of HELCO's penalty level charges for changes to the system.
And -
The model number of ours is 1054