A dip in the spa pool after a long and hard day at work can relax you. It can rejuvenate your body and mind. However, not everyone has the option to go to the spa time and again. That is why; it is better to create a swim spa or spa pool right at your home. You might think that it is not possible, but this is not true. We will today share with you the procedure which will help you create one right at your home.
Requirements for a Spa Pool:
Let us first start with the stuff which you will need to create your spa pool:
- Stainless steel tube (25 MM) at least 3 m
- Old LPG gas bottle
- Storage tank with a capacity of 1000 L with cage
- Corrugated iron roof
- Polystyrene package
- Camping mattress
- Narrow gauge wire
- A paddle
Apart from these, you must have an arsenal of tools by your side. It will ensure that you can create a pool quickly. Now that you are aware of the materials which you will need, we will share with you the step-by-step procedure to create a spa pool.
1. Modifying the cage:
The first thing which you have to do is to separate the tank and the cage. You have to unbolt the crossbars which keep the plastic tub in place. Once you remove the water tank from the cage, you have to cut the cage as per your requirement. Now, to cut the cage, you can use the angle grinder. You have to remove the upper part of the cage till you reach the horizontal bars. At the same time, you have to use a filter to remove any sharp edges.
You have to remember that the modified cage will be used to house the tank. So, you have to ensure that the edges are not sharp. If the edges are sharp, you might end up hurting yourself when trying to get in or out of it. Also, you will be installing the plastic liner, so; if the edges are sharp, the plastic liner will tear off. Hence; it is essential to file the sharp edges.
After cutting through the upper part of the cage, you will have a symmetrical portion of the steel cage. You can overlap it with the existing edges to provide more sturdiness to the cage. You can do so with welding or drilling. Remember to always wear protective gloves when welding. Once you do that, the outer cage is ready for use.
2. Cutting the tank open:
Now it is time to modify the water tank according to your requirement. You first have to place the water tank inside the cage and take a marker to mark the exact location to cut the tank. It should be just above the cage. You can then cut off the part above the marker with the help of a hand saw. However, the section of the tank which you cut off should not be thrown. You can use it later on as an insulated lid. It means that you will not be required to buy a separate insulating layer. In order to remove stubborn dirt from the inner walls of the tanks, the rotary type of cleaners can be used. These types of tank cleaning nozzles are designed to penetrate into the tank walls firmly and completely and remove the dirt from the inner surfaces.
3. Incorporate the liner:
You have to then amalgamate the plastic liner with the pool which you are creating. You have to first and foremost cut it at each corner according to the height of the pool. You have to use a heat gun and brute force to put it in the tank. You can use clamps to hold the liner in place until it cools down.
Pro Tip:
It is advisable to do this process on a windless day. It will ensure that you can quickly dry down the liner. It will help you save your time and effort.
4. Add a layer around the cage:
After that, you have to think about covering the cage. The best way to do so is to use the roof, which we mentioned in the items needed list. You have to cut the roof vertically. The dimensions of the roof should be such that you can easily roll it around the top. If you wish to get this done quickly, it is advisable to put the tank on its side while doing so. You can punch or drill the roof to the water tank. You can drill some holes into the cage itself. To hold the corrugated roofing place, you can use a steel wire. You have to make sure that you twist it around so that there are no sharp edges.
You have to remember that the more sheets you use, the better the strength. When the corrugated sheets are on the higher side, it is easy for you to maintain the temperature of the water. The pool will not utilize a significant amount of energy in that case. That is why; you have to repeat the procedure and add more sheets to the top. The thickness of these sheets should be 3 inches. Once you do so, you can easily shape it with the help of a hammer. It will make the outer surface entirely smooth.
5. Install the tub insulation:
After imparting proper strength to the pool, it is crucial to insulate it. You can provide it with further insulation with the help of polystyrene packaging. You have to look at the polystyrene packaging according to the space available between the bars. You can use foam instead of polystyrene for insulating the walls. The problem with foam is that it is more expensive and difficult to use. That is why switching over to polystyrene is a much better option. Once you install the polystyrene on the sides, now is the time for the flooring.
There is no other option for the flooring than the foam. The closed-cell foam is an excellent option to insulate the base. It will help you make the floor more comfortable as well. With the help of these two materials, it is easy for you to insulate the spa pool.
6. Create the heating coil:
A DIY spa pool will only be good enough if you can heat the water. The hot water will help you reduce muscle inflammation and ease up your sore muscles. It will allow you to relax. The first step which you need to undertake to heat the water is to create a heating coil. Now, we will share with you the procedure to create a heating coil.
You have to take the 25 MM stainless steel tube. You have to use at least 3 meters of it. You have to make sure that you bend it into at least two full turns and two half turns. The diameter should be as per the LPG bottle which you are using. It should be able to fit inside that LPG bottle. One thing which you have to keep in mind is that instead of going with more turns, you have to go with fewer turns. That is because; the heat is inversely proportional to the number of turns.
The cold water will be running through these pipes, which will be in the vicinity of the fire. When the number of turns is more, the heat will be more dispersed, and the water will be at a lower temperature. You can easily bend the pipe with the help of a pipe bender or take it to the exhaust shop to get it done. Make sure that you can connect this pipe with the water source and the pool, it is essential to have a straight tube at each end.
7. Empty the gas tank:
Before you use the gas tank, it is essential to empty it. It is a risky procedure, and therefore, it is best to outsource it. You have to leave the tank open for at least a few days so that there is no trace of gas in the tank. If there is a nozzle in the tank, you have to remove it as well. You have to cut the upper part of the tank to open it up.
It is better to fill it with water once to ensure that there is no trace of the gas in the tank. Again, cutting the tank is a risky procedure. You should let the professionals handle it. If you want to do it anyway, you have to make sure that you take all the safety precautions and ensure that you do so in a well-ventilated space. If you think that the procedure is tedious, you can still buy a ready-made one. There are many local distributors for spa pools in New Zealand who will gladly install a ready-made one in your backyard. If you plan on getting that, you can free yourself from all of this work.
8. Accommodate the heat exchange coil:
Once you cut open the tank, now is the time to make a few keyholes into it. You have to do so at the top and the bottom. These are the points where the tubes of the coil will come out. You have to place the heat exchange coil inside the tank. You have to move both the steel tubes out from these keyholes. Both these tubes will be connected to the spa pool. After installing the heat exchange coil, now is the time to modify the tank.
9. Modify the gas tank:
You have to modify the tank by installing a collar at the top. It will allow you to put a coil and also access the interiors quite easily. You can create this by welding the corrugated roof to create the collar. Once you weld the collar to the gas tank, the next modification which you need to do is to the base of the water tank.
The base of the tank needs to have a mechanism for removing the ash and the residue; there are two methods to do so. You can create some holes at the bottom of the tank through which the ash can fall. A much more effective way is to create a slot near the part of the tank where walls become vertical. When you cut a slot at this point, not only it will usher in plenty of air, but it will also help you remove the residue with the help of the right tools. The second option is much more efficient. It will provide plenty of air, which will make the fire burn efficiently. As a result, the heating process for water will also be fast.
10. Connect the tank to the tub:
You have to perforate the upper part of the tank at two different places. You will connect both the steel tubes through these places. With the help of these tubes, the water will rotate through the heating element, which will help you get the temperature that you want. The dimensions of the perforations should be according to the size of the tube. You have to use flanges of the appropriate size to connect the steel tube to the tub. You can also apply sealant at the edges of the holes to ensure that there is no water leakage. You should only do so if you want to connect the heater to the tub permanently. Otherwise, you can remove them by unthreading them after use.
11. Light up the heater:
You have to fill up the tub and burn the wood in the heater. Depending on the amount of water which you put in the heater, it can take up to 2 to 3 hours to heat the entire pool water. That is why; it is better to start early. Now that the whole assembly is ready, the next time around you want to use the spa pool; you have burned the wood well in advance to heat the water by the time, you are ready to use the pool.
So, creating a spa pool is not that difficult. However, if you do not want to get the entire procedure done by yourself; you can order a ready-made one. If you’re short on budget, with our guide above, it is easy for you to create one right in your backyard. Most of the materials, as well as the tools which you need, are readily available. That is why; you will not have to search a lot for the tools either. It is time to enjoy the experience of the spa pool right at your home rather than going to the spa time and again.
