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Lay-Z-Spa Miami $508.95 Delivered (oo.com.au)

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Lay-Z-Spa Miami $508.95 Delivered (oo.com.au)
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SteveAndBelle on 05/02/2017 - 12:08 oo.com.au (5170 clicks)
Last edited 05/02/2017 - 12:29

I purchased a near identical previous version of this on a whim during a ClickFrenzy sale 4+ years ago for about $400 all up. Wasn't expecting much but after using it casually for a couple of months over Summer then packing it away again for the cooler months for the last few years I've gotta say I'm very impressed! They haven't been anywhere near as cheap since but when I saw this on 'oo' earlier today I thought it was bargain-worthy… especially with their $9.95 Flat Rate Postage because these things are very big & heavy when delivered. UPDATE: Just found them on eBay from OutBaxCamping for $499 however Postage is another $75 (Brisbane) due to the size/weight so this deal is still pretty good.

Few things to note:

  • Be sure to pre-purchase extra/spare filters (available on eBay) as soon as you receive your Spa as they only last a few weeks. You'll need either 2 x Twin-Packs or just a pair of the larger filters but you can confirm that with whatever filters come supplied. I bought my last batch of filters from an eBay seller in the UK and saved a fortune but I had to buy in bulk.
  • Before your Spa arrives be sure to prepare a 2x2m clean, clear, flat & level position and consider purchasing some of those anti-fatigue/camping foam mats from the hardware to cover the whole area. These protect the base of the Spa plus insulates it from the ground to help keep the heat in.
  • The supplied seals are OK but they can gather & leak if the fittings are overtightened (not difficult to do). While you're at the hardware store be sure to buy a handful of 3/4" flat rubber washers (used in screw-on garden hose fittings approx. 30-50c each) as these simply press into the fittings over the top of the original seals and work SO much better. 4-5 will do the trick and you'll be 100% leak-free.
  • One more thing to get at the hardware store before the Spa arrives is a pack of Chlorine/Bromine tablets for the chemical floater (supplied). It takes 4-6 of the small 20mm tablets but they last for weeks & weeks so they wont cost much over time. Look for stuff for a Spa because the Pool tablets are huge and wont fit the floater.
  • The built-in 2000W heater works very well even though it takes many MANY hours to heat the entire 900L of water. Don't forget, it's 2000W and as it can only heat 1-2 degrees per hour your power bill will skyrocket if you're not careful. Eg. the water from the tap will probably be about 20C but a comfy Spa temp is around the 37C mark and that could take 7-10 hours. 2000W costs around 50c per hour so that's $5 each time you want a quick warm dip in the evening and over time that will hurt your finances. If you're handy you may want to look into making your own Solar Hot Water Heater for the Spa. Do a Google search for 'DIY Solar Hot Water' and you'll be on the right track. Even better make a Thermosiphon water heater so you don't need pumps or anything!

So, to summarise I can't recommend these Spas enough but please take note of the warnings from other owners and be prepared for the pump and/or heater to die within a year or two however mine has been running beautifully for 4+ years now so I'm not sure it's that much of a concern. It's actually built very well but of course nothing lasts forever these days however I have opened the pump/heater box up and most of it looks to be modular and I've read others have replaced faulty parts with other generic alternatives without too much difficulty. Follow the instructions, look after it and I'm sure you too will get many years of enjoyment from it.

Home & Garden Spa

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closed Comments

  • DirtyMunchy on 05/02/2017 - 12:14
    +41

    Great write up, thanks op.

  • kirt on 05/02/2017 - 12:27

    Pretty sure this requires a council-approved pool fence?

    • SteveAndBelle on 05/02/2017 - 12:29

      Yep. Needs to follow the same requirements as a normal pool or spa.

      • [Deactivated] on 05/02/2017 - 13:49

        Not if it is installed inside, in your laundry, spare bedroom…

      • dunker56 on 06/02/2017 - 12:48

        Really? I thought above ground spas were different to inground spas and didn't require fencing etc. Certainly I have visited many homes with above ground spas that didn't have fencing (just not these inflatable kind but rather perma ones).
        I've used those kids inflatable pools in my yard before (about a foot deep), and never gave it a single thought that it might have required council fencing… woops.

        • SteveAndBelle on 06/02/2017 - 15:17

          I think the wall of the above-ground pool/spa has to be the same height as a pool fence but any steps or access to the top has to be secured. We have neighbours about to install a concrete water tank pool which will basically just sit on top of the ground so its side walls will be about 1500-1800mm high. They said one massive benefit of that is there's no need for a fence apart from securing the stairs/deck/access to the top and as that will wrap around the side of the curved tank it should all look pretty schmick. Great for compact, inner-city backyards. We're now tempted to get one too!

  • Mr BoMBAStiG on 05/02/2017 - 12:30
    +30

    Don't use sparklers on NYE inside these spas, they will inevitably touch the side and melt a hole.

    Source: my spa has duct tape on it now.

    • SteveAndBelle on 05/02/2017 - 12:35

      Ha, too funny! These come with a few instant-stick type repair patches for instances such as this :) They're not bad but can fail so I bought a proper PVC repair kit design for rafts/camping gear which was so much better. The kit cost a fair bit ($30-40 from memory) but works extremely well and is cheap insurance to ensure your Spa is usable for years to come.

  • Adz81 on 05/02/2017 - 12:32
    +10

    This is actually a brilliantly informative write up, thanks for the feedback.

  • outlander on 05/02/2017 - 12:38

    How many people can/have you fit in this?

    • SteveAndBelle on 05/02/2017 - 12:44
      +15

      Yes, very good question. It's rated for four and it will definitely fit four but they'd want to know each other well and I'd advise getting some extra filters… if you know what I mean :p Seriously though, four will fit but not very comfortably. Three would be better but it's really luxurious for a couple and downright massive for one.

      • nuchalis on 05/02/2017 - 13:30
        +3

        I'd advise getting some extra filters… if you know what I mean :p

        I have no idea what you mean :(

        • JelIyfish on 05/02/2017 - 13:44
          +10

          It means sex

        • Band28 on 05/02/2017 - 13:46
          +30

          I could be mistaken but I think they are talking about getting replacement filters just in case.

        • Diji1 on 05/02/2017 - 15:24

          @ScJ: Hair.

        • dufflover on 05/02/2017 - 20:29
          +1

          ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

      • imurgod on 05/02/2017 - 14:24

        Three's a party!

      • Magus on 05/02/2017 - 22:16

        Not a problem. If they did'ent know each other well when they got in, they would soon!

    • z0s0 on 06/02/2017 - 08:49

      We managed to get 9 in there on Australia Day :-)

      • outlander on 06/02/2017 - 10:56
        +2

        What kind of messed up, depraved parties are you holding Zoso?!

        and how do I go about getting an invite

  • tfb on 05/02/2017 - 12:57
    +2

    I'd recommend the below chemicals over bromine. Used it last summer for the first time and water was sparkling clean all summer and no strong chlorine smell.

    https://www.clarkrubber.com.au/sanit-eezy-spa-starter-kit

    I went through a few lay-z-spas probably about 5 years ago - all had to be returned due to pumps leaking internally. Hopefully they've got a better design or quality control now.

    About 4 years I picked up a cheap M-spa from Bunnings (about the same price as this) and it hasn't had a single problem.

    • SteveAndBelle on 05/02/2017 - 13:06

      Cheers for the recommendation TFB. I might give that stuff a go myself as I'm getting close to finishing off my Bromine Tablets.

      Strange you had problems with your Lay-Z-Spas however I have read others have similar problems so I don't doubt it. Funny thing is that I was so impressed with my Lay-Z-Spa that I bought one for a family member and it too has been perfect however they haven't used theirs as much as I have mine. I've had friends & other family members buy them after seeing how good mine was and they too have never had leaking issues so all I can assume is that it was a dud batch. I did nearly kill my pump by making my own solar hot water collector panel (a zig-zag of black garden sprinkler pipe in simple timber frame box with Poly roofing sheet over the top) and diverting the water through it before it reached the pump and the water got SO hot (45C) it tripped the safety device inside. Left it sit for a few days and it eventually reset so that was good :) Others have had simple issues but most of them still use theirs as I do. Glad to hear your Bunnings M-Spa is working well too.

    • kirt on 05/02/2017 - 13:14

      About 4 years I picked up a cheap M-spa from Bunnings (about the same price as this) and it hasn't had a single problem.

      If your spa is the M-Spa Lite Silver Cloud Outdoor Inflatable Spa, be aware these are no longer sold and were recalled for safety reasons:

      "What are the defects?

      Due to ineffective insulation of the internal water heating element, electrical current may transfer to the control box, water or wet parts.

      What are the hazards?

      If the defect occurs, the product poses a risk of electric shock."

      https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recall/bunnings-group-limit…

      http://www.smh.com.au/national/national-recall-of-bunnings-e…

      • tfb on 05/02/2017 - 15:53

        Same model but bought prior to the date listed for recall.

    • mingofmongo on 05/02/2017 - 17:54

      Yep, have to agree that the biguanide-based chemicals are brilliant. No chlorine smell after using the spa!

    • jimbler on 06/02/2017 - 00:46

      Nevermind

  • supatight on 05/02/2017 - 13:27
    +12

    Stay way from this company. I brought a Blender off them failed within warranty period. I currently going through fair trading because they not interested in helping resolve the issue. Should be banned from ozbargain.

      • lovesabargain77 on 05/02/2017 - 14:22
        +8

        I've never dealt with them.

        However if they wouldn't help over an issue with a '$10 blender', I'd be very hesitant about making a large purchase from them.

      • rhangman on 05/02/2017 - 14:31

        This before or after they were bought by MySale?

        • supatight on 05/02/2017 - 15:26

          blender purchased before having issues after. FT say should not matter they have to fix & they ignoring me and give me BS

        • blerk on 05/02/2017 - 15:30

          Their site was so much more navigable prior to being bought out. If they can't get that right (especially for an online only store), gawd knows what they have ruined behind the scenes.

      • supatight on 05/02/2017 - 15:18
        +1

        blender was $132

      • Baebs on 05/02/2017 - 15:29
        +3

        Your comment is ridiculous.

      • Diji1 on 05/02/2017 - 17:05

        Where are these $10 blenders?

    • champstarr on 05/02/2017 - 14:24
      +9

      Totally agree I would never buy anything from this company. We went through months of hassle when we tried to buy a baby seat through them. They didn't have stock so they just kept on sending the wrong product to waste time. Then they would try to make us pay for postage back. Also one time they said that we hadn't sent the wrong package back so they couldn't send the babyseat or refund until they received it. Luckily it had been signed for so they ended up saying it was a fault with the computer or something weeks later.Eventually after telling us they would get it sorted or give the money back they never did. Had to go through accc to get money back. Accc said they received a lot of complaints about them. This company is not worth the trouble

      • champstarr on 05/02/2017 - 14:35

        Whoops forgot to say the spa is good and decent size but definitely make sure it is completely dry when you pack it away as mould grows quickly and is hard to get off. Just buy one from anyone but oo.com

    • benderz on 05/02/2017 - 22:00
      +5

      I ordered a toy box which was faulty from this company. PayPal refunded me after several weeks as they ignored multiple emails from myself and PayPal attempting to resolve the issue.
      I would prefer to give my money to a company that makes any attempt at service rather than these guys.

  • nuchalis on 05/02/2017 - 13:33

    Be sure to pre-purchase extra/spare filters (available on eBay) as soon as you receive your Spa as they only last a few weeks.

    Oh, the filters are disposable? What sort of filter cost is it over time?

    • SteveAndBelle on 05/02/2017 - 13:40
      +1

      Depends on a lot of variables… how often you use the Spa, how well you treat the water, how dirty the people are before they get in, if leaves etc. can drop into the water. The instructions recommend replacing the filters AND water at some ridiculous interval like 3-4 days but of course they have to say that in case the water isn't cared for properly. I've had the same water in mine for 4 weeks without any problems but I was a stickler for keeping the ph bang on perfect and made sure I backwashed and cleaned the filters by hand once every couple of days just to keep them clean so the water can circulate the way it should. You can easily see when the filters are clogged or begin deteriorating by holding them up to the sun and with crazy attention I've even had some filters last two seasons… but I wouldn't recommend that as I was really pushing the limits.

  • stumo on 05/02/2017 - 13:40

    How long would you keep this filled for normally? And would it be cheaper to just keep it at temp, rather than cycling?

    • SteveAndBelle on 05/02/2017 - 13:42
      +3

      As above for the first part (all depends on how well you keep the water treated) and yes, with the Spa on foam tiles and with the inflatable Lid on tight the water stays warm for a very long time… but of course it all depends on the ambient temp and sun exposure etc. Ultimate solution is to divert the water through some black garden sprinkler pipe and lay it out on the ground during the day then disconnect it at night. Even better is to build a simple Hot Water Collector with the same pipe and throw in a valve allowing you to heat the water by the sun during the day and then close the valve to keep the heated water within the Spa once the sun goes down. I did this and during summer I hardly ever have to use the built-in heater. DIY Solar Collector and simple valves etc. cost about $100 and was a heap of fun to build and play around with. Add it to you own skill set!

      Don't forget! Once water reaches a certain temperature (maybe 30C+, I'm not quite sure as I'm not a water guru) Algae and other nasties will begin to breed so you HAVE to make sure you keep those ph levels spot on. If you build a water heater and let stuff build up it then you'll have to flush it out too and that would be painful!

  • Priceless Class on 05/02/2017 - 13:50
    +1

    These are a luxurious addition to have, but the ongoing cost is pretty high.
    When I had my accommodation electricity and water supplied during my time out bush, I enjoyed the privilege of a soak in one of these most days, however now that I'm living in suburbia paying my own way, I unfortunately wouldn't even consider one.

    Even if you had it on a timer to turn on from 9am to start warming up and be a comfortable temperature by 6pm and then switch off at 9pm, that's $6 per day in electricity, so about $30 a week assuming two days per week it's off. Over a year costing over $1500 and that's just in heating costs.

    If I had a decent solar system on my property to heat it up during the day, then I might consider it.

    • SteveAndBelle on 05/02/2017 - 13:55

      … or spend a weekend building your own collector for about $100. The one I built was seriously effective… I just based the frame on the size of the Polycarb roof sheet so I didn't have to cut the panel. Zig-zag'd black 25mm sprinkler pipe up and back with elbows on each end and painted the inside of the box black. Divert the water through that and leave it in the sun for the whole day and bingo, you're close to ideal temp for a midnight dip. Again, all depends on where you are, what sun exposure you have and the ambient temps at the time.

    • Diji1 on 05/02/2017 - 17:07
      +1

      Isn't it cheaper to leave it on (because it takes much less energy to maintain temprature rather than change it) at a certain point?

  • WreckTangle on 05/02/2017 - 13:55
    +1

    I always imagined I'd use a spa in the cooler months so it's nice and warm to sit in on cold nights, but pack it away for summer when its stinking hot. Do you use it the opposite to this?

    • SteveAndBelle on 05/02/2017 - 13:57
      +1

      I use mine in a Southern state… 40+ during some days then drops to 15 or lower in the evening. Works a treat! Others just use theirs without the heater as a mini pool to cool off during the warmer months. Each to their own.

  • A Scottsy on 05/02/2017 - 14:45
    -1

    trashy

  • madamethrifty on 05/02/2017 - 15:58
    +3

    Great write up, cheers OP. Really appreciate it when people share their trial and error experiences; I'm more than happy to learn from others if it means saving time and money. Thanks :)

  • clandestino on 05/02/2017 - 16:17

    So, assuming I have all the chemicals and spares as per the OPs suggestion…..how many minutes per day/week (rough guess) would I need to spend, maintaining this spa? Cheers!

    • SteveAndBelle on 05/02/2017 - 16:25

      All you'd really need is a couple of minutes per day to check the water chemistry and adjust if required. Removing the filters, inspecting & cleaning takes about 5 minutes and will need to be done every day or two (depending how much stuff gets caught in them). Draining the water and refilling does take a while but is more of a set & forget activity. You can reuse the water on the garden or lawn however be careful as the chemical content may burn delicate plants.

      • Diji1 on 05/02/2017 - 17:10

        Can't you just use a pool shock?

        I don't think plants are going to get "burnt".

        • mingofmongo on 06/02/2017 - 07:25

          Exposure to high levels of oxidant (chlorine / bromide) can harm plants - I probably wouldn't reuse it on my lawn

    • mingofmongo on 06/02/2017 - 07:27

      In a week? About 10 minutes. Go with one of the suggestions above, use the Saniteezy spa kit from Clark's rubber. Makes the water chemistry even easier to manage. Makes the filters easier to clean, too - kind of. The saniteezy product means that the filters build up gunk much quicker, but on the other hand it's easier just to spray it off with the hose than if you use bromine.

  • Chris12345 on 05/02/2017 - 17:22

    Excellent write up.

  • Jay43 on 05/02/2017 - 17:27

    Sold out now.

  • hashtagbargain on 05/02/2017 - 20:27
    +1

    OP, I dub you thee, OzBargain's resident pool advisor.

    Godspeed.

  • Tony76 on 05/02/2017 - 23:05
    +1

    Not sure about these types of filters, but in my previous house I cleaned the in-ground spa filter by soaking in a bucket of water and automatic dishwasher powder. The alkaline salts dissolved the fats and oils from skin and sunscreen very well.

  • juzz0 on 06/02/2017 - 01:54

    I will see if I can get one next time. Wonder if you can scrape off the logo, I would prefer all black 'Laz-e spa' does detract from the look of it.

  • Densor on 06/02/2017 - 12:27

    Excellent information SteveAndBelle !
    For those readers in NSW who are interested in what Council approvals are required - Lookup the NSW Electronic Housing Code. Enter your Local council and address, and select "Minor works around the home (Exempt Development)". Then select "Swimming pools (portable) and spas and child-resistant barriers". Portable Spas are an exempt development in my local Council (ie. no development application fees), but you still need to comply with the following:.

    (1) The standards specified for that development, if it is the construction or installation of a portable swimming pool or spa, are that the
    development must:
    (a1) be for residential uses only, and
    (a) be located in the rear yard, and
    (b) be located at least 1m from each lot boundary, and
    (c) not exceed 2,000 L in capacity, and
    (d) not require structural work for installation, and
    (e) not impact on the structural stability of any building.

    And most importantly

    (2) A child-resistant barrier must be constructed or installed in accordance with the requirements of the Swimming Pools Act 1992.

    The ACT itself doesn't really say what barrier is required , just that "so long as access to the water contained in the spa pool is restricted in accordance with the standards prescribed by the regulations, at all times when the spa pool is not in actual use". I guess the fixed lid could be used.

  • uniqualz on 06/02/2017 - 12:28

    Do I have to get porn friends?

    http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m50szm84hu1r3f9sho1_1280.j…

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