Hot tubs

[jammin1]

Thinking of getting a hot tub. I know nothing about these and have no idea what is good or bad. Any suggestions on a model, options ect would be great. Looking for a 4-5 person with one lay down position at least

[ZoaFan08]

Rule #1 about a hot tub is to put it where no neighbors can see

[CobraDVM]

I have a Caldera Geneva Utopia - it's about a 500 gallon tub - I like it a lot. Folks tend to be very opinionated about hot tubs since there is a lot of BS out there about hot tubs. They like to argue over full insulated or not (ie is the underside sprayed full of insulation or not - if it is, it provides better insulation, but makes it harder to repair), sanitation systems, jet systems (can you run all the jets at full power all the time or do you have to use diverter valves) etc etc.
I would suggest looking up some hot tub forums and educating yourself. Also make sure you test them all out in the show room - usually they will stay open late after everyone has left to let you try it out.
Also there are a lot of fly by night operations, so best to stick with a reputable brand.
You can do a lot of the repairs yourself - mine is about 8 years old or so - so far I've replaced the circulation pump three times, all the jet twirler thingys, replaced one of the main pumps and replaced the heater element twice. So far no leaks so no issues there.
Also you don't always get what you pay for - I would avoid the Home Depot stuff probably, and buy from a reputable hot tub/pool store.
In the summer I don't use the tub, but in the winter I use it every morning. Nothing beats sitting in the tub in the middle of winter with snow all around - although getting out in the freezing cold isn't much fun!

[MVM]

We have a Hot Springs Grandee (about 500 gallons). We would use it pretty sporadically and then we finally drained it and shut it off this past spring. Between shutting it down as well as reducing our pool (solar) heating, we're saving about $500/month on our electrical bill. I'm not sure what the breakdown is between pool/spa but, with the cold winters in MA, I would think your electrical bill would be pretty high, even with a well-insulated cover.

I think they're great as they're ready when you want to use them--no waiting hours for them to heat up like the in-pool ones. But, being in MA, would you really use it that much? (I grew up in MA)

[John / My427SC]

Take a look at:

Sundance Spas

[Scarlett]

Most hot tubs are pretty similar underneath the cover- only a few makes of control systems and pumps for the manufacturer to choose rorm. The difference is in how the parts are put together and you will find a lot of that being promoted in the sales literature and talk. Think about the features that are important to you- single speed pumps or multi speed, number of jets, tub size... and go from there. There is a ton of information available on line, so do your homework. Better yet, talk to several dealers, get a feel for what they are saying, then get on line.

Don't be afraid of brands you haven't heard of, but do your homework and know your dealer. I bought a Hydrospa tub about 10 years ago from a really great local dealer. The company shut down a while ago, but the dealer is still there and still there for me.

And, don't be afraid to try before you buy if you haven't already had time in one. It is the only way that you will really know what you like in a tub. A good dealer will invite you in to try them out. Take him up on it.

Steve

[soonerron]

I have had a tiger river spa for six years. Love it. It runs on 120v, and costs about 10 bucks a month to heat. 250 gallon capacity, and it is fully insulated. One jet sprung a leak at four years and they came out and fixed it no charge. I need to get a new cover, but other than that, no problems. I put three one inch chlorine tabs in a floatie once a week... I change the water every three months, it takes about three hours. After this one dies, I will get another. I get in at least three times a week, and never get tired of it.

[SR71]

Had a Sundance and loved it for 7 years. Great in the winter - especially with snow falling. (Gotta watch temp if you have younger kids.) ...and then stuff started to go wrong (around 7 year mark) ....because the deck had no removable access panels, I usually had to crawl under the deck for fixes. In my case everything seemed to tank real fast ......plastic jets were breaking, several leaks that were hard to find because they were hidden within the solid foam insulation, new pump, new bubbler, new control panel, new ozonator .....the circuit board was the last straw.

Sooo.... I do recommend and offer a potential solution for eventual removal - I also had the chainsaw out but that was a bit too radical for the task at hand.

[ascott172]

I just sold mine. Its a 12 year old Jacuzzi brand. I bought it a year ago and did a lot of repairs. Replaced circulation pump, several jets, top, and fixed leaks. I learned a lot about them. This one was a well built one but the previous owners used chlorine which is hard on the pvc. The pvc pipe becomes week and brittle with age and chlorine.

I would recommend buying a used name brand hot tub but not over 5 years old. The parts can be ordered online and are not that hard to install. Be sure to install the tub where you can access all sides for repair. I put mine too close to the fence.

I am selling it because we are moving and I plan on building a shop at the new house, but may get another hot tub in the future.

[expat]

Originally Posted by MVM

We have a Hot Springs Grandee (about 500 gallons).

same here
it was outside for 4 years as its very private here
it was well used by us & the teenage kids & friends
(better still when my son had the college girls over)
but the wife decided we should build a hot tub room
2000 sq ft addition later its inside
replaced the heater under warranty but apart from that we have had 10 years of uneventful use
ECO-1 is the only product we have ever used...eliminates chemical balancing issues

[rjjablo]

My Vote

[crash]

Originally Posted by rjjablo

My Vote

Have you ever actually OWNED one of those?

IMHO...THEY SUCK!!

If you drain them and don't IMMEDIATELY refill them, the wood loses water content, shrinks, and is damn near impossible to get back to size so it seals again. We had one in a house we rented. I would never EVER buy one of those.

Just my opinion though.

If I was going to get one, it would be used. Just ask to see it running before you buy it. It may still need some work, but if it is full of water and the mechanics operate, then way more than half the issues you may have with a used unit will not be present. I have two friends that bought good sized tubs for $500 recently.

[bhoov128]

Originally Posted by crash

If I was going to get one, it would be used. Just ask to see it running before you buy it. It may still need some work, but if it is full of water and the mechanics operate, then way more than half the issues you may have with a used unit will not be present. I have two friends that bought good sized tubs for $500 recently.

I second the used! You'll be amazed at what you can find. A lot of times people will move and either don't want to or can't take the hot tub with them. A friend of mine moved house recently and wanted $300 for her 6 person hot tub, and actually wound up giving it away for free. My uncle purchased two of his for around $200 that way. Even if you have to spend a few bucks for a pump motor (nothing too heavily damaged) it'll still most likely be worth your while.

[John / My427SC]

We have been very happy with our Sundance Spa. I think if your going to install it in the deck or in the ground, you should get one that is designed for that

Here is our Sundance Tenon that is designed for in-ground installation. It's 8 x 10 (approx 800 gallons) and uses standard pool equipment. Basically the Spa part is the fiberglass shell with the jets. 400k btu gas heater with two pumps - the equipment could easily be used for a good size pool. All the plumbing is oversized at 2 1/2" for high flow rates (I installed it myself)

[Steven K]

My wife just suggested we get a hot tub . I am going to try to see what is available used, but what does a decent one new cost? I know almost nothing about them.

Thanks.

[Scarlett]

They show up on Craigslist for free every so often. Usually workng condition, just older and the owner gets tired of paying the electric bill or doesn';t want to spring for a new cover, or something like that.

Steve

[RE63]

Originally Posted by jammin1

Thinking of getting a hot tub. I know nothing about these and have no idea what is good or bad. Any suggestions on a model, options ect would be great. Looking for a 4-5 person with one lay down position at least

Kelly sold Hot tubs for about 15 years for Thermo Spas. she can give you tons of info.