This is a repost of ZZTop's post of May, 2004, which was titled "How To negotiate buying a hot tub" (or something close to that)! Sorry if I quoted wrong!
One of the most often asked subjects on the board.
Hot tubs are more difficult to buy than a car or a house as a tremendous amount of research and knowledge is required before one can make an informed and intelligent choice.
Prior to purchasing a Hot Tub if you have Tendonitis, Arthritis, soft tissue injuries etc get a prescription from your Doctor for Hydro Therapy ( A Hot Tub). In most jurisdictions you can write off the entire Purchase or at least the taxes. Check with your accountant.
Of course in negotiating to just get a deal on the tub is not enough. There are a large number of costly extras, which are must haves which one has to buy anyway, and you do not want to pay on the nose for after the sale.
Here is a list of Hot Tub features you may want to consider:
For example in purchasing our Beachcomber 550X Hot Tub: the Protect Feature, (easier access, much quieter operation, ( You can have a conversation in the tub while the pump is on high speed), the tub is fully insulated on all four sides, gives you a step to get into the tub) I am convinced this is the most energy efficient design, 24 hour silent hush pump (the most energy efficient and cost effective filtration system), ozone system, either UV or CD, ( helps use less chemicals and can save on chemical costs), LED Lighting, really Cool at night, Reflex Foot massage, a must have, a really great option, A choice of jets which are interchangeable, (Note you can totally change the personality of a tub by changing the jets), A hand held jet, (great for hitting that special place the other jets never quite get.), Everwood exterior, totally maintenance free, unlike cedar, A suite of chemicals, Chemical test Kit, an extra filter, filter cleaner canister, Upgraded power smart Cover, a Spa Blanket, ( a Spa blanket will insulate the surface of the water where the greatest heat loss occurs, it protects the cover from absorbing moisture and from chemical damage both of which contribute to premature wear), A Cover lift, a 5.5 kw heater for fast reheating, a Five year Premium Guarantee all at 50% of their advertised retail price. Delivery and set up usually costs around $200 - 250.00 Which still leaves foundation and Electrical including GFI .
Now have I missed anything?
Oh yes the tub must have a floor drain. As a tub's water should be changed every 3 months and you do not want to have to bail the last 6 inches of water out of the tub before you can refill it.
And one other subject comes to mind. Color of the Tub. The white colors reflect the light at night best however shows the most dirt, A Tub with a rough textured surface does not show scratches, smooth surfaces will show scratches, the darker colors wear well, your choice.
One must not forget that the greatest benefit of a hot tub is HYDROTHERAPY, that is WARM WATER.
Then comes COMFORT.
Do you want a lounger?, how many seats? Check the water depth. Many Spas are quite shallow. Look for a depth of 38 inches, a reasonable size foot well and a water capacity of 350 gallons or more.
The Jet therapy is secondary and totally subjective to the individual. That is why the number of jets, number of pumps, horsepower etc can be very misleading.
The best advice WET TEST!
The more Pumps and features the greater the cost of operation and maintenance in the long term. Unless absolutely necessary do not get a 110 Volt tub, the 230-240 volts are much more efficient.
Be aware of all the GIMMICKS, like Water Falls, Misters, Head Pillows, Stereo systems, TV's, Ice Wells, Beer dispensers, Towel Warmers, Lighting systems, (Although the LED lighting at night is really cool), Sperm Skimmers, Aroma therapy, Air pumps, Thermopane, Microban, etc.
Buy Quality! This is an investment which should last you a long time and have easy maintenance and trouble free operation for many years to come.
Choose a Dealer with a good track record, who has been in business for a long time and treats you right as you may need to rely on him/her after the sale for service.
Consider the top six Manufacturers however it should be mentioned that there are many manufactuers who build quality products.
Read all the threads on this Board. (
http://www.whatsthebest-hottub.com/) It is filled with a wealth of tips and information posted by my fellow posters. Also have a look at these sites:
www.poolandSpa.com:8080/~2/login www.rhtubs.com/cgi-bin/bbs/config.pl I hope this will serve as a basic guide to what to look for and negotiate when entering the world of SpaTopia.
Top Six Hot Tub Manufactures:
Beachcomber
Marquis Spas
Dimension One
Caldera Spas
Jacuzzi
Sundance Spas
Watkins Manufacturing
Hotspring
Caldera
There are many other manufacturers who build great products. The above manufacturers come up on this board most often. After reading all the threads you can get a feel for what is quality and what is not. What features are important and what is fluff. Watch out for the gimmicks which can take the focus off of what is quality.
Regards, ZzTop (John B.)
04/27/04
