Hydropool Spa

[toronto_guy]

any comments, pro/cons about the HydroPool spa? - they claim to be in the same market as Hotspring. They also claim to be the only one to do 100% water filtration.

[Steve]

Couple of "claim" questions;

Who is "THEY" Exactly? An individual dealer or did you read this on the manufacturers website?

As a rep for Hydropool for western Canada, I promote neither and nor do my dealers.
Though HS is a quality brand, comparing makes no sense as doing so makes poor advise. I would certainly put Hydropool up against any major brand (whatever that means) as far as quality, reliability, customer service and value.

HS is popular because of a number of factors. I don't know if I would consider them the top dog by any means or use them as a measuring stick to compare all others by.

I do believe we have a far better filtration system when taking into account the self-clean feature but we certainly aren't the ONLY company with great filtration.

Just so you know, we are in the same "market" as HS in many cities in North America. Not to mention almost every other brand!

Let me know if there's anything specific I can answer for you and I will do so honestly as always.

Steve

[bosco0633]

A family member of mine purchased one last year.  He loves it.  He did all of his homework and that is the one he chose.  It wasnt the tub for me, but that is why hottub companies do so well.  Every tub attracts a different person.  

He says that he gets great water quality and that he has been able to go without a water change for over 4 1/2 months.  He does water tests and swears by it.  

A friend from work also has one and he hates it.  He says that he will purchase a new one once he can.  Get in and wet test, that is all that you can do.

[Steve]

WOW....hates it? Why? Hot water, therpay jets, great filtration and comfort...what's to hate?

I don't think I've EVER met someone who owns any hot tub and HATES IT? I could see if the service sucked or he's had service issues or something but...

Steve

[toronto_guy]

...thanks Steve. I do have one issue you can help dispel:

... the fact that there isn't 24/7 filtration, but a time filter system. My understanding is that I would programme the filtration to come on based on my usage schedule.  So what happens if I want to use the tub at a different time, do I have to wait for the filtration to happen to get the same clean water I would get with a 24/7 filter system?

[Steve]

Hot tubs running filtration cycles are ready for use 24/7. The standard filtration needed for a residential spa is 2 - 2 hour cycles in a 24 hour period.

Hydropool spas filter the body of water every 15 minutes due to the type of filtration and self clean feature. This is far above the industry standard.

You can certainly set your cycles to run when you want but using the spa during a filtration cycle is no problem at all. Any time you get in and turn the jets on, your spa is filtering, but the program just makes sure that you are getting the correct amount of filtration in a 24 hour period if the spa isn't used.

There's no advantage of a tiny circ pump running 24 hours per day in a residential setting when it comes to water quality or quality of filtration.

Hydropool has the exact same filtration as all in-ground pools have using for 25 years. If it's good enough for a pool, it's plenty good enough for 300-500 gallons of water in a hot tub!

Steve

[wmccall]

WOW....hates it? Why? Hot water, therpay jets, great filtration and comfort...what's to hate?

I don't think I've EVER met someone who owns any hot tub and HATES IT? I could see if the service sucked or he's had service issues or something but...

Steve

My brother in law, also named Steve, bought the first hot tub I was ever in.  I think it was more of  a social thing for him. He found after a year or so he really didn't enjoy sitting in hot water.   Not sure why, but they sold their tub after a year, as they did their boat, their corvette, and other things.  I don't remember the brand.

[toronto_guy]

...then why do they (HS, CAL, Caldera etc) run a 24 hour circ pump?

[Spatech_tuo]

...then why do they (HS, CAL, Caldera etc) run a 24 hour circ pump?

That is the preferred method of a few companies (Hot Springs Caldera, Sundance, D1, etc.). Others use a 2-speed pump to come on twice per day to filter. I like the circ pump method for a few reasons (including the fact that you get 24/7 ozone mixing) but either method is fine so don't worry so much about this as it doesn't need to be the major factor in decising which spa to purchase.

[drewstar]

That is the preferred method of a few companies (Hot Springs Caldera, Sundance, D1, etc.). Others use a 2-speed pump to come on twice per day to filter. I like the circ pump method for a few reasons (including the fact that you get 24/7 ozone mixing) but either method is fine so don't worry so much about this as it doesn't need to be the major factor in decising which spa to purchase.

I know on my tub  the 24 hr circ pump is also used for heating.  If the water temp falls below the set temp, the heater kicks on and pumps heated water into the tub with the circ pump.

Tubs without a circ pump must turn on the larger pump to get hot water into the tub.  

[Steve]

I know on my tub  the 24 hr circ pump is also used for heating.  If the water temp falls below the set temp, the heater kicks on and pumps heated water into the tub with the circ pump.

Tubs without a circ pump must turn on the larger pump to get hot water into the tub.

So drewstar; what's more economical...a small circ pump running 24 hours per day, or a larger pump running on low speed 4 hours a day? Let's see if you know the answer to this...

Steve

[shabba34]

So drewstar; what's more economical...a small circ pump running 24 hours per day, or a larger pump running on low speed 4 hours a day? Let's see if you know the answer to this...

Steve

Steve, I know that my spas (24hr circ) run more efficiently then all other brands in my market....Why?  Because I guarantee it in writing.  So whether it does or not I still pay the difference to the customer.  Oh, and I haven't paid the dififference yet.....

[Spatech_tuo]

So drewstar; what's more economical...a small circ pump running 24 hours per day, or a larger pump running on low speed 4 hours a day? Let's see if you know the answer to this...

Steve

It should be pretty close if the 2-speed pump is set to filter 4 hrs/day so to me this part of the argument is pretty much a non-issue.

There are a couple minor reasons why I like a circ pump but the major advantage IMO is with a circ pump you get 24/7 ozone. All the other reasons for and against are not a big deal to me but the ozone one is for me. I'm a big believer that a good CD ozone system can make water care much easier to maintain.

[Steve]

Steve, I know that my spas (24hr circ) run more efficiently then all other brands in my market....Why?  Because I guarantee it in writing.  So whether it does or not I still pay the difference to the customer.  Oh, and I haven't paid the dififference yet.....

Pretty interesting stance. In order for a consumer to validate their operational cost and compare it accurately, would they not have to have all spas metered (for at least 6 months) to prove you wrong? Who in their right mind would do that? Marketing 101. Stand behind something in writing that the cost and time involved to prove you wrong would be something nobody would do.

Do I take it that you personally have metered all makes of spas as above for a true comparison?

Steve

P.S. I do agree tech about ozone but my point was based on economics moreso.

[shabba34]

Pretty interesting stance. In order for a consumer to validate their operational cost and compare it accurately, would they not have to have all spas metered (for at least 6 months) to prove you wrong? Who in their right mind would do that? Marketing 101. Stand behind something in writing that the cost and time involved to prove you wrong would be something nobody would do.

Do I take it that you personally have metered all makes of spas as above for a true comparison?

Steve

P.S. I do agree tech about ozone but my point was based on economics moreso.

All my own...  It is a very powerful selling tool that is rarely challenged.  I know my fellow dealers in the area offer no such gaurantee.  I still guarantee the HP models to cost less then $12 a month, summer or winter, using the spa every day for 30 min between 102-104 deg.  Like I said, even if there is another more efficient spa out there, mine is still more efficient to the customer due to the backing of that guarantee.