Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Shopper on September 21, 2015, 09:38:05 am
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This is the first time we have ever shopped and researched hot tubs, and we want to make sure we make the right choice.
And from what I've read the best three brands for energy efficiency, longevity and least amount of maintenance needed are - Dimension One Spas, Hot Spring Spas, and Maax Spas. We currently have a 1998 Diplomat D1 spa and the digital panel has quit and the spa has a small leak underneath. At a minimum it will cost us $1000 to have it fixed... so we are thinking replacement.
Just looking at pictures on the web sites, the seat design and size of the below 4 spas are appealing: (anyone know what the pros and cons of each? which of the four is the quietest when the jets are on? and ballpark installed price? any rebates offered?)
D1 Dream - $6495 plus tax installed with removal of old spa (price I've been quoted)
Hot Spring - Relay
Maax Spas - model 472 & model 461
And I have lots of questions, if anyone happens to know the answers:
What is the warranty on each one? Does the warranty include parts and labor, and if so for how long? And how many replaceable filters does each spa need? Are they all about the same or different with energy efficiency and quality of heaters? do they all use chlorine or are some salt? currently I use that purple cartridge (Vision Sanitizing System - Universal cartridge) that you replace every 3 months and shock it once a week and add a small amount of chlorine and replace the filters every 6 months.... is that going to be the same with a new spa?
Thanks so much for your help!
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This is the first time we have ever shopped and researched hot tubs, and we want to make sure we make the right choice.
And from what I've read the best three brands for energy efficiency, longevity and least amount of maintenance needed are - Dimension One Spas, Hot Spring Spas, and Maax Spas. We currently have a 1998 Diplomat D1 spa and the digital panel has quit and the spa has a small leak underneath. At a minimum it will cost us $1000 to have it fixed... so we are thinking replacement.
Just looking at pictures on the web sites, the seat design and size of the below 4 spas are appealing: (anyone know what the pros and cons of each? which of the four is the quietest when the jets are on? and ballpark installed price? any rebates offered?)
D1 Dream - $6495 plus tax installed with removal of old spa (price I've been quoted)
Hot Spring - Relay
Maax Spas - model 472 & model 461
And I have lots of questions, if anyone happens to know the answers:
What is the warranty on each one? Does the warranty include parts and labor, and if so for how long? And how many replaceable filters does each spa need? Are they all about the same or different with energy efficiency and quality of heaters? do they all use chlorine or are some salt? currently I use that purple cartridge (Vision Sanitizing System - Universal cartridge) that you replace every 3 months and shock it once a week and add a small amount of chlorine and replace the filters every 6 months.... is that going to be the same with a new spa?
Thanks so much for your help!
Can you please show me where you read that Maxx Spas have a reputation for energy efficiency, longevity and low maintenance? D1, HS and several other brands yes but Maxx.........
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The dealer said that about the three brands and I'm new to all of this.
Is the D1 Dream a safe bet? Based on paper analysis it seems to be the best quality at the best price, but we will need to go see it in person before I can make a real assessment. When we go in, what should I look for?
Thanks for responding.
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Also, between the D1 Dream and Hot Spring/Hot Spot - Relay - which hot tub will have the longest lasting parts and have the least amount of maintenance needed? I don't mind maintaining the water and filters and such, but I want the hot tub that is built like a tank.
Our current D1 Diplomat hot tub from 1998 just crapped out on us, and I would love to buy another hot tub that is going to last us 17 plus years with minimal part replacement/maintenance. So if there is another brand of hot tub that will be better for us in the long run... please let me know.
Thanks for any help!
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I'm new to all of this too, and the one thing I can tell you is that the dealers will tell you anything. I won't even go into the details of the stuff that is been said right to my face. You will need to do some research on your own online, and visit a number of dealers, as they all carry different brands. This is a good resource for some research, but don't stop there. There are still other forums, many other blogs and reviews, and of course in person visits.
This is an expensive purchase, and with the options and information, imo, this is as complicated as a new car buy. The difference is you may already know something about cars, where you probably know nothing about hot tubs. So you really need to do some research.
I haven't purchased yet, but three weeks into this, and I know a lot more about what I should look for and what I want out of a hot tub.
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You are looking at The Hot Spot line and the at home series from D-1. They are going to be comparable tubs but both tubs you are looking at are from there entry level lines. If you are looking for a tub to last 17 years again look at the next series up from both of these lines
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You are looking at The Hot Spot line and the at home series from D-1. They are going to be comparable tubs but both tubs you are looking at are from there entry level lines. If you are looking for a tub to last 17 years again look at the next series up from both of these lines
Good advice.
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You are looking at The Hot Spot line and the at home series from D-1. They are going to be comparable tubs but both tubs you are looking at are from there entry level lines. If you are looking for a tub to last 17 years again look at the next series up from both of these lines
Good advice.
I think you either accept that you're going with more of the value line which may not make that 17 year goal but allows you to stay within a certain budget OR step up to the next series where you get more and maybe can expect more longevity. I think either way works as long as you go in with your eyes open.
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You are looking at The Hot Spot line and the at home series from D-1. They are going to be comparable tubs but both tubs you are looking at are from there entry level lines. If you are looking for a tub to last 17 years again look at the next series up from both of these lines
Is there some specific difference that will make the higher end one last longer?
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Two of the main differences are better quality parts, and better build quality.
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Two of the main differences are better quality parts, and better build quality.
Comparing high end brands to low end brands, sure. But even within the same brand? Does Hot Spring use lower quality pumps and plumbing on their Hot Spots vs Limelight vs Highlife? The NXT are nicer, better finish, more lights, more pumps, more features to justify the price. But are they really expected to last longer?
In the same vein as I don't expect a Lexus to last longer than a Toyota, assuming they are cared for the same.
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Yes, even within the same brand. They don't use the same jets, pumps etc. I would advise you to do research.
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Pumps may be different Hp (and sometimes the same) but they're the typically the same otherwise. The differences beyond the added lighting, waterfalls... are often upgrades in the siding, the jets, the heater and the controls...
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The wavemaster 9000 is a just better pump than the wavemaster 6000. And although built by the same company, it's not the same build. That's just like saying the only difference between a chevy malibu and a corvette is horsepower. Same brand don't equal same quality. And wouldn't all the other differences you pointed out equate to a better built tub? I'm not saying budget lines from reputable brands aren't good, but it's just not the same build as their top tier lines.
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The wavemaster 9000 is a just better pump than the wavemaster 6000. And although built by the same company, it's not the same build. That's just like saying the only difference between a chevy malibu and a corvette is horsepower. Same brand don't equal same quality. And wouldn't all the other differences you pointed out equate to a better built tub? I'm not saying budget lines from reputable brands aren't good, but it's just not the same build as their top tier lines.
Absolutely the differences equate to a better spa and if the price were the same its a no-brainer. some prefer a Chevy Cruze for $20k, another the Malibu for $30k and yet for another the Corvette is the right car for them at $50k and its the same with hot tubs where one person is more than happy with a Hot Spot while the next guy bumps up to a Limelight or is only going to be happy with the top of the line Hot Springs. It all depends on what the person wants, needs, expectations and budget.
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Yes, even within the same brand. They don't use the same jets, pumps etc. I would advise you to do research.
That's what brought me and many other people here... doing research. And that's what I'm doing, and why I ask here. Information on what brand of pump or jet or heater or control system is in a particular brand or model of hot tub isn't something you typically find in the sales literature. This site is the best resource I've found that has people who have actual experience taking these fancy buckets apart. I've taken my D1 apart and fixed a dozen or so leaks, and spent more time than I ever wanted to digging through that hard D1 foam. But that's one tub. Hardly a broad sample. If you have specific information please share. Or if you know of another resource to get that kind of information.. again, please share. But "do research" seems a bit redundant here.
Pumps may be different Hp (and sometimes the same) but they're the typically the same otherwise. The differences beyond the added lighting, waterfalls... are often upgrades in the siding, the jets, the heater and the controls...
Fancier jets(i.e. Motomassage), or more jets, yes, but longer lasting? Simpler jets tend to last longer than ones with moving parts. Nicer looking siding for sure, but they're all using synthetics that should last a long long time these days. Higher power heater, but better quality? Perhaps Titanium vs Stainless, so maybe yes. And I'd argue that the fancy color touch screen panels won't last as long as the simpler LCD with rubber buttons control panel. I'm not saying the higher end tubs don't have more features or aren't a step up in "luxury"... but last longer?
That said, my fairly simple "lower end" D1 tub is 15+ years old, and had I not moved it after 10+ years sitting in the same spot, it would likely still be doing just fine. Moving it turned it into a leak monster and I'm done with it. But... everything still works, even the circ pump that ran 24/7/365 for so many years... never a problem. I did read that they've switched to barb and clamp fittings instead of glue, I wish they had done that sooner lol.
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The wavemaster 9000 is a just better pump than the wavemaster 6000. And although built by the same company, it's not the same build. That's just like saying the only difference between a chevy malibu and a corvette is horsepower. Same brand don't equal same quality. And wouldn't all the other differences you pointed out equate to a better built tub? I'm not saying budget lines from reputable brands aren't good, but it's just not the same build as their top tier lines.
Using your Malibu and Corvette... again, there is no doubt that a Corvette comes with more "features" and is a more desirable product and even worth the extra cost. But a friend of mine owns a Taxi company... he has a fleet of Malibus. Some have over 300K miles on them and that's city street driving. I think you'd be hard pressed to say the higher end, fancier Corvette will last longer.
I didn't include the Cruze because I'm pretty sure those are roto-molded ;D
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The wavemaster 9000 is a just better pump than the wavemaster 6000. And although built by the same company, it's not the same build. That's just like saying the only difference between a chevy malibu and a corvette is horsepower. Same brand don't equal same quality. And wouldn't all the other differences you pointed out equate to a better built tub? I'm not saying budget lines from reputable brands aren't good, but it's just not the same build as their top tier lines.
Absolutely the differences equate to a better spa and if the price were the same its a no-brainer. some prefer a Chevy Cruze for $20k, another the Malibu for $30k and yet for another the Corvette is the right car for them at $50k and its the same with hot tubs where one person is more than happy with a Hot Spot while the next guy bumps up to a Limelight or is only going to be happy with the top of the line Hot Springs. It all depends on what the person wants, needs, expectations and budget.
I'm with you there. This only became a topic when someone pointed out if you want a tub to last 15 years, you'll be better off upping your budget to get into a higher tier. For someone without those expectations and just wants a good tub, then the hotspot would be a good choice.
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The wavemaster 9000 is a just better pump than the wavemaster 6000. And although built by the same company, it's not the same build. That's just like saying the only difference between a chevy malibu and a corvette is horsepower. Same brand don't equal same quality. And wouldn't all the other differences you pointed out equate to a better built tub? I'm not saying budget lines from reputable brands aren't good, but it's just not the same build as their top tier lines.
Using your Malibu and Corvette... again, there is no doubt that a Corvette comes with more "features" and is a more desirable product and even worth the extra cost. But a friend of mine owns a Taxi company... he has a fleet of Malibus. Some have over 300K miles on them and that's city street driving. I think you'd be hard pressed to say the higher end, fancier Corvette will last longer.
My corvette reference wasn't about longevity, but a response about "being the same but with more horsepower" to another poster. I was pointing out that there was more of a difference than just horsepower. As far as longevity goes, the difference between the hotspot and highlife are more than just bells and whistles. Better quality heaters, better quality jets(you won't have to replace them as often), better quality cabinets, does point to a better quality tub. But you are free to believe whatever you like. I'm not going to continue to derail this thread.
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Waterway makes jets that cost 15 bucks and others that look the same but cost 30, why? Waterway will tell you better quality through improved manufacturing processes and differences in material with equates to better longevity. True?
Also the higher end lines from the manufacturers usually carry a longer/better warranty. Is this indicative of a better product? Or simply just added cost?