As you will find out this is a good forum. However, every time someone points out a feature that their manufacture can't provide, it's termed "bells and whistles" You have just came across one such example.
Steve K
Wow. Nothing like extremes...
Here is another take on the "perils" of this board...
Many small and/or more aggressive (there seems to be a correlation) hot tub manufacturers -- and arctic is most certainly one of them -- over-engineer solutions to things which are usually not problems. Dealers then use this over-engineered solution to a non-problem to do 1 of 2 things:
1) Create fear in potential customers. Arctic (do some research) has a history of really laying on the fear big time. And I have heard they aren't above "helping" their little dioramas prove the point they want to make.
2) Prey on customers ego by showing them "secrets" that "no one else" buying hot tubs seems to "know". Anything to avoid the ol' cognitive dissonance, ya know?
Here is a revelation:
Your hot tub skirt is not hermetically sealed. Adding a plastic base pan will not hermetically seal your hot tub.
Ants have been found in hot tubs with little plastic bases, shocking, I know, but don't let it rock anybody's world.
The thought that there is a magic bullet to problems such as pests (mice, ants, spiders, termites, water beetles, etc...) and molds *is* marketing BULLHOCKEY. If you live in areas prone to mold (high humidity, rural?) your little ABS pan isn't going to stop it.
Ants will not nest in ground-contact rated lumber. Nor will mold house in it. Ground contact lumber is called ground contact lumber for a reason. If you don't believe that then don't argue it on a hot tub forum, go take it up with every structural engineer in the US.
Sometimes people propagate fear and lies because they need to perceive an advantage in whatever tub they purchased.
-Ed
