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Please read my review: just hit the "reviews" icon at the top of the page, and look for the most recent Arctic review- I think 5/06. I do really love my tub, but all of the detail that I dont want to type again is there- kinda long- sorry. I'm also happy to answer any specific questions you have, but I'm just a well informed owner, not an expert.As far as insulation goes, I also have been very happy with how little impact my tub has on the energy bill. I live in CA, so the tub will rarely have to stay at 103 while it is freezing out, either! Full foam vs others- what a mess. But someone here summed it up pretty well, saying (roughly) FF vs TP is not this issue- it is how well either one is made. OH, please nobody come after me........
Did you look at any other spas? Did you wet test? I would also call independent spa repair companies and ask them which spas they have to work on the least.I looked into Arctic Spas when I was looking to buy. From my research I thought that they were above average, but in my opinion overpriced what what you got (not hugely). Then I did research on the whole insulation issue and chose not to go with Arctic.
Anne,Did you get the Arctic Ozone, or Peak Ozone? Comments on either?Steven-
QuoteDid you look at any other spas? Did you wet test? I would also call independent spa repair companies and ask them which spas they have to work on the least.I looked into Arctic Spas when I was looking to buy. From my research I thought that they were above average, but in my opinion overpriced what what you got (not hugely). Then I did research on the whole insulation issue and chose not to go with Arctic.Nothing personal but I really question the intelligence of a post like this? Some decent advice with a small mix of praise yet the bottom line cooltoy was that you were sold by some BS sales pitch sorry to say! Is one REALLY better than another? I would love an open debate with you on this as I have many years of experience on this matter. I'm serious when I ask for an open, serious debate based on data and intelligence. Opinions and marketing not included...I don't work for Arctic and in fact, sold against them head to head for many years but to suggest to a consumer that they consider another brand based on the insulation method any one manufacturer uses is extremely weak advice.Arctic makes a good product with exceptional support from their dealers and there are very few unsatisfied owners of this product.Answer one question for me cooltoy and this will determine if a debate is something we need to consider...What are the benefits of full foam and is there a proven cost savings to this type of insulation over a thermal lock design? Please reply with something more than an opinion or what you once heard a salesman of another product tell you... ThanksSteve
I considered buying an Arctic Spa, but other factors drove me away from them... They would not let me wet test, the show room looked like crap and the dealer gave me bad vibes. They also have cheesy commercials on our radio stations which make them seem unprofessional.
Oh, can I jump in? I'll ask the same thing toward you (the sound of horses being beaten is heard in the distance) Are there any proven cost savings to Thermal lock over Full foam? The only data I've seen is several years old and was discredit via the cover issue. ( The Artic tub was a few pennies less in energy, but this was attributed to the cover, not the thermal lock). But the benifits of Full Foam?It's insualation method is not depedant on running the pumps. It requires NO energy to work. A thermal tub requires the air barrier to be kept at the same, or greater temperature of the water. TO do this, they are inherently dependend on running the pumps. the Thermal crowd touts this as a benift, saying "more filtration!" To me, I think it's a flawed design, as I have no water issues and not dependant on running the pumps. Another downside is, the tub will actually get hotter when you use it, due to the pumps running. In another thread this was touted as a feature. I saw it really as a flaw. If I don't want to have my jets on, the Artic will switch to heating the water via the heater, and since the air barrier is being heated by the pumps will work harder, use more electricty to maintian the heat. Ie for a TP tub to be even considered efficent, the pumps must be running. For a thermal tub to work effeicently, it must be sealed very well. The tubs I aw were not. Perhaps Artic has got this down pretty good, but keep in mind, air leaks in the cabinet can be a big issue. Side benifits of full foam: Sound insulation. Any one with a tub outside thier bedroom or on a deck will tell you, a full foam is quiter (less sound, less vibration, and no huge pumps on every few hours).Structual integrity on pipes and fittings. Less vibration. Less leaks due to joint failure. But we've been through this all before. The only benifit on TP is if there is a leak in the cabinet. FF requires more work to repair. However, my research when shopping indicated that majorty of leaks occur in the pump area, where they are not ff. Leaks that did occur in the plumbing area where mostly on tubs that did not have the FF for structual suppport. Hmmmm. Furthermore, most of the leaky tubs were alos of an older technolgy that used an inferior glue. To seal the deal, and this is more from a consumer peice of mind than anything else, the # seller of hot tubs uses FF. If all the evils of FF that many of the TP crowd claim is true, they'd be tens of thousands of FF users up in arms. The fact is, folks who have a FF tub, love them. As a consumer, this ment a lot to me. Plus, I've heard from a certain texan, Giant Mutant Rats like to live inside Thermal tubs.
I am not sure that there is anything to debate here. I just asked if the person looked at any other spas. I see a lot of people go to the very first dealer and buy from them without looking at anything else. I looked at about 10 different spa manufacturers when I was buying. This allowed me to see a much wider variety of spa building techniques. I was as confused as anyone at that point. So I turned to websites like this one to get educated. After reading all the arguments for and against different types of insulation, I decided that I liked the idea of full foam insulation better. It was my own decision and not a sales pitch that made choose the tub that I choose. Actually to say that someone can pitch something to me insults my intelligence, as I do not feel I am influenced by salespeople or advertising.I considered buying an Arctic Spa, but other factors drove me away from them. I did not like the design of the seats (too angular), the would not let me wet test, the show room looked like crap and the dealer gave me bad vibes. They also have cheesy commercials on our radio stations which make them seem unprofessional.I never said that they make a bad product, as a matter of fact from what I understand they make one of the best spas amongst that type of tub, but it was not for me, so I choose something else.
Quote Go Oilers go! SteveNow I understand.
Go Oilers go! Steve
QuoteI considered buying an Arctic Spa, but other factors drove me away from them... They would not let me wet test, the show room looked like crap and the dealer gave me bad vibes. They also have cheesy commercials on our radio stations which make them seem unprofessional.Please send me a private message with the name of the dealer involved. ThanksTom G