Anyone have a hot tub?

[BarbaraL]

DH is interested in buying a hot tub. I'm trying to do my due diligence/research, but Consumer Reports doesn't rate these.
Anyone have any brands to recommend or to avoid?
Thanks.

[Hammster]

I own and can highly recommend Sundance Spas.

[BarbaraL]

Hi, Hammster!
Any particular features you like about your spa? Did you "wet test" it (ie, actually get in a filled one) before you bought it?

[Hammster]

We have a small one that only seats 3 total. Better for 2 but technically there are 3 seats. The jets are strong and Sundance gets very high ratings on many of the spa forums and review sites. It has had very little impact on our electric bill so that is nice. The build quality is very high too. We did not wet test it, but did sit in it to check that it was deep enough and that the seats fit us well. I've recommended wet testing in the past, but it ended up not necessary for this one. It was a great fit right off the bat.
In the interest of full disclosure, we also opted for the ozone system of sanitizing the water instead of using chlorine. We like it much better, but the ozonators don't last very long and they are expensive. We've been able to keep getting them replaced under warranty but I fear that won't be happening for much longer. It's an aftermarket product that gets added into the hot tub's heater tubing to ozonate the water. We'll continue to use it just because we prefer not to use chlorine.

[LakeMartinGal]

I'll second the ozonater method. We haven't had a problem with ours, though. I have no idea of the brand we have, it was a local shop that makes them. I would get an idea of what I wanted in the tub, by asking around or trying one out. We paid extra for the bubbles to come out of the seat, and don't like it at all! (cold water, needle-ey spray). Also, if you have any motion sickness problems, try out the jets, too -- I can't have them on my neck at all!

DH loves it! He has arthritis, and it really helps him keep moving. Me, not so much..

[Hammster]

Originally Posted by LakeMartinGal

I'll second the ozonater method. We haven't had a problem with ours, though.

The ozonator that originally came with the tub lasted nearly 2 years. Since then each one has failed within 10 months. I've tried and tried to get the spa company to come out and troubleshoot the spa to determine the reason for the frequent ozonator failures but they keep insisting it's the ozonators that are failing and not the spa causing the failure. They don't seem to want to do a root cause analysis to figure out why these things are failing so regularly. Oh, and the ozonators have been different brands each time and supposedly improved over the previous one.
Having said all that, Barbara, I'd still go with the ozonator method if it's available for the brand of hot tub you end up with.

[BarbaraL]

We'd planned to get an ozonator; DH is well versed in pool (and other) chemicals, having worked in research labs for many years.
I'm discovering a whole new world of hot tub forums, as I searched for "hot tub forums" after reading Hammster's comment. The show we attended featured Master Spas, and we saw a "Legacy Whirlpool" that we liked, and seems to be a good price. However, I'm noticing a decided lack of chatter about Master Spas on the forums I've visited so far, so I'm wondering if they're not as popular a brand. Friends have an ancient Hot Springs that they enjoy, so I may be biased toward that brand.
An interesting comment on the forums is a concern about the "health" of smaller manufacturers . . . evidently Vista Spas has gone under, and the new buyer may not be required to honor the Vista warranties.
Many posters also comment on the importance of wet testing, as it changed the brand or model that they purchased.
We're looking for a calm, relaxing experience after a hard day's work, rather than hydrotherapy. Since it's a significant expense, I don't want to make a costly mistake. Both DD and I have motion sickness issues; thanks for the heads-up, LakeMartinGal.

[Hammster]

Originally Posted by BarbaraL

We'd planned to get an ozonator; DH is well versed in pool (and other) chemicals, having worked in research labs for many years.

The major variable between pool chemistry and spa chemistry is the heat. There are some nasties that thrive in a hot, wet environment. It's a different method of maintaining the chemistry with the heat variable involved. Nothing difficult, but what I did for a couple of years was keep detailed notes and data on what I did so I could learn from it and now it's second nature.

Oh, if you have hard water, don't use Baqua Spa products. That turns into a very slippery slope of having to buy more and more different products in order to "fix" an issue that one of the other Baqua products caused. Our Sundance dealer included a free starter kit of Baqua but between the time we ordered our spa and it was delivered we did some major research on Baqua and for San Diego water it wasn't a good idea. So, that's my product to avoid.

Oh, I don't recall the brand name, but avoid the brand of spa that uses the "air gap" method of insulation of the spa to keep heat in. Similar in theory to how a thermos keeps hot things hot. In practice, it doesn't work. Make sure the spa comes with full foam insulation applied right to the underside of the shell.

[Valerie226]

We also have a Sundance spa. The double filter system ties you to the dealer where you bought the spa. this is our first tub so I don't know if this is unusual.
we started with baqua spa water treatments but gave up last spring, would not work with our water. we use an ozonator but that's not adequate by itself. we use a minimal chlorine system and are happy with it. It uses a "frog" that releases tiny amts of chlorine over 3-4 months. mostly you need to add only shock. It's much easier and less expensive than the other system they start you out with. probably depends on your water which you have little control over.

[Hammster]

Originally Posted by Valerie226

We also have a Sundance spa. The double filter system ties you to the dealer where you bought the spa. this is our first tub so I don't know if this is unusual.
we started with baqua spa water treatments but gave up last spring, would not work with our water. we use an ozonator but that's not adequate by itself. we use a minimal chlorine system and are happy with it. It uses a "frog" that releases tiny amts of chlorine over 3-4 months. mostly you need to add only shock. It's much easier and less expensive than the other system they start you out with. probably depends on your water which you have little control over.

That's true, you can't use the ozonator by itself. We use the monopersulfate and the "box of rocks" in our spa.
I've seen replacement, aftermarket, less expensive, non-sundance filters online but haven't mustered up the courage to try one yet. I'm totally comfortable with our current system so don't want to learn a new one (possibly).

[BarbaraL]

DH and I just checked out a Saratoga Springs dealer, and will have to also look into Sundance and Hot Springs, and wade through the sales pitches. I'm a big fan of personal recommendations, so I thank everyone for their responses!

[pointerhaven]

We have had a hot springs spa 6-7 people spa for several year. While we have had several great functions with people in the spa the maintenance and the electircity to keep it in running order and clean was approx $100 per month to run. I purchased my spa in 2001 for $8k and just sold it for $36k and could not be happier. Plus, taking High BP medicines causes a problems with the med and the hot water your bp could go dangerously low causing you to go to sleep and drown. So we opted to sell the spa.... I love the heat and the moto massage of my spa, but I worry about the BP issues. We've had several spa's in our married life and had great fun with neighbors and friends in the Spa. whatever you decide make sure that kids do not dive in to spa and intakes on the bottow are a danger to kids with long hair and can cause drowning.

Wanda

[Valerie226]

when we frst got the spa the water system was called "softsoak" ( biguanide) worked for us most of the time. the company switched to "baquaspa"... didn't work.. strange deposits and rings around the edges, gritty preciptates etc.

sundance systems ( as far as I know) use two filters, a pleated one that can be cleaned and reused and a solid ones that looks like a giant role of TP. no one seems to carry the pleated one but sundance dealers.

The water system we use now uses a small amt of chlorine.. working much better for us. I said I wouldn't use chlorine but the odor is very very faint and the water stays clear without scum and rings we had on the other system.

re temp.... we keep ours 98-100 degrees. we find that pleasant and not overly hot. many commercial places may run to 104 which to me is WAY too hot.

[BarbaraL]

Originally Posted by pointerhaven

We have had a hot springs spa 6-7 people spa for several year. While we have had several great functions with people in the spa the maintenance and the electircity to keep it in running order and clean was approx $100 per month to run. I purchased my spa in 2001 for $8k and just sold it for $36k and could not be happier.

Wanda

Wow, $100/month in Virginia? We're being quoted around $40/month during the cold months in northern NJ (assuming once/day use for about 30 minutes). Our friends have had a Hot Springs for years, and they say their costs are not that high.

[Valerie226]

we didn't notice a change in our electric bill. we were switching to cfl's at about the same time so maybe $5 over 2 months. we are all electric so when we start using the furnace about the same time.....it's hard to sort out. get a good insulated cover. we dump the water and turn the tub off during the summer.