PoloDude
Premium,VIP
join:2006-03-29
East Northport, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Hot Tubs / Spas
We are looking to get a hut tub. We have looked at Jacuzzi,Arctic,Sundance and Coast spas. We haven't been to Thermo or Hot springs yet. Does anyone on here have one,If so what are your thoughts? I have looked all over and there is not much in the way of un-biased reviews. Nothing at Consumer Reports etc. |
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MrFixitSC
Premium,VIP,ExMod 2001-06
join:2000-12-01
Moncks Corner, SC
 ·Comcast Formerly ..
 ·AT&T DSL Service
2 edits | We have a Jacuzzi brand tub, outdoor, though holding up fine after 7 years if I were to purchase again I'd go for a different brand, with Jacuzzi you pay extra for the name... Side note, chemicals run about $200/year and $75-$100/month average for elecricity in our case.. Cover runs about $300-$400 and in our experience, outside in the Northeast, last about 3 years..
Is awesome to have a tub outdoors in the winter, not used much in the summer, drained it this year, for the summer, to save power.. |
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jeppler
join:2000-10-11
Wethersfield, CT
1 edit | reply to PoloDude
We bought a spa 2 years ago, it's a Caldera. We're very happy with what we got for the money, about 7500. It seats 5, and measures about 7' x 7'. Don't forget to budget for the concrete pad and electrical wiring. I think the electric bill went up by about $25 a month.
We looked at ThermoSpa, Sundance and Coast. We thought ThermoSpa were the most overpriced of them all, unless you can pick something up at their end-of-season sales.
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They that give up essential liberty to purchase
a little temporary safety deserve neither (Benjamin Franklin) |
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PoloDude
Premium,VIP
join:2006-03-29
East Northport, NY
·Verizon FIOS
| Of the 3 brands that we looked at all included the cover. A lifter was extra.
Coast Spas was the only one that had the ozone system standard.
It seems that the price point we are seeing is around 8k for the high end of the middle. We are not going crazy with built in stereos and tv lights.
We are planning a spot for it on a deck we are building now. Extra support in that area and power being run to it.
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I'm not as good as I once was
but I'm as good once
as i ever was. |
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Jtmo
Premium
join:2001-05-20
Novato, CA
·Comcast
| reply to PoloDude
Had a Hot Springs years ago, very nice.
Would never buy a hot tub again though. We used it nearly everyday but unless you drain your tub every day you are still sitting in last nights body oils and whatever.
There was a great filter, it was state of the art, but there is no way around the oils and some bacteria.
Had some good times, but never again. |
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CKizer
Raptus Regaliter
Premium
join:2003-01-29
Tijeras, NM | reply to PoloDude
I am personally very impressed with Hot Springs. |
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sailor
Merry Whatever ..R.I.P. dadkins
Premium
join:2003-10-21
Long Island
1 edit | reply to PoloDude
I'm east of you on the island and I have a spot off my deck where I plan on having a gunite spa built when I expand my house in the hopefully near future....I don't have any desire for a full size swimming pool even though I have the room for one nor do I want a hut tub due to I have a good spot for a gunite spa and also when I was living in Florida I heard so many people tell me their hot tub/spa's were a real chore to maintain, especially chemical wise....But that being Florida could be a totally different scene from here on the island as there they have to maintain them year round.
Here are some pics I took off of the internet to give you an idea of the type of gunite spa that I am planning on. The last picture is more the kind I am leaning towards but without the waterfall addition... |
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Jtmo
Premium
join:2001-05-20
Novato, CA | reply to PoloDude
#3 is sweet. |
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cocothebean
You Are My Nightmare
Premium
join:2002-11-16
Carson City, NV
·Charter Pipeline
2 edits | reply to PoloDude
said by PoloDude  :We are planning a spot for it on a deck we are building now. Extra support in that area and power being run to it. You going to need more then just extra support to hold up a hot tub!!!
A 7x7 hot tub with water will weigh in at about 6000 - 7000 pounds!!! and thats without people in it!!!
»www.rhtubs.com/hot-tub-faq.htm
If your deck is sitting on dirt I would think about laying down a slab of cement at least 3" - 5" thick for the deck to sit on and I take it your deck is wood???
»www.rhtubs.com/hot-tub-faq.htm
»www.rhtubs.com/hot-tub-faq.htm
Make sure the hot tub has jets and not a blower!!!
Jets shot water like as in a circulation pump!!!
Blowers blow in air that can cool and lower the temputure of the water!!! |
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Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Sarasota, FL
clubs:
| reply to PoloDude
Just sold ours, but it was a "soft-tub". From the viewpoint of the person IN the tub, I actually preferred it to the tubs my parents and grandparents had. Every surface was padded, which was really nice. And it was just the perfect size - or a little bigger - for the wife and I. My power meter showed it pulling right around $15 of power each month, we got the chemical formula down to about $6 a month. All in all I was very happy with it.
Now then.......
We set it up on the back patio, which we had built a screened encloser on last year. The slab had been there since the house was built 8 years ago. In the 4 months the hot tub sat there (it spent the rest of it's time on the deck) it caused the slab to sink almost 2" on one side, separating the screen walls from the floor. The repair bill for the encloser is more than I paid for the damn hot tub. So do NOT under-estimate the weight. Mine was very small as far as hot tubs go, 300 gallons of water with less than 100lb of dry weight. But when you start talking about the larger fiberglass tubs, the weight goes up really quick.
Beyond that, pay attention to pump ratings and power requirements. Two pumps can push the same amount of water, with one pulling twice the juice to do it.
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Intel Q6600 @3400Mhz/GA-EP35-DS3P/2x 2048Mb G.Skill/Seagate 750.10/EVGA 8800GT's SLI/Silverstone 850W/Custom water cooler |
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PoloDude
Premium,VIP
join:2006-03-29
East Northport, NY
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to cocothebean
The tub will be on a deck and my contractor has planned for 5 piers supporting it. The deck will have 2x10 joists and Timberteck decking.
Sailor you will have to post up pics when you get done.
from what i have heard the new tubs are lower miantenence.I think the ozone systems make a big difference from what i've heard.
Coco All the tubs i have seen are jets,but some have an air blower also as an option. I think Arctic was one of those.
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I'm not as good as I once was
but I'm as good once
as i ever was. |
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Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Sarasota, FL
clubs:
| My experience has been that the air jets - when they are separate from the water jet lines, are of great advantage in warmer weather. We loved our hot tub when it was cold outside, but when the temp got up even into the 70s, the hot water is a bit much. But the cool air coming through the water makes a big difference.
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Intel Q6600 @3400Mhz/GA-EP35-DS3P/2x 2048Mb G.Skill/Seagate 750.10/EVGA 8800GT's SLI/Silverstone 850W/Custom water cooler |
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Toadman
Hypnotoad
join:2001-11-28
Medina, OH
| reply to PoloDude
I also took a look at most of the brands that you mentioned above, and ended up with a Nordic Escape Premium R. Actually got it before it was released. I have had it for almost 2 years now and it has been a great tub! I paid $5000 (with tax and delivery $5400).
I picked the tub for a few reasons.
A) I was able to wet test the tub, where I went in it at the showroom.
B) Components used. I have a spa builders spa pack. You don't want someones proprietary spa pack system. It also uses waterway pumps, which are easy to find parts on. Layout is very nice inside the cabinet, easy to maintain.
C) Has what you want, but not all of the "bells and whistles". LED lighting, 45 jets, laydown. I didn't want the waterfalls, stereos, built in TVs. My wife was impressed with them, but I am not paying $10K for a tub, and also something to break.
As for looking for a tub, I would look at construction (go with vinyl sides, no wood), insulation because you are up in the north like I am and you will want to use it in the winter, (nothing is better!) and plastic shell (I was told mine was made of the same material as truck bed liners). You don't want fiberglass that cracks very easily on uneven surfaces or stresses.
I would also argue with the point above on having a hard time keeping it clean. Proper chemical balance is important, but using proper chemicals (PH and alklinity level is a must), a good brand bromine, my tub always looks great, and I take my 5 yr old daughter and 1 1/2 year old son in it about 2 times a week right now. It is crystal clear. I clean the filter every other week and water change about once every 3 months, sometimes longer until I get a thaw out.
As for an unbiased review, good luck. I went around the web searching and everyone has a great review and a bad review for the same product. The one thing that I will tell you from experience is stay away from USED!!!. My first tub was used, and I ended up having to purchase new fittings, replumb half of it, and purchase a new spa pack for it (maybe that is why I looked at components and serviceability before I gave my thumbs up). I one day was so fed up, that is why I looked at a new one.
As for wiring, it isn't a big deal, but make sure you have a double breaker open in your box and you can handle an additional 50 amp breaker. GFCI now goes outside on the disconnect box. If you are not comfortable wiring it, get an electrician. Plan on spending about $200 in material and probably another $200 in labor for wiring it. My electric bill went up about 5 dollars a month in the summer and about 15 in the winter, and I leave it at 99 all the time.
Finally, negotiate. Nobody is buying these luxury items now. You should be able to get a sweetheart deal, free delivery, etc.
You will love it, I definately enjoy mine. My only regret is not getting to use it enough, it just seems that I don't have the time. |
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sailor
Merry Whatever ..R.I.P. dadkins
Premium
join:2003-10-21
Long Island |  What an excellent and extremely informative write up and your tub looks awesome. |
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acid343211
Hallo lisa Aus Amerika
Premium
join:2001-08-31
Byron, GA | reply to PoloDude
Jacuzzi, |
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PoloDude
Premium,VIP
join:2006-03-29
East Northport, NY | acid343211, do you have one? |
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acid343211
Hallo lisa Aus Amerika
Premium
join:2001-08-31
Byron, GA
| said by PoloDude :acid343211, do you have one? Yup model J-480
Seats 6 Adults Depending on size 
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Visit-
www.liveleak.com/view?i=ec4_1174876351 |
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PoloDude
Premium,VIP
join:2006-03-29
East Northport, NY | Are you happy with it? That is one of the brands we looked at. |
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mbittard
join:2008-08-26
Lincoln, RI | reply to PoloDude
We have a Thermospa. Loved it, but it seems to need a lot of repairs. If you buy one, whoever you end up going with, make sure you pay the extra for the service plan or warranty. I'm wishing we had. |
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acid343211
Hallo lisa Aus Amerika
Premium
join:2001-08-31
Byron, GA
1 edit | reply to PoloDude
said by PoloDude :Are you happy with it? That is one of the brands we looked at. Can't be happier, |
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