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Thread: Hot tubs. A discussion.
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11-18-2020, 10:21 AM #176Registered User
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Anyone own a small outdoor Japanese soaking tub?
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11-18-2020, 10:24 AM #177guy who skis
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11-18-2020, 10:43 AM #178Registered User
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That was the next recommendation that I deleted because I know nothing about your situation. Buy the hot tub first, then develop the site accordingly. Your dealer can probably give you some pretty good advice on install.
Other advice that I've gotten is to not put it on a deck if you can avoid it as the deck will wear out eventually from the moisture, weight, etc. But hey, over-engineer the fuck out of it and you'll probably be fine.
And to answer your actual question:
I've looked over that guy's site and it seems pretty decent, and unbiased. However, one thing about hot tubs is that they are somewhat regional, and you want to buy from a local dealer, who can service and maintain them and handle warranty work. Some of the hot tubs that he recommends might not have a dealer in your area. If there's not a dealer in your area, buying the best hot tub on the planet doesn't help you out that much.
I think that you are in CO? I know guys who sell Bullfrog and say they are the best (that website says these suck), and I know guys who sell Clearwater and say they are the best. Both say that Arctic Spas suck, although they seem to be everywhere. This isn't just from the sales guys, but also from the maintenance guys.
Hope this helps, we hope to order one soon too.
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11-18-2020, 10:56 AM #179
I have had two different hot tubs, at two different houses. My first one, was a monster headache, repair it, works for a monnth, then something else would go wrong repair it, until you finally throw it down the side of the mountain. And it would be my preference to have the current bullfrog one removed and hauled to the end of the earth and discarded into space forever.
I like sitting in a hot tub, but I hate everything else about them.
sent from Utah.sigless.
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11-18-2020, 11:00 AM #180
I’m in the market too... just here to post that hot tub salesman are the worst. Easily worse than used car salesman.
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11-18-2020, 11:04 AM #181Rope->Dope
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11-18-2020, 11:27 AM #182guy who skis
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Yeah, the deck has the views; will be engineered for the load.
Having a local dealer makes some sense. But when it comes to sales etc., it seems like everyone who sells them thinks theirs are the best. And it's hard to find what amounts to a semi-unbiased review. Though maybe that shouldn't be so surprising -- a lot of skiers will own multiple pairs of skis, but not that many people will own a lot of hot tubs. Makes first-hand comparisons tougher.
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11-18-2020, 12:08 PM #183
We got 27 years out of a Cal Spa. Replaced it 3 years ago on general principle--it still worked. Which means that 30 years ago Cal Spas made good spas. Who knows if they still do. We bought a Hot Spot. (Cheaper version of Hot Springs.)
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11-18-2020, 12:12 PM #184
Our experience was completely opposite. He was attentive and answered our questions but gave no sales pitch at all. We asked him about that later and he said something along the lines of “these things sell themselves and if you’ve come in the door you probably want one.” We’ve had great after-sale support, too.
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11-18-2020, 12:17 PM #185Registered User
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11-18-2020, 12:55 PM #186Registered User
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My wife and I got a hot tub about a year ago a few months before all this went down. We bought a new house and had the back done with pavers and a hot tub with some thing we had discussed for years. Dumb luck but now we’re living the lockdown dream back there.
The place we bought the hot tub from had the most ridiculous salesman. There is no way to describe this guy that does him e justice. But when I spoke to him recently he told me he couldn’t find a hot tub to sell to people. No joke.
Jacuzzi FWIW. Nothing too crazy. $13k or so straight up cash in hand. We really dig it and use it almost every other night when it’s not too hot.
Jacuzzi has a clear ray cleaning device. It seems to work well. Easy to maintain and put in chemicals if levels are off.
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11-18-2020, 01:44 PM #187
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11-18-2020, 02:06 PM #188
My only regret is not having wifi control.
It would be nice to turn up the temp and know when it’s ready without trudging outside.
If you’re in every day/night, they say just leave it hot. But ours has become one or two days a week.
Ymmv. . .
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11-19-2020, 08:59 AM #189guy who skis
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One more data point: I started emailing companies in our state that handle hot tub maintenance and repairs but do NOT sell hot tubs to see what they recommend. Seems like as good of a source of information as anywhere. Only got one response so far, but I'll post up a compilation once I give it a little time.
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11-20-2020, 10:55 AM #190guy who skis
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Here's what I've gotten back from some of the servicing companies:
#1: The hot tub brands you don't want are any Canadian Watkins Products (
Hot Springs, Tiger River, Caldera or Aqua-Terra ), Jacuzzi ( having
quality problems last two years ), Tuff or Strong hot tubs with Balboa
Mini-Spa Pack only, ones with full size Balboa Spa Packs are good.
Better American brands are; Master Spas, Wind River Spas, Marque Spas,
Garden Spas, Sundance Spas and Cal Spas. Better Canadian Brand; Arctic
Spas.
But basically you want a hot tub that has a Balboa Control system-best
on market, Stay away from Gecko, Watkins IQ2000 and IQ2020 Spa packs (
lots of problems with these systems.
#2: Hot spring, sundance, marquis are the best
#3: Viking spas are good, Wind River Spas are good and made in Colorado. Dynasty spas are good as well as Jacuzzi. Sundance spas are good and they are joined to Jacuzzi. I recommend any spa that the equipment has easy access and commonly available parts. Artesian spas are good and I believe they stand by their products.
Obviously they're not in 100% agreement.
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11-20-2020, 11:04 AM #191Registered User
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Nice, good research anyway. Of course nothing ever lines up. Sounds like Wind River spas are good though. Made in CO, named after a range that I've always wanted to go climbing in, and that's about all I need to hear.
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11-20-2020, 11:16 AM #192
We bought ours last October. As everyone else is saying...pretty much everyone has a year long wait list now.
We started by looking at Caldera (lower range of Hot Springs) and then compared them to Hot Springs at the dealers sister store. The price difference between the two wasn’t enough for us to not jump up to the Hot Springs and we have been very happy so far.
We also looked at Jacuzzi and American Whirlpool. They were all nice and seemed well built, but I thought the controls, hardware, and design of the Hot Springs was the best.
In the end, it seemed to mostly come down to the dealer we were most comfortable with that we thought would provide the best service if something went wrong.
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11-20-2020, 01:26 PM #193
This market has a huge opportunity for a direct-to-consumer option...
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11-20-2020, 03:11 PM #194
+1 exact same story with us. We got a 'end of year' discount when the new models were coming in. Got a good deal.
A good dealer is key - some parts will need replaced. A few parts on ours have blown (warranty) and they are always same day/next day service. Jake and his service team are great.north bound horse.
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11-20-2020, 03:20 PM #195
Im on heater #2, pump #3, double digit jet replacements, and just ordered the 3rd new cover. Refuse to pay anyone a "service fee" to come out and tell me its broke.
A hot tub is just another boat that does not move from the dock. Complete waste of money.
I love mine
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11-20-2020, 07:49 PM #196Registered User
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Fuck. What brand? Model?
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11-20-2020, 09:54 PM #197
Our refurbished hot springs vanguard has been breakdown free for a year now. We really like it. I highly recommend the refurbished route if you have a company in the area. The guy we bought it from finds high quality non-working hot tubs that are free or dirt cheap. Replaces the motherboard, maybe the pump and heater, headrests, etc. I think we paid $3750.
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11-21-2020, 06:47 AM #198Registered User
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If you go the used route or you ever let your tub turn green, this stuff will clean all the biofilm out of your pipes.
https://ahhsome.com
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11-21-2020, 07:02 AM #199"When the child was a child it waited patiently for the first snow and it still does"- Van "The Man" Morrison
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11-21-2020, 05:33 PM #200
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