I was going to post this in General Questions but this is probably a better spot.
I’ve recently been in the market for and have been researching hot tubs (residential).
I’ve found it to be so secretive and opaque. Unlike a new or used car you cant just look up their relative value. You cant decipher how much the dealers are making in profit whatsoever. They sort of remind me of mattresses. All different name brands, makes and models presumably to confuse the buyer.
Full disclosure: I just bought one. I haven’t had it delivered yet.
Consumer reports doesn’t have much on the topic and neither does Google.
Here’s what I’ve found as general rules of thumb:
You want a self supporting shell or “hull” meaning that there are no supports other than the tub itself.
You want parts that are obtainable by other than the manufacturer such as the jets.
You want stainless steel jets.
You want hoses that are not only glued but also clamped.
You want good electronics.
I did buy one but did not feel one bit of worry by the seller if I was actually going to buy. I do know how the one I bought is made. I have no idea if I’m paying the right (or average price). I have no idea how important any of the things I mentioned actually are.
So, does anybody have any advice at all to give me. I’m new to this world. I do know that with all of my past injuries and my wifes condition that it will certainly be something I’ll use. But I’m sure there are stories. Any and all would be appreciated folks… thank you.
We bought an inflatable one several years ago. We paid £300 for it three years ago and I reckon it has been out and used for about 30-40% of the weekends since then.
It is a big, deep pool of very hot, bubbly water. Does the job fine.
You want to put it in a spot where it won’t cause structural damage.Water weighs a lot, much more than anything else in your house, including possibly your car. My FIL was a structural engineer. People were constantly asking him whether they could install a hot tub in their bathroom/on their balcony/on their roof, and his answers almost always ranged from “no” to “*hell *no”.
I remember, probably 15 years ago, I was at a store that sold hot tubs. Now, I was there because they sold something unrelated, exercise equipment or pool tables or something. But while we were there (the now ex and I) we wandered over the hot tub area. We were brand new homeowners and figured we might as well take a look.
I remember it was like walking into a used car dealership. No straight answers on anything, everything was a sales pitch. “How much is one like this” would get an answer along the lines of ‘why don’t you come over to my desk and we’ll talk about it."
Couldn’t leave fast enough. I know there’s a bazillion options, but is it that hard to say "well that’s about $3500, plus/minus a few hundred depending on what you get with it’.
I bought a cheap Morgan brand in 2005, still going strong. Here’s my advice:
Install it in some way that allows easy entry/exit. Either pay for permanent steps, or (as we did) mount it sunken into the deck so it’s only a few feet high. In the 15 years we’ve had ours, my age went from 40s to 60s, and I’ve become much less stable climbing in and out. I’m thankful every time for the effort spent to make this easy.
Develop some easy way to remove/replace the cover singlehandedly. Either the spring loaded systems available with the tub, or some contrivance of your own. That thing gets heavier as you age, and I’d devise some method for easy handling. In my case, I’d built a deck for the tub and mounted it at the edge. I enclosed the deck in lattice work for some privacy, and left a long horizontal slot to slide the cover out over the yard. Outside are two hinged boards which swing down for the cover to rest on. This makes it simple to push it outward, then pull it back in when we’re done and climbing out.
Lastly, rodent control may become vital. They sometimes will chew the insulation which covers the hoses, puncturing them. This happened to my cousin and his tub was virtually destroyed before he stopped it. Many, many hours spent on his back replacing every hose. He developed a newfound affection for cats after this.
I’ve had a Softub since 1996. (We don’t bother with the wooden frame around it). Dealer delivers it, pops the parts together out on the deck where I want it, I fill it from a hose, and it’s ready to go. Check the chemicals and add Spaperfect enzymes, bromine tablets and something to adjust the pH upward once a week and it stays pristine. No plumbing, virtually no other maintenance. Motor/pump tuneup by the dealer every 5 or more years. Just a heavy duty electrical cord to power it. Doesn’t need much cleaning as long as I maintain it and add fresh water regularly, but when it does, easy to drain, tip on its side, and hose it out, and set it back down.
We use it year round. Winter use is the best! Our first two tubs each lasted over 10 years. We’re on our 3rd one now. We get the 6 person model, which comfortable accommodates 4, and is super comfy for just the Mrs. and me.
Thanks for the reply’s. For some reason I pictured them shorter than they actually are and hadn’t considered the fact that my wife and I are not so young and getting not so younger! She does have balance issues so after it’s installed I’ll try to come up with something better than the steps that come with it. I’m sure something more permanent with handholds maybe.
Reading the responses I feel like I might’ve put to much emphasis on how it’s built. I haven’t heard any stories of leaks or stress points causing fractures. But I guess that’s good. I’m so looking forward to getting the thing!
I agree. Totally a mystery! We bought the cheapest plastic shell bodied one from Sam’s Club sight unseen. It was plug and play and curbside delivery. We have no bells and whistles other than a color changing LED light (woot woot). We change the water every >6 months. We just like the warm water and sitting outside year round. It gets used 3-4xs per week, usually for an hour or two. We paid $1600 (including tax and delivery) and it meets all of our needs. It says four people- which would be uncomfortable unless you know them really well.
So I think everything beyond the bare minimum is an add on: we lose a degree every 30 minutes when it is in use as the heater can’t keep up (only 110V). It has just a round bench seat and no reclining positions. The jets just recirculate the water- no message there. We had to install the clips ourselvs to hold the lid down. We’ve absolutely gotten our money’s worth out of it and would buy it again, but it will make you reluctant to ever use a public hot tub or pool again as you will understand how much effort is required to keep the levels under control- and you know they aren’t keeping up at the Super 8.
Disheavel, I’m encouraged by your post about heat loss. That’s another thing, they advertise how much these things will cost per month but that’s just like a car. It depends on how you use it I guess. 1 degree per half hour doesnt seem unreasonable to me.
I get delivery of mine tomorrow (Thursday) so I’ll report back on what I think although it’ll be too soon to have an opinion on much. Fingers crossed.
Okay, so I got mine. I’m in utter love with it. We got it Thursday and I think I’ve used it around 12 times. A couple times a day, even in the rain. I’m not a hot tub guy but i guess I am now.
Have had two. First one, bought the tub and gas heater (propane), and the various pipes, jets and parts and assembled it myself. About $2K altogether. Used it daily while building a house, it was a life saver for sore muscles at the end of the day. The second was given to me by a friend who just wanted it out of his yard because he never used it. It had an electric heater, and electricity is expensive in CA, so I bought another gas heater and installed, total cost about $1k. I would look around for a good used one if I were you. Many people buy 'em and then get bored when they find out there’s some labor and electricity/gas cost involved, and they just want to get rid of them.
Neighbor donated one to us. I stripped it for parts, but the tub was still in good shape. Put an ad on craigslist, someone came almost immediately and loaded it on their truck and took it away.
If you’re putting it outside, what is the field mouse situation near you? I didn’t realize for years, until dismantling an old hot tub, that mice were using the insulated shell as a warm winter refuge. Again, it wasn’t a real problem because I had no clue it was even happening. Also, hard water is hell on the jets and little moveable plastic parts. Keep the water conditioned as per direcitons.
Before mine was delivered I poured a reinforced concrete pad in the yard where the tub would go. Today I still have the tub which doesn’t work, and I have no idea how to get rid of it. My solution was to buy a sawzall.
