Those of you that own Hot Tubs

[Razorhog]

The wife and I have been wanting a hot tub for a long time. We poured a concrete slab next to the deck, and had an electrician wire up a 220 circuit. That was 3 years ago...we were trying to get pregnant at the time and the doctor said a hot tub was a no-no. She is now pregnant with twins and will deliver within the next few weeks. So a hot tub might be back in the plans in the not too distant future. (although with twin boys it might be a while)
I don't see us having many hot tub parties, so a 4 person should be fine.

So, for those of you that own hot tubs - I'd like some feedback. What brand do you have, dos and don'ts, how often do you use the special features (and are fancy options even worth it) etc. Thanks!

[jmsremax]

My folks have a Thermospa and it is amazing. The tub has a 100 or so jets I believe. Don't been fooled with cheesy tubs that have 8-10 jets a seat and make sure the tub is insulated with insulation and not just foam or else you will never be able to do a repair. I can recall a neighbor coming over one night informing us that their hot tub sprung a leak and they couldn't fix it because the company they bought from used spray foam to insulate the tub. They called the company and the service guy had to chisel through the foam to fix the problem and then re-foamed the thing.

I am a big fan of benches (loungers) built into a hot tub. It's my favorite spot because I can lay across it. Good luck with the purchase. And as far as scents go....I was a fan of euctolyptus (sp) when sick. One other thing I don't recommend.....building a hot tub into the deck unless there is easy access to the mechanics of the hot tub.

[Razorhog]

Originally Posted by jmsremax

My folks have a Thermospa and it is amazing. The tub has a 100 or so jets I believe. Don't been fooled with cheesy tubs that have 8-10 jets a seat and make sure the tub is insulated with insulation and not just foam or else you will never be able to do a repair. I can recall a neighbor coming over one night informing us that their hot tub sprung a leak and they couldn't fix it because the company they bought from used spray foam to insulate the tub. They called the company and the service guy had to chisel through the foam to fix the problem and then re-foamed the thing.

I am a big fan of benches (loungers) built into a hot tub. It's my favorite spot because I can lay across it. Good luck with the purchase. And as far as scents go....I was a fan of euctolyptus (sp) when sick. One other thing I don't recommend.....building a hot tub into the deck unless there is easy access to the mechanics of the hot tub.

Thanks for the info. I've never heard of thermospa. Excellent info about the foam insulation, didn't think about that. I think a tub with a lounger for the wife and a chair for me would be best. Probably easier to keep a stogie dry while sitting in a chair

[floydpink]

I have a Jacuzzi and researched extensively before buying.

If it isn't jacuzzi, Hotsprings is the only other one I would buy.

Mine is a 4 seater with lounger and pop up stereo speakers and lighted waterfall, so it's pretty nice and sits on my patio and is used a few times a week.

I'll take a pic later.

[floydpink]

Forgot to mention, if you get a chiropractor or doctor to write "spa medically necessary", it is a tax deduction as well as the maintainance.

I hate chlorine and use bromine and the maintainance is pretty easy once you get into the routine.

The reason I wouldn't buy one of the other brands is because the jets are lame as well as the insulation and overall construction.

Again, get a Jacuzzi or Hotspring if you are gonna do it.

There is a web forum dedicated to info on buying a spa and if you google, "what's the best hottub", you should find it.

I spent a good amount of time on there before buying my Jacuzzi but haven't been back in years.

100 Jets? that is a bit surprising as my "therapy seat" has 14 and I am not aware of more than 20 or so per seat max.

Hotspring has a patented rolling massage jet that is really nice, but I have to brace myself in my therapy seat not to get blown out.

There are few better things than putting a good CD in the stereo, putting on the lights and looking up at the cigars in the spa with a good cigar.

I'll be doing just that in a few minutes.

Be very careful shopping as every salesman will naturally tell you their brand is the best but stuff like ABS or marine pressure treated wood base and internal plumbing aren't stuff you will know about until your base rots out.

Do what you want, save money if you want, but trust me when I say, Jacuzzi or Hotsprings are the cream of the crop in spas.

[Razorhog]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Forgot to mention, if you get a chiropractor or doctor to write "spa medically necessary", it is a tax deduction as well as the maintainance.

I hate chlorine and use bromine and the maintainance is pretty easy once you get into the routine.

The reason I wouldn't buy one of the other brands is because the jets are lame as well as the insulation and overall construction.

Again, get a Jacuzzi or Hotspring if you are gonna do it.

There is a web forum dedicated to info on buying a spa and if you google, "what's the best hottub", you should find it.

I spent a good amount of time on there before buying my Jacuzzi but haven't been back in years.

Thanks for the info, it looks nice! I actually know the Jacuzzi family - although they sold the business long ago, it is still a top notch brand.

[jmsremax]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Forgot to mention, if you get a chiropractor or doctor to write "spa medically necessary", it is a tax deduction as well as the maintainance.

I 100 Jets? that is a bit surprising as my "therapy seat" has 14 and I am not aware of more than 20 or so per seat max.

I guessed 100 but have a look for yourself. Their site says the tub can have 10 to 118 jets built into the Park Ave which is the exact one my folks have.

http://www.thermospas.com/hot-tubs/f...-hot-tubs.html

[Razorhog]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Forgot to mention, if you get a chiropractor or doctor to write "spa medically necessary", it is a tax deduction as well as the maintainance.

Very helpful, I bet I can talk my doctor into write a note

[BigAsh]

We have a jacuzzi as well....7-8 years old, moved it from one house to the new one....love it and has served us well...8 seater, there is ALWAYS more hot tub parties than expected....it has an ozonator which helps with sanitizing the water......I use Natur2, a mineral based sanitizer that you change every 4 months with a weekly non-chlorine shock treatment...use it year round though the winter is my favorite....the kids like it in the summer, jumping from the pool to the hot tub, back to the pool, etc. etc.....nice to sit and relax with a "shorty"

[floydpink]

An ozonator fan. There ya go. I have one but have never seen it do a whole lot but make bubbles.

I have heard great things about Nature2 and probably should try it. I always feel a little itchy from the chemicals although I try to keep them low to avoid taking too many chemical baths.

One of my first Jacuzzi experiences was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We were renting a house with one on the patio and kept a keg in the snow drifts and spent many night drinking and jumping from the spa into the snowdrifts, then back in the spa, which couldn't have been good for our bodies.

I knew I had to have one after that week.

I have a lot of friends with pools who hardly use them but have always used my spa.

It doesn't snow here but rarely, but one time when it did, I was in the hot tub.
Ozonators do work but need to be supplemented with bromine.
I'm looking to replace my hot tub now. There are free ones all the time on CL. Even with free gazebos. I can fix almost anything so I'm not worried about that. As long as it's structurally sound.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by BC-Axeman

There are free ones all the time on CL. Even with free gazebos.

That's the route we may take.

[14holestogie]

We bought a Down East MasterSpa a couple years back. 7 person, 4 pumps, maybe 50 jets, all adjustable for flow rate and direction.

I'm in agreement with floydpink, get something that's gonna "move" you.
All vinyl skirting, easy access to everything.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by 14holestogie

We bought a Down East MasterSpa a couple years back. 7 person, 4 pumps, maybe 50 jets, all adjustable for flow rate and direction.

I'm in agreement with floydpink, get something that's gonna "move" you.
All vinyl skirting, easy access to everything.

oops, I take back my earlier statement about only buying Jacuzzi or Hotspring.

Masterspa makes some awesome spas, and you could throw in Marquis to the mix as top manufacturers.

Masterspa had a dealer near me that went out of business a couple years ago and I stopped in with a friend who ended up getting a great deal on one.

All the fancy LED lighting and fancy grab rails look cool, as well as waterfalls, but count on them breaking within a couple years.

Also, make sure the spa is well sealed with no access through the skirting. I have read stories of guys opening them up and finding snakes and rodents living inside and plumbing destroyed by rodents. I sealed mine up as cottonmouths are common in my neck of the woods.