Hot Tub FAQs

Q?What are reasonable hot tub prices?

A.

Hot tub prices can vary from a few hundred dollars for a blow up spa with a couple of jets to over $10,000 for a whiz-bang deluxe model with over 100 jets, LED lighting, sound system and even a tv!   The cost of hot tubs can quickly escalate with the addition of unnecessary bells and whistles.
Maybe it would be a good idea to leave the t.v. off! If you want to watch television, go in the house.  Especially with too many screens in our lives today, a little non-screen time is just what the eyes and brain may be craving.  Not having a television in the spa also means less repairs of an electronic item that is next to steam and water.

Q?What if something on the spa breaks?

A.

Our site will offer many hot tub repair tips to help troubleshoot hot tub problems.  It is always recommended to hire a hot tub repair technician when the work is above and beyond the expertise and comfort level of the individual – especially when working around electricity and water.  Hot tub accessories and parts are widely available for most models online.  We hope to offer information that will help your hot tub keep providing enjoyment for years to come.

Q?What are some of the best hot tub accessories?

A.

Some of the best hot tub accessories that are widely used on jacuzzis and spas are hot tub steps, cover lifters, spa fragrances, spare filters and also hot tub toys.  There are many accessories that create a functional and safe spa experience such as handrails, extra-thick winter covers and cover removing devices.  There are also accessories that are just fun, like the typical yellow floating duck.  Some spas require floating chemical dispensers, while others are setup to dispense sanitizer automatically or have the dispenser built into the filter compartment.

Accessorize and get the most out of hot tub use.  A spa umbrella or privacy screen can keep the hot sun or prying eyes of neighbors out without needing to enclose the spa in an entire gazebo.  Spa fragrances provide aromatherapy and help create a 4D hot tub experience.

Q?How do Hot Tubs work?

A.

Hot tubs originally were conceived as a hydromassage in warm water generated by a pump that moves the water through the spa plumbing and expels it through water jets.  Original wooden hot tubs were made of large barrels and today the high quality acrylic hot tubs are built to last and provide numerous massage alternatives through various placement of both static and moving massage jets.

The acrylic hot tub shell is a vessel that holds water to be pumped in a circular fashion in order to create a moving water massage.  The water pump has a suction fitting where water is sucked into the pump and a discharge fitting where the water is propelled by a spinning impeller out the discharge and through the plumbing to the jets.  Suction fittings at the bottom of the spa and in the filter are connected back to the suction intake of the pump and the process repeats.

Some pumps are two speed pumps, so on low speed they double as filter pumps to keep the spa water heated and filtered.  An electrical heater is used most of the time that is attached to the spa pack.  Low end spas may not have a heater and rely on the heat generated by the pump to heat the spa.

Q?What is the difference between a 110v and 230v hot tub?

A.

In North America and some other parts of the world that have 110 volt or 120 volt line service, hot tub ownership can be simplified by buying a plug and play spa. This is a type of hot tub that runs on the outlet power in a standard home. Some require a dedicated 20 amp plug, while others will work fine on a 15 amp plug.  These type of spas usually come with a GFCI cord with a ground fault circuit interrupter mounted directly to the power cord for safety as required.  The positive side of plug and play hot tubs is that they do not usually require an electrician to run a seperate line and hookup a new circuit breaker.  The disadvantage is that the power is limited and hence the heating wattage and capability of the spa. For locations in winter countries, plug and play spas may take longer to heat up, especially during cold weather. The more robust solution is a 220 volt hot tub installation that can power a higher wattage heater.

Q?Are there any hot tub cover tips?

A.

Hot tub covers should last 5-7 years depending on the ambient conditions and how they are handled.  We will share several tips on how to extend the life of a spa cover (such as drying out the inside panels in the case of a newly waterlogged cover). Having a cover removing device or cover lifter may help avoid sudden drops that can create tears in the inner lining and cause early waterlogging of the spa cover.  Clear off accumulating snow and debris from the cover to avoid pits developing in the core which can result in standing water puddles that progressively get larger and eventually create a nice feeding dish for ducks.

There are hot tub cover cleaning solutions but a little soap and water works just as well – just avoid too much soap that may make its way into the tub and cause foaming.

Q?What factors help the hot tub last longer?

A.

Hot tubs can last quite a long time if they are built from sturdy components.  The most important component is the hot tub shell material.

Cheaper hot tubs use vinyl, similar to a swimming raft, which can puncture and wear over time.  There are also a budget hot tub material that are plastics that may fade in the sun, warp and bend or even crack over time.  Most high end spas today use a high quality acrylic made by only two manufacturers:  Lucite acrylic and Aristech Acrylics.  Even having acrylic from one of these manufacturers is still not a guarantee there will be any blistering or cracking of the shell, so they sell various grades of acrylic to hot tub manufacturers.

The lower priced acrylic is a single layer sheet that requires the application of fiberglass backing by the manufacturer to provide support to the shell.  The more expensive grade of acrylic has an ABS plastic layer under the acrylic layer to provide for a thicker material.  A sign that a particular hot tub manufacturer is using the high quality ABS backed acrylic can be seen in the depth of their deepest spas.  The thicker the shell material begins as , the deeper the material will pull in a thermoformer to create the ultimate spa shell.

Other factors of hot tub longevity include the use of quality components, high quality cabinet material (nowadays  pvc cabinets outlast wood cabinets), and even how well the spa water chemistry is maintained by the owner.