My little Bride is requesting one for the back yard area. Could use some advice, size, type...extras. And for those that have one, do you use it much? Worth the time and money? Thanks.
Hot tub
- Thread starter Cowboy918
- Start date
Get one with some sort of self sanitizer. I have an older tub with an ozonator. THIS IS HUGE! It keeps the tub sanitized as long as you only use it 2-3 times a week. There is very little need for sanitizing chemicals if you have this. I used to forget to add chlorine for a week and it would get nasty. Newer tubs probably have some newer version of this. Also, the different colored LED lights are a nice option to have. If yours has a timer on the jets, make sure its either adjustable or lasts for at least 30 minutes.
You will want privacy so make sure you have a fence if you have neighbors close. Best time to use is in the fall and winter when its starting to get cold. We never use ours during the summer when its hot. Hot Spring used to be the Cadillac of spas but that may have changed recently.
The higher end tubs require 220 volts. You will probably have to do some electrical work to get your tub hooked up. Hire someone to move it for you. I have always moved mine but the last one weighted 900 lbs empty. It took 6 people to get it from the truck to its final resting place. The guy I bought it from had to use a crane to reach over his house to lift it out of the backyard and set it on my truck.
Get one big enough for at least 4 people and preferably 6. Whether you have other people in it with you at the same time is immaterial. You will want the extra space. A 2 seater is not big enough.
You will want privacy so make sure you have a fence if you have neighbors close. Best time to use is in the fall and winter when its starting to get cold. We never use ours during the summer when its hot. Hot Spring used to be the Cadillac of spas but that may have changed recently.
The higher end tubs require 220 volts. You will probably have to do some electrical work to get your tub hooked up. Hire someone to move it for you. I have always moved mine but the last one weighted 900 lbs empty. It took 6 people to get it from the truck to its final resting place. The guy I bought it from had to use a crane to reach over his house to lift it out of the backyard and set it on my truck.
Get one big enough for at least 4 people and preferably 6. Whether you have other people in it with you at the same time is immaterial. You will want the extra space. A 2 seater is not big enough.
Yeah, I built a frame out of light 2" square tubing to catch the cover and hold it in position to flip back onto the tub.
I was going to say tho, NOT to buy a big one unless you envision parties with the tub as the main attraction. Ours holds 8 and I don't know seven people I want to get into a hot tub with. Plus it's just that much more to clean and more water to heat.
It was part of the pool package and we got a great price, but now, 14 years later, my wife wishes we'd fill in the pool get a smaller hot tub.
Repeat after me: "I'll never make her happy; I'll never make her happy, I'll never make..."
My wife is a pain sufferer so she uses it all the time. I use it outside of summertime. We have had a Hot Springs Vanguard since 2004. Only issue has been a burnt out control board that I replaced myself.
I have not kept up with new models, but Hotsprings used to have a 110v model that could only run heat or jets, not both. I would never do that. 220V models are the way to go.
They sell a simple metal U shaped pole that attaches to the hot tub with hinges that lets the top fold over and hang over one side of the spa that is easy to use. Hotsprings has filters that can be cleaned in the dishwasher. I would get these. An ozone type of system will reduce chemicals, but even without one, an ion system with MPS does not stink at all. Only minimal chlorine required regardless of the system (after heavy use, etc.).
I put mine on a concrete pad. Wood or synthetic decks have to be reinforced significantly. You will have to trench conduit to the spot so take that into consideration. The 220V line will run to a subpanel that you will need to mount. We purchased new which included delivery and setup, but, the wiring is not included. The hot tub people did make the final connections.
The model we purchased sits 5 and can squeeze in 6. I like the room of this size even though it is one or two of us using it. While we use jets when we first get in, most of the time we have them off. We have LED lighting with multi colors. Used it when we first got it, don't really use the lights anymore. They had a stereo option but honestly we prefer quiet.
At the time, the two that I considered were Hot Springs and Dimension One. Your local dealer needs to be a good one. We had a good Hot Spring dude (though he pissed me off later) and no Dimension One dealer so we went with Hot Springs. While you can buy chemicals and generic stuff at an pool or spa place, a good local dealer is nice to have for repairs, questions, parts, etc.
Most all of the spa places have demos set up that you can get in that are filled. We did not do that, but we did sit in several models. For us, we did not like lounge seating. Lounges take up a lot of space, so make sure you want one.
Our ion cartridges last three months or four (can't remember). A garden hose attaches to the tub to drain it. Once drained, it you really only need to wipe it down with a non-soapy cleaner, clean the filters which is hardest part (and why I recommend the dishwasher ones), and refill with a new cartridge. Really not a big deal.
I have not kept up with new models, but Hotsprings used to have a 110v model that could only run heat or jets, not both. I would never do that. 220V models are the way to go.
They sell a simple metal U shaped pole that attaches to the hot tub with hinges that lets the top fold over and hang over one side of the spa that is easy to use. Hotsprings has filters that can be cleaned in the dishwasher. I would get these. An ozone type of system will reduce chemicals, but even without one, an ion system with MPS does not stink at all. Only minimal chlorine required regardless of the system (after heavy use, etc.).
I put mine on a concrete pad. Wood or synthetic decks have to be reinforced significantly. You will have to trench conduit to the spot so take that into consideration. The 220V line will run to a subpanel that you will need to mount. We purchased new which included delivery and setup, but, the wiring is not included. The hot tub people did make the final connections.
The model we purchased sits 5 and can squeeze in 6. I like the room of this size even though it is one or two of us using it. While we use jets when we first get in, most of the time we have them off. We have LED lighting with multi colors. Used it when we first got it, don't really use the lights anymore. They had a stereo option but honestly we prefer quiet.
At the time, the two that I considered were Hot Springs and Dimension One. Your local dealer needs to be a good one. We had a good Hot Spring dude (though he pissed me off later) and no Dimension One dealer so we went with Hot Springs. While you can buy chemicals and generic stuff at an pool or spa place, a good local dealer is nice to have for repairs, questions, parts, etc.
Most all of the spa places have demos set up that you can get in that are filled. We did not do that, but we did sit in several models. For us, we did not like lounge seating. Lounges take up a lot of space, so make sure you want one.
Our ion cartridges last three months or four (can't remember). A garden hose attaches to the tub to drain it. Once drained, it you really only need to wipe it down with a non-soapy cleaner, clean the filters which is hardest part (and why I recommend the dishwasher ones), and refill with a new cartridge. Really not a big deal.
