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Location: Mechanicsburg, PA {weekdays} / Lewes, DE {weekends}
Posts: 64
Hot Tub Purchase
Looking to purchase our first hot tub. Visited a couple dealers and many have used tubs they have taken on trade which come with a warranty. The tubs are 1/2 the price of new tub and may not have the latest & greatest features, but I don't want to watch t.v. in the hot tub. Anybody have experience purchasing a used hot tub from a dealer?
If you are going used, buy one of the top brands, I think you'll be happy. Dealer remans are pretty common and not a bad thing although I would definitely try to pay 50% or less. It is also worth scouring the classifieds + craigslist. You will find all kinds of junk under $1000 but because there are so many out there sometimes you will stumble across newer high end models in the $750-2000 range. I bought a used hot springs from an individual for about 80% off list, and it really is a very well made piece of equipment.
If you are going used, buy one of the top brands, I think you'll be happy. Dealer remans are pretty common and not a bad thing although I would definitely try to pay 50% or less. It is also worth scouring the classifieds + craigslist. You will find all kinds of junk under $1000 but because there are so many out there sometimes you will stumble across newer high end models in the $750-2000 range. I bought a used hot springs from an individual for about 80% off list, and it really is a very well made piece of equipment.
The TV's and gizmos are overrated, expensive, and prone to failure.
Things to look for in a hot tub:
1) 220V - Stay away from the 110 ones.
2) Number of seats - six upright seats trump 3 seats and a lounger. I would never buy one with a lounger, even though that was originally a selling point for me.
3) Jets - I don't care how many, but the whizzbang moving jets are the ones that break. The plain simple ones seem to last. While I wouldn't dismiss one with fancy jets, they don't impress me any more.
4) Cover - You want a thick pad with an easy open cover. Usually its some sort of bracket so you can open and retract the cover with one hand. This will increase your hot tub usage. We are all lazier than we will admit.
5) Skip the idea of keeping it at a reduced temperature and only increasing it when you are going to use it. You'll use about $30 a month to keep it at 100 degrees all the time, and it will see far more use than if you have to remember to turn it up.
6) Shell color - White or pearl will quickly show dirt. I prefer ones with a darker color and a pattern.
7) Brand name is important. The control board died on mine. Twice. The first was covered under warranty back in 2000, and the second one went in 2009. when it died, I called the place where I bought it and they came out and put a new one in. IF I bought a no name, I would be concerned about parts 5 years down the road.
We looked at brand new tubs for 7k and almost got one. Then one day we saw an old (probably at least 10 years) Hot Springs tub on craigslist. Only things wrong with it were faded wood paneling and a small leak. Got it for 500, restained it and fixed the leak. It has worked great for a year now. I am extremely glad I did not drop 7k on a new one.
For what its worth.....Craigslist always has several that are going for free. Yes some say either a jet or mother board are junk however I have noticed a few where they have been put in by a tennant who has since left and the landlord just wants it out...or a new home owner who doesn't want the upkeep immediately upon moving in
A hot tub came with the house when I bought it. I have had a few things go on it, but I have been able to easliy fix it myself. I wouldn't buy new, also this could be wrong, but I believe hot springs parts are expensive and hard to find. You should check on that.
A hot tub came with the house when I bought it. I have had a few things go on it, but I have been able to easliy fix it myself. I wouldn't buy new, also this could be wrong, but I believe hot springs parts are expensive and hard to find. You should check on that.
A couple comments:
- Everything I looked at on Craigslist for $500 or under was absolute trash. Most of them were not even worth the effort to pick up, even if they were in perfect working order which they never were. HOWEVER, there were a few in the $750 range that were worth seeing, and once you were looking at the $1k-2k range, that's where the better brands that were $7-10k new started showing up.
- Moving a used tub IS a challenge, sometimes local shops will pick up, move, and set up a tub for a "reasonable" fee. (somehow 2 of us muscled it only a boat trailer and got it dumped into my yard, but took 6 of us to position it the last 10 feet onto the slab) Dry weight I think was 550 lbs or so but the size and lack of handholds makes it a difficult and somewhat dangerous job.
- Hot springs parts are not expensive or hard to find. I added an ozonator to mine and replaced the pillows for very reasonable prices. I am NOT someone who believes in paying top dollar for top of the line - I'd rather get value for my money - but after working on this used HS tub a bit the quality is definitely there. Sort of like a weber grill, once I got one of those I coudln't believe the other crap I used to fool with. I don't believe HS is the only brand to buy, but I think it's in the top 3 and worth a look. HS also changes their models pretty infrequently, so parts for a 6 year old tub may be just as easy to come by as those for a 1 year old tub.
- The people on the spa forum I referenced above will tell you the most important thing is to "wet test" the tub. I think this is a good rule if you can manage it. I will admit that in my particular model tub I really only prefer sitting in 2 of the 6 seats, but the price was right so I bought it without a test.
I agree with what Bruce said. You can find lots of used hot tubs on Craig's List for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Buying a new hot tub is a total waste of money in my opinion. My brother in law spent $5,500 on a new hot tub about 5 years ago. He doesn't have a pot to piss in but he had to have this hot tub. They used it the very first year and since then it has not been used. I bet the cover hasn't been taken off of the thing for 3 years. I can't imagine what the inside of it must look like since they never drained the water out of it, never put any chemicals in it, but kept the heater running for probably 2 years. The algae is probably so thick you would have to chisel it off.
Buy a used inexpensive tub from Craig's List, install it and see how often you use it. If you are different than everyone I know that has a hot tub and actually use it regularly, then go buy a new one. If not, you won't be out much money since you didn't pay much for the used one. These things depreciate more than a computer. You pay $5k for one and within 2 years it's almost worth nothing.
- Everything I looked at on Craigslist for $500 or under was absolute trash. Most of them were not even worth the effort to pick up, even if they were in perfect working order which they never were. HOWEVER, there were a few in the $750 range that were worth seeing, and once you were looking at the $1k-2k range, that's where the better brands that were $7-10k new started showing up.
- Moving a used tub IS a challenge, sometimes local shops will pick up, move, and set up a tub for a "reasonable" fee. (somehow 2 of us muscled it only a boat trailer and got it dumped into my yard, but took 6 of us to position it the last 10 feet onto the slab) Dry weight I think was 550 lbs or so but the size and lack of handholds makes it a difficult and somewhat dangerous job.
- Hot springs parts are not expensive or hard to find. I added an ozonator to mine and replaced the pillows for very reasonable prices. I am NOT someone who believes in paying top dollar for top of the line - I'd rather get value for my money - but after working on this used HS tub a bit the quality is definitely there. Sort of like a weber grill, once I got one of those I coudln't believe the other crap I used to fool with. I don't believe HS is the only brand to buy, but I think it's in the top 3 and worth a look. HS also changes their models pretty infrequently, so parts for a 6 year old tub may be just as easy to come by as those for a 1 year old tub.
- The people on the spa forum I referenced above will tell you the most important thing is to "wet test" the tub. I think this is a good rule if you can manage it. I will admit that in my particular model tub I really only prefer sitting in 2 of the 6 seats, but the price was right so I bought it without a test.
You're looking in the wrong sections....I said FREE It's a crap shoot but one ad up this way talked about needing it removed and the only way it could go out was the way it came in via a pick with a 100' reach crane.
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA {weekdays} / Lewes, DE {weekends}
Posts: 64
We visited the local builders show and looked at many tubs. Everyone says theirs is the best. Does anyone have any input or knowledge about Nordic tubs? The one local dealer is pushing a brand call Dynasty for around 7K. They also just took in a used Coleman tub which is manufactured by Max. They have it on the rack with all the sides off and water testing it. I saw no leaks and believe it can be bought for 3K including a new cover, cover assist and steps. It does not have LED lighting or a radio, but has two pumps and is great shape. I know they are making much more profit on this used tub but in the back of my head - what can I do with the 4K I saved? The tub would come with a 90 warranty.
The TV's and gizmos are overrated, expensive, and prone to failure.
Things to look for in a hot tub:
1) 220V - Stay away from the 110 ones.
2) Number of seats - six upright seats trump 3 seats and a lounger. I would never buy one with a lounger, even though that was originally a selling point for me.
3) Jets - I don't care how many, but the whizzbang moving jets are the ones that break. The plain simple ones seem to last. While I wouldn't dismiss one with fancy jets, they don't impress me any more.
4) Cover - You want a thick pad with an easy open cover. Usually its some sort of bracket so you can open and retract the cover with one hand. This will increase your hot tub usage. We are all lazier than we will admit.
5) Skip the idea of keeping it at a reduced temperature and only increasing it when you are going to use it. You'll use about $30 a month to keep it at 100 degrees all the time, and it will see far more use than if you have to remember to turn it up.
6) Shell color - White or pearl will quickly show dirt. I prefer ones with a darker color and a pattern.
7) Brand name is important. The control board died on mine. Twice. The first was covered under warranty back in 2000, and the second one went in 2009. when it died, I called the place where I bought it and they came out and put a new one in. IF I bought a no name, I would be concerned about parts 5 years down the road.
I agree, if you are going to flush mount it with a deck i would opt for the hard cover it will pay for itself in the long run.
I am on my 3rd cover for our hot tub in 9 yrs, this last time we went with an inflatable type made out of Sunbrella called Spa Cap and it has held up better than all the others
Ours is a Leisure Bay and only problem I have ever had was a pump broke and water leaked down to low in summer time and heater overheated and burned up.
Parts were simple to find at Factory Rec Warehouse but I also saw other outlets on the net, our pool guy was able to repair everything for $200 plus I bought the parts.
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I have a leisure Bay Hot tub, it is 220, and paid $3500 new, it will seat easily 4 people who like each other, the company I bought it from supposedly gave me a life time warranty on it, but we will see if that is true, I think they must own part of Leisure Bay company. This was my second spa, so I knew a little about them and how to fix them if necessary. The only thing I do not like about the leisure bay spa is the cover, it really sucks and may not last too long, but they sell them cheap at times.
I looked at a use hot springs tub in almost new condition, and they are very good along with coleman, but the hot springs or the one I looked at had a really strange electrical system using both 110 and 220.
__________________ If you think Education is expensive, try ignorance.
The Hot Springs model you looked at is probably the "Prodigy". That tub can be used with 110 or 220. You just need to tell them what you plan to use(110 or 220) and they will set it up that way.
The Hot Springs model you looked at is probably the "Prodigy". That tub can be used with 110 or 220. You just need to tell them what you plan to use(110 or 220) and they will set it up that way.
Nope, even the company who had it on a trade, said that part of it was 110, maybe the radio or computer hookup LOL, and the other part, heater etc was 220, what do I know.
__________________ If you think Education is expensive, try ignorance.
It's a "weird" system just like an electric clothes dryer. The control circuits, lights and any of the "gizmo" accessories are 120; the heater is 240 and the pump will usually be 240 also.
Hot Tub Purchase 
It's a crap shoot but one ad up this way talked about needing it removed and the only way it could go out was the way it came in via a pick with a 100' reach crane. 
