The Seven Hot Tub Buying Mistakes!
The Seven Hot Tub Buying Mistakes!
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The Seven Hot Tub Buying Mistakes! This consumer information report is designed to help educate you about the seven common mistakes every consumer should know when shopping for the “right” hot tub. This free report will arm you with just the right facts and information you need to know to make a smart hot tub purchase. Avoiding The Seven Deadly Hot Tub Buying Mistakes Will Help Prevent...
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What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You. The Seven Hot Tub Buying Mistakes Revealed. Mistake #1: Focusing on price versus long-term efficiency and satisfaction. There they are. These are mistakes that consumers have made over and over again. This report will help you to overcome each one of the seven mistakes and avoid them so that you can get the best hot tub value for your money. Let’s get going!
Mistake #1 Focusing on price versus long-term efficiency and satisfaction.
4. Filtration Pump - Some manufacturers use one large jet pump for filtration and Hydrotherapy cycles. Others use filtration systems that come with a small filtration pump, which is dedicated to pumping water through the filters and ozone and heating systems. Using the small filtration pump greatly reduces the wear and tear on the large jet pump while reducing overall electricity costs and excessive noise. Finally, there’s nothing worse than sitting in your hot tub, wishing you had purchased the options that you really wanted, knowing that if you had just invested a few more dollars you could have had the type of hot tub you really wanted in the first place. Consider making the necessary up front investment to get what you really want, then sit back, relax, and enjoy your hot tub for years to come, knowing that you made a good investment. |
Mistake #2
Not Investigating the Structural Integrity of the Hot Tub.
The hot tub shell and the outer cabinetry are areas of the hot tub that often get overlooked because, to the average person, they all look and act the same. Yes, the hot tub shell and cabinetry both come in different colours and textures, but most shoppers would consider these preference decisions and not anything that makes one hot tub “better” than another.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Just ask anyone who had a hot tub shell crack on them or had their cabinetry start to fade, rot and chip away.
Hot Tub Shell - The hot tub shell in most cases is very durable and most come with long or even lifetime warranties. About 90% of all hot tub shells are made of acrylic or thermal plastic, which are both very durable.
Under the acrylic shell you usually find fiberglass. To make sure the bond between the acrylic and the fiberglass is sturdy, your hot tub should use a vinyl ester resin skin coat or a bond laminate.
This provides a triple-layer shell that will provide extra support to the areas of the hot tub that hold a lot of weight and protect from cracking, peeling, blistering, or delamination.
Cabinetry - Early Generation hot tubs were traditionally made out of redwood or cedar due to their inherent durability. However, most new hot tubs are being manufactured with synthetic cabinets.
In fact, manufacturers of better-built hot tubs have invested significant engineering resources to ensure that these synthetic cabinets are superior in durability and impervious to various weather conditions such as extreme heat, cold or UV rays. These quality synthetic cabinets are virtually maintenance-free. The cabinetry is not just there to look pretty. Sometimes it is part of the structural support that holds and balances the weight of the hot tub. Make sure your hot tub has various support beams that extend from the lip of the hot tub and the seat of the hot tub to the floor.
If your hot tub is made out of wood, make sure it is high quality wood. Look for any knots or splintering. How the wood is treated can make a big difference on how long it lasts. Make sure the wood is “kiln-dried” preventing it from warping or cracking. In addition, ensure that it is treated with a UV protectant stain so that it will be protected from snow & rain, but more importantly from UV rays, which are more damaging than snow, rain and heat put together. One last thought about the cabinetry; make sure that the underside of the hot tub is well sealed so moisture, pests, and rodents don’t get into your insulation and plumbing.
Mistake #3 Under estimating the amount of required Hot Tub Maintenance. |
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Chemicals - First let’s explore the myth of chemical maintenance. Many hot tub retailers will insist that you always maintain the correct chemical levels in the hot tub at all times and you will need to check it every time you use your hot tub. In reality the retailer is just trying to sell you a lot of chemical and supplies that you don’t need.
More chemicals are not necessarily better!
Filtration - Filters help to cleanse your hot tub of body oils, lotions, hair sprays etc. Hot Tub filters require cleaning which can be a hassle. However, a quality hot tub will have a filtration system that filters both the top of the water
and the bottom of the hot tub. Be sure to choose the hot tub that has a pressurized filtration as opposed to a suction side filter. Pressure side filter clean 100% of the water in only 15 minutes as opposed to suction side filters that can take up to 4 hours to do the same.
Draining - Most manufacturers recommend draining and cleaning your hot tub no more than three to four times per year depending on how well you maintain it.
It can take an average hot tub @ 4 – 10 hours to drain through a gravity drain and even when it gets to the bottom there is still 4 – 6” of water left in the bottom that still needs to be bailed out. Look for a hot tub that makes this process simple.
Exterior - The hot tub cover needs to be well treated in order to repel water and withstand the elements. Don’t be led into thinking this is a major task. All you have to do is spray your cover with a water repellent every 2-3 months.
Mistake #4 Not selecting the right therapeutic jet structure. If you have upper back pain and the hot tub you buy doesn’t have a jet structure that helps you with that particular problem, then there is no use having the hot tub. Also, if the jet structure isn’t flexible enough to adapt to the type of massage you want, you’ll always receive the same old massage over and over again, make sure you buy a hot tub that has different seats and different massages. Wet Testing - Is physically getting into the hot tub to test it while filled with water. At the very least, dip your hand in the hot tub to feel the strength and pattern of the hot tub jets. This will give you an idea of the massage given by that particular jet. Make sure that... Water jets - Water jets are those small holes where the water comes out. Directional Jets - a direct, non-rotating water stream, which is the most basic of all jets. |
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Seating - Seating is a big factor in your quest for the right hydrotherapeutic massage. The seats in your hot tub should have lumbar support so that you don’t have to slouch down like you do in your bathtub. The water should at least touch your shoulders, if it doesn’t you’ll never get the hydrotherapy benefits you’re looking for. If the hot tub you are looking at has a lounge seat, make sure it is deep enough to allow you to get the full hydrotherapy benefits offered. Some lounge seats are so shallow that you float instead of getting a massage. Also, make sure the fixed jets on the hot tub are hitting the right places on your body to get a good muscle tissue massage.
Aromatherapy - A relatively new option in some hot tubs is the option to have a light fragrance injected into the air jets that provide different sensations. Some aromas provide a relaxing and calming mood while other provides a more invigorating experience.
Noise - Although noise has nothing to do with the jet structure, it has everything to do with your overall hot tub experience. The pumps are a big cause of hot tub noise. You’ll find that these hot tubs can become quite annoying when trying to speak to your partner, or anyone else, for that matter.
Mistake #5
Not taking into consideration where you will be placing your hot tub.
Do you want a hot tub purchasing nightmare? Go buy a hot tub without considering where you will place it. Then when the installers bring it over to install it in your home you will have your nightmare!
You must decide where you are going to put your hot tub before you go shopping. If your hot tub will be placed outside, make sure that it isn’t in a low area that may get flooded during a heavy storm.
Don’t put it in or around any sand. If sand gets into the hot tub it can cause serious damage.
Make sure that the surface is firm and level, preferably on a flat, concrete slab.
If you are planning to have a hot tub installed on a patio or deck, have a structural engineer inspect the deck to ensure it can support the weight of the hot tub filled with water and people.
An average four person hot tub weighs around 5000 pounds when full.
Mistake #6
Over looking the importance of the warranty.
The types of warranties that you will see when shopping for your hot tubs will include the following areas:
Shell Structure - Warrants against water loss due to defects in the hot tub shell. (average warranty period is one to ten years)
Shell Surface - Warrants the interior surface of the hot tub against blistering, peeling, cracking, and delamination. (average warranty period is one to 5 years)
Leaks - Warrants against the loss of water due to defects in the fittings and plumbing lines. (average warranty period is one to three years)
Equipment - Warrants the hot tub electronic controls and pumps against mechanical or electrical breakdown, including parts and labour. (average warranty period is one to three years)
When you inspect your warranty, make sure that it covers each of these areas, including leaks.
One of the “fine print” items that some hot tub retailers don’t divulge is that the warranty may be ‘pro-rated’ from day one meaning that you pay a certain percentage of the cost to fix it and the retailer will pay a percentage of the cost to fix the hot tub. Make sure that you get a “full-warranty”.
Mistake #7
Not choosing a reputable dealer and manufacturer. Beware of the Hot Tub & Swimspa EXPO.
The technique is used by several manufacturers as a travelling road show to sell excess inventory in a quick and misleading fashion. All advertisements bill the expo as having 8 major brands on display, the reality is that it is one supplier with some false advertising.
The old saying applies here “If the deal is too good to believe…it usually is”.
Choosing the right dealer is as important as choosing the right hot tub. You are beginning a long-term relationship. You want to purchase your hot tub from a dealer that is honest, sells a high quality hot tub, has been in business for a while, and has a solid warranty. Anything less could spell disappointment. The best way to judge a good dealer is to talk to some of their customers. Ask the dealer for permission to contact a few of their customers to discuss with them their experience.
When you visit other dealers, ask them about the last dealer you just visited, Ask them about the hot tubs that their competition carries that you’ve already visited. More than likely, they’ll bring up some interesting points that you’ll want to verify.
Glossary Of Terms (For the Hot Tub Beginner)
You’ll find out very quickly that hot tubs have their own language. Bromine, ozonator, acidity, skimmer, pull valves, uprate and water jets are all terms that most consumers have never heard of; however, each is important to understand to make an informed hot tub decision. So let’s start by clarifying some potentially confusing terms you will
hear while shopping for your hot tub.
Horsepower Rating
The amount a hot tub pump delivers while in operation. Two types of horsepower ratings are “continuous operating” and “brake” (also called marketing horsepower). Continuous operating is the amount of horsepower the motor produces while in operation and brake horsepower is the amount of horsepower the motor produces on start-up before dropping to its continuous operating rate. Uprated Hp is the amount of horsepower given off during the start-up, which lasts only for a couple of minutes. The maximum horse power of any hot tub pump is 4 hp as it is impossible to run anything bigger on a home electrical panel.
GPM - Gallons of water per minute, which is a measurement of the amount of water a hot tub pump can push per minute.
Ozonator - A water care system that neutralizes water contaminants using ozone.
Shell - The structural layer of the hot tub usually made out of a combination of acrylic, resin, and fiberglass.
Jetting - A system in which water surges through small water jets. The jets create different swirling actions that deliver various massaging sensations.
Hydromassage - The water jet action and air together to create different massaging sensations depending on the type of hot tub jetting system.
Filtration - The water cleansing process that takes place when water passes through the hot tub’s filter.
Skimmer - Part of the filtration system that sucks in surface water where such as body lotion, hair spray, and body oils float.
Dead Air Hot Space - The hot space between the hot tub shell and the cabinet that is left open and does not contain insulation.
Thermostatic Controls - Electronic controls that maintain the temperature of the hot tub at a pre-set level.
Wet Testing - Testing the hot tub before purchase by physical getting a into demonstration model hot tub that is filled with water.
Plumbing - The fittings and lines (pipes) through which the hot tub water circulates.
Heater Element - The electrical element that provides heat to the hot tub water.
Hot Tub Cover - The removable cover that provides heat insulation and weather protection.
Air Controls - Controls that adjust the amount of air flow to various jets.
Filtration Pump - A small energy efficient pump that moves water through the filters, ozone and heating system.
Brominator - Dispenses the chemical bromine in the hot tub water for purification purposes.