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How To Buy a Hot Tub
By Phil Callighan with Rick Phillips
A hot tub (also known as a “spa”) is one of the most pleasurable and versatile products
you can own. Whether you buy one for health/therapeutic reasons, socializing, intimate times or
family fun, you will enjoy your hot tub much more, and avoid disappointment, if you know what
to look for when buying one.
In general, there are two types of hot tubs: "Portable" or self-contained, and permanent or
in-ground. Most of the information provided here applies to the self-contained variety.
 Before diving into details, decide how many people you would like your hot tub to hold. When
friends and relatives visit, will you want to take turns enjoying your hot tub?
You should then identify where your hot tub will be located. Consider access to and from your
hot tub location, the level of privacy you desire and the view from your hot tub. What color of hot tub will
appeal to you and fit this setting?
Will it be located on a patio or deck? Inside your home? Will it fit through your door? If inside, will there be adequate air ventilation?
Is the structural strength of the floor adequate for the weight of the spa? Recognize that a typical 3-person hot tub weighs approximately 2,500
pounds when filled with water.
Will you have easy access to an electrical connection? What are the electrical
specifications of the hot tub? Will you be close to a garden hose or have another way to fill the
hot tub with water?
 Next, ask yourself what features are most important to you. Today, many hot tubs are
equipped with much more than pressurized water jets and comfortable seating. Many include cascading
waterfalls, colorful lighting, high-end audio systems and arrays of powerful water jets.
When shopping for a hot tub, visit dealers who have a working hot tub demonstration model, so you can
immerse yourself in the actual hot tub water and check it out. This is no time to be shy. If no working demonstration
model is available, you should sit in a dry hot tub in order to make comparisons.
For example, when sitting, the water should reach at least shoulder level; if it’s too low,
you won’t get the full hydrotherapy effect.
How does the hot tub fit your body? Rest your head against the cushioned neck rests.
Does your neck rest perfectly or are you hyper-extending to reach a neck rest?
As you inspect the features of a hot tub, examine the seating configuration. Are you able
to move about easily? Is there sufficient lumbar support to let you recline comfortably in the hot
tub? Are seats long enough from front to back to allow a taller person to get
their shoulders down into the water without slipping off the front edge of the seat?
 Do the water jets and jet systems allow you to customize your hydro-massage experience? Are they
giving you the massage effect you desire? How many of the water jets are adjustable? How loud are the jets and
pump?
Be cautious about the number of water jets in a hot tub. Lots of static jets might look good and seemingly
justify a higher price, but it’s more important to understand how the jets can be adjusted, what sort of pressure
they can deliver and if they can be aimed where you want them.
Now turn your attention to water quality. To keep the water in your hot tub clean and
clear, ask what chemicals the hot tub manufacturer suggests. In order to reduce the use of
chemicals in your hot tub, some manufacturers also recommend you buy an Ozone purifier to use
with your hot tub, and use with chemical-based sanitizers.
What sort of water filtration system is used? Filtration is a step-by-step process, so the
more steps in place, the more pure your water will be.
You should also consider the number of filters the hot tub uses. Some manufacturers
dedicate one filter solely to a 24-hour circulating pump and use a separate filter when the hot tub
is in use. Are the filters easily accessible for replacement?
What about the water pump?
In terms of performance, efficient plumbing, water jet design and flow control are all
more important than the pump’s horsepower. Beware of manufacturers emphasizing large, high horsepower
pumps. This is often a ploy to cover up design flaws.
A lower horsepower pump in an efficiently designed hot tub can often produce as much
or more jet power as a higher horsepower pump in an inefficiently designed hot tub.
 Better hot tubs feature small circulation pumps that continuously filter the water and
provide the necessary flow to allow the heater to constantly maintain the set temperature. Hot
tubs without circulation pumps rely on the low speed of a two-speed pump turning on
periodically to provide filtration, ozone injection and the flow required for heating.
Some premium hot tubs include more than two pumps to ensure adequate power for
hydrotherapy, features such as cascading waterfalls and continuous circulation.
Check the operation of the hot tub. Are the controls user-friendly, easy to operate and
easy to adjust? Is there a lock-out option if you have small children? Can you set custom filter
cycles? Can you adjust the controls from inside the tub?
Is the heating and filtration system fully automatic? Typically, the most
vulnerable component of any hot tub is the heater. Make sure corrosion will not occur.
Ask how the hot tub was constructed and ask about its energy
efficiency. Estimate your monthly operation costs. Depending upon how
they are engineered, some hot tubs may require significantly more electrical power
and have higher maintenance costs. Make sure the hot tub is totally insulated, not
just fully-foamed.
Because heat rises, the most important factor in trapping heat is the hot
tub cover. Most consist of two slabs of polystyrene foam encased in vinyl.
Check to make sure the cover seals uniformly against the top rim of the hot tub and where the two halves come together.
In the past, all cabinets or “skirting” surrounding the hot tub were made of wood.
However, today there are several high-quality synthetic materials that do not rot or degrade like
wood. These synthetic materials can extend the “new” look of your hot tub and virtually
eliminate cabinet maintenance. Some are UV resistant, too and will look new for many years,
even when subjected to lots of sunlight.
 Read the hot tub warranty thoroughly. Beware of the dealer who is
reluctant to provide you a copy. What spa parts are covered under the warranty and
for how long? Make sure the heater, surface/structure, components, tile and
skirt are included.
How does the manufacturer's warranty compare with other brands?
Make sure there are no undesirable limitations or exclusions. How long has
the manufacturer been in business? Are you certain the manufacturer will still be
around to make the warranty worthwhile?
Consider the dealer. Will the dealer give you the opportunity to immerse
yourself in a working demonstration model to check out the complete hot tub before you buy?
How long has the dealer been in business?
Will the dealer provide complete installation, including electrical connection with a
qualified electrician? Does the dealer employ their own installation and service people or are
they subcontracted?
Will the dealer be able to service your hot tub after its installed? Does the dealer carry
replacement parts? Chemicals?
Can the dealer give you customer names to call for references?
Finally, remember there is always a connection between the price you pay and the quality
of the hot tub you purchase. Paying a little more now could save you hundreds of dollars, maybe
thousands, in service calls and electricity in the future.
Top 5 Things to Know
1. Where will you install your hot tub? Check the structural strength of the floor or deck. Is there
easy access to electric power and a hose?
2. What sort of pump and filtration system comes with the spa? Does the spa also include an
Ozone purifier?
3. Does the spa fit your body well? Are the water jets adjustable to deliver the massage action
you desire?
4. What warranty comes with the spa? Is it for 100% coverage or is it pro-rated? Does it exclude
some items?
5. Can the dealer be counted on for complete installation, chemicals and service?
About the Authors:
Phil Callighan is Senior Account Executive and Marketing Director for Knorr Marketing
(www.knorrmarketing.com), a full-service advertising, marketing and PR agency headquartered
in Traverse City, Michigan. A member of the Public Relations Society of America, he is the
author of numerous how-to articles and case stories covering a wide variety of topics.
Rick Phillips is President of Phillips Lifestyles, Inc. the largest
retailer of hot tubs, fireplaces and billiards in northern Michigan.
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