Whats a good brand Spa?

[cgarr]

Its time! This is for outdoors and thru the winter months. Looking for a 4-5 person. The question too is do you recommend I go electric or natural gas for the heater? I am doing the install so it does not matter to me electric or gas, what ever is more reliable and cheaper to operate. I don't want to call yearly for service.

[jtkkz]

I have a Marquis spa...

the new ones now uses regular 110 outlet, works great. I think it only adds $10-15/ month

[Moses]

Around here the best reputation is Sundance Spas. Great quality. I've had mine for 10 years.

[rouxroux]

Also have not heard anything bad about those bilt by "Hot Springs"

[Rednine11]

hot springs is a good tub so is marquis and d-1. I had a baja for five years with no problems and I have a 425 gallon cal spa now. No problems with it either. Any of the major brands will give you years of trouble free service. I'd get something with twin water pumps plus air pump. 220 is a must. I'd avoid 110 units because the ones I saw wouldnt run the heater and the pump at the same time..I have a bad back and arthritis so the lounge is a must for me.


jtkkz...will your 110 marquis run the heater and pump at the same time? maybe the new ones are better?????

[kaisen]

Hot Springs is great! It spent its first few years indoors then the last few on a screened gazebo off our screened deck.

My in-laws have a 12 person Cal Spas that has been flawless for the last 7 years (outdoors) as well

When we bought the Hot Springs we did a lot of research and it appeared that many brands are regional. That makes it harder to compare

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Rednine11

I'd get something with twin water pumps plus air pump. 220 is a must. I'd avoid 110 units because they cant run the heater and the pump at the same time....

Agreed, do not buy a 110V unit. Some are wired for either 110V or 220V. Do 220V, even if it costs extra for an electrician to wire another sub-panel. Doing it right will be money well spent.

[Paul K]

+ 993 for Hot Springs.

Just for the heck of it, search for bullfrog. You can change out the jet packs.

[enzo1]

http://www.hot-tub-reviews.com/hot-spring-vista-review-2007.htm

[Rednine11]

I looked at some Bullfrog tubs a while back. I like them but dont know anyone who has had one. They looked like they were built to last

[Tim Hancock]

We had a huge 220V VitaSpa taking up nearly half of our garage for 12 years.... I replaced one heater and fixed a few leaks and went through three spa covers. I can count the number of times there were more than 2 people in it on both hands. We gave the spa to a friend and bought a small oval two person 110 spa which now allows us to park two cars in the garage again. Smaller spas are easier to move if desired and take less time to drain/clean/re-fill. Just my 2 cents.

[Rednine11]

Tim makes a good point. Mine is a tad over 7ft x 7ft so its outside, a smaller tub could be put in the house and would probably see more use.