Preferred Hot Tub Brands

[BHopkins]

My wife and I are considering buying and installing a hot tub. This would be our first hot tub, so I'm researching the brands and features. From what I have researched so far, I'm leaning towards a Bullfrog. But with no experience, I really don't know what are the better brands.

I'm interested in hearing from any of you who have owned hot tubs, particularly if you are familiar with more than a single brand, and can offer a comparison. What are the most reliable? Are any particularly more energy efficient than others? What about durability?

 

[Tdbo]

I have owned two. First was a Vita Spa, the second was a Sundance.
There are several good brands. Hot Springs and Sundance are two of the best known.
Bullfrog has a good reputation, but does not seem to have the dealer network of the larger brands.
I'd say that the most important factor in selecting a spa (and brand) is dealer support.
My first, while a good tub, was problematic in the beginning. Dealer support made all the difference.
The Sundance had a sensor go bad under warranty. Other than that, it was problem free until I got rid of it last year.
The more energy efficient tubs are full foam inside the cabinet. That's all well and good until you are chiseling foam out of the cabinet if you have a plumbing issue.
As far as longevity, the Vita was still going when I got rid of it at 14 years. The Sundance was 16 when one of the motors went, and I decided not to repair it because I didn't use it enough to put a grand in it to keep it going, or close to two grand to do it right (both motors.) So, I got rid of it, and chose not to replace it.
If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.

 

[dishdude]

I have a 2014 Hot Spring Envoy, bought new in 2015. I had a lot of problems under the 5 year warranty and I was not impressed with the local or factory support, charging for service calls under warranty, etc.

Surprisingly it has been fine since the warranty ran out. I wouldn't buy this brand again.

This site about maintaining the water is mainly focused around the Hot Spring ACE system, but a lot of the info applies to all brands. I think other brands now offer a similar salt system.

https://acesaltcellreplacement.com/maintenance/

A lot of people go in thinking they want a lounge and then end up barely using it. I find the captain's chair in the Envoy to be far more relaxing than the lounge.

 

[MNgopher]

We had a CalSpa. Agree with nearly all of Tdbo's comments. The energy efficiency with the foam was nice - until it wasn't trying to solve leak issues. Ours made it about 15 years before we moved on with some larger repair bills looming. I would not purchase CalSpa again though...

Dealer support was decent here, until the local branch selling these went out of business - then it was a problem...

Other comment - if you drain it and keep it drained for a period of time, expect some leaks on the refill...

 

[BHopkins]

I hadn't considered the importance of dealer support. That's great advice. Fortunately, if I do select a Bullfrog, with Bullfrog being a Utah based company, there are quite a few dealers in my area.

Bullfrog sells pretty heavily that the frame of their hot tubs is some type of polymer, instead of wood or steel, making it impervious to rot or rust. I'm curious, has frame integrity been an issue for any of you?

 

[MNgopher]

No issues with the frame - mine was wood. Some issues with the exterior shell near the end of its life - these were also wood on the unit I had (predated a lot of the current synthetic materials that are used on these).

 

[Cropduster172]

Had two Jacuzzis... this was 20 years ago. First one actually came from Home Depot. Junk... definitely a case of corners cut and lower quality for sale at big box stores. It had a crack in the tub when delivered.
Went to a local dealer and bought one. Top quality and never had issues with it for 5 years or so before we sold it.

 

[Oey12]

My Jacuzzi brand has been great so far. I chose their particular brand because of the quality and power of pumps/tub vs a “fancy” looking tub with all bells and whistles that don’t effect performance.

Jacuzzi does have high end tubs with all the extras if you want. I want the best equipment for my price point. I research 4 other brands that were available in my area.

 

[shortyb]

Rather unconventional as hot tubs go, but have had 3 Softubs and really like them. They are marine vinyl covered rigid polyfoam and empty, weigh about 80lbs. The external pump/motor attaches to the tub and heat from the motor provides the water heat. Winter time with temps in the twenties the tub had no problem keeping water temps at 103F. Summer, when we don't use the tub, it gets emptied, cleaned, and rolled into the shed. Gives us another 40sq.ft. of deck space for my big fat sweaty grill.

 

[Cujet]

I had a nicely configured built in hot tub in my deck on a prev house. I enjoyed it as I could sit on the deck surrounding the raised hot tub. It was up about sitting height, perfect. However, the very shiny, green/blue thermoplastic material (probably sheet acrylic) the tub was made from did not hold up and cracked like crazy within a few years. Warranty covered the tub, and I put in the same style. As expected, the replacement started to crack within a few years.

(not my setup, just a pic to indicate material) The material looked like this: (Use caution as that stuff does not last more than 5-6 years)

My deck setup was raised like this, with about 3 feet of walking 'deck' around the hot tub, and a step below on only the entrance side. I liked it because I could sit on the edge and/or walk safely all the way around the edge of the tub. Sorry I could not find a better pic.

 

[repairman54]

I had a Hot Springs tub from '97 to '17. In that time I had to replace the circulator pump, not the jet pump, it just wore out. Ozone generator when out after 10 - 12 years and was replaced. Cover started to fall apart after 15 years.
Tub was in an unheated sunroom and in the last year it got a leak somewhere inside the foam insulation, a small seep type of leak, and not easily accessible to see or fix. That tub was never emptied for other than for water changes. Ran year round. Heater ran on 240v.
I gave it away to someone who was putting it outside.
If I was to get another tub it would be a Hot Springs. I had friends with other brands, can't remember which ones, but they didn't make it to 5 years without issues with any of them.

 

[Tdbo]

I hadn't considered the importance of dealer support. That's great advice. Fortunately, if I do select a Bullfrog, with Bullfrog being a Utah based company, there are quite a few dealers in my area.

Bullfrog sells pretty heavily that the frame of their hot tubs is some type of polymer, instead of wood or steel, making it impervious to rot or rust. I'm curious, has frame integrity been an issue for any of you?

Frame integrity is an issue the older they get.
I can't speak to the polymer on the Bulldog because they aren't a big brand around here.
I can tell you on the Vita that one of the biggest reasons that I got rid of it was that the skirt on it (wood) was becoming an issue. Besides having to stain it every year, the skirt itself was showing its age. The wood frame was solid as it was moved 2X after I got rid of it (Neighbor took it, then he passed it on later.)
The Sundance sat in place for the 16 years that I had it. If I had decided to keep it, I would have had to do some frame repair on it. Not anything structural, but there was some degradation at the base in one of the corners, and where the resin skirt screwed into it at that point.

 

[walterjay]

I have owned two different ones.

The first was Sundance. Never had a problem with it. Sold it around 8 years old as I got a good offer on it.

I currently have an American Whirlpool which is 7 years old. It is very nice. Not sure about dealer support for this one as my dealer closed. Never had a single problem with it.

I do not recommend Hot Springs. They are way over priced and I have heard a few negative things about them.

For good support I would recommend Jacuzzi or Sundance.

 

[BHopkins]

You have all given me quite a bit to consider. It sounds like there are a few brands that are reliable. I'm gathering that many brands are somewhat regional, selling better in certain parts of the country, and it may be just as important to find a brand that has good local support, as it is to find a reliable brand.

 

[walterjay]

Also be certain to get one deep enough to easily do your neck and shoulders.

Also get one that is highly insulated.

Be sure to sit in one and try it out. We found a couple models to be uncomfortable for us.

 

[Tdbo]

For good support I would recommend Jacuzzi or Sundance.

Sundance bought out Jacuzzi.
However for both value and quality, these two do seem to set the standard.