How to Buy a Quality Hot Tub
Purchasing and installing a hot tub can be a daunting task. This is a major home appliance that not only takes up a lot of room, it requires a moderate maintenance commitment. When you walk into a hot tub retailer, you will quickly realize there are many different manufacturers and a wide range of product quality. It is important that you get the most out of your money and purchase a quality hot tub. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Decide on a budget. Include the costs for installing plumbing and electrical components. You can purchase a hot tub in just about any price range. Price does not always equal quality but it is important to get the most for your money.
-
2
Pay attention to the enclosure that comes with the hot tub. Purchase a hot tub with a removable panel that offers quick access to internal parts such as plumbing, pumps and heaters. If the enclosure is solid, you must drain the hot tub to gain access to the internal parts.
-
-
3
Look for a hot tub that spaces the internal components under the shell in a manner that allows the easy removal of a single component without requiring the removal of other components. This speeds up the repair process, lowers the cost of repair work and reduces the likelihood of damaging other components while repairing a defective component.
-
4
Inspect for hot tubs that have matted insulation. Some cheaper hot tubs use solid foam instead of matted insulation. You can easily remove and reinstall matted insulation when your hot tub requires servicing. Foam insulation requires a lot more work to remove and can even damage your hot tub during the removal process.
-
5
Select a hot tub manufactured with acrylic, backed by a vinyl ester bonding resin with hand rolled fiberglass. This type of shell lasts longer than other shells such as injected molding plastics.
-
6
Look for a hot tub with interchangeable or universal parts. Although exclusivity is a selling point, often when a part breaks you pay more because you cannot replace the part with a universal part. In some cases, you may have trouble locating a non-universal part, which could render your hot tub useless until you can actually locate the part.
-
7
Ask about the warranty provided with the hot tub. Inquire to see if the warranty covers the shell, hardware and installation. Most hot tub manufacturers offer a minimum one-year warranty. However, quality hot tubs will come with or exceed a 10-year warranty.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
