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From its humble beginnings as a converted wooden wine barrel, the original hot tub has evolved into a sophisticated and increasingly popular addition to homes around the world. Today, millions of households regularly enjoy the soothing benefits of hot water spas. In your search to find the perfect spa you’ll quickly discover that there is a lot of confusing data out there that is hard to correlate and this is the reason we have compiled this guide - to help cut through the confusion and help you to compare products and understand the differences. Like most products
Note: At the bottom of this page is a link to an Adobe .pdf file of this guide in case you want to print it out or save it to read later. In this guide we will deal only with the portable spa because portable spas remain the most popular choice among homeowners - and for good reasons. Portable spas are considerably less expensive than built-in or in-ground spas, as they are self-contained, with plumbing and all other equipment installed behind the wooden skirting. Portables sit above ground, on a terrace, a balcony, in the garden - or even on a roof terrace and can often be installed without any excavations and with little or no inconvenience. Even more important, because they are not permanent property improvements, they don't require building permits, nor will they increase your property taxes and you can even take them with you when you move! Most of the information contained here applies to in-ground spas as well however with in-ground spas there are other considerations so if you are considering installing one please contact us so that we can advise you.
Where to Start
What to Look For Structure, Surround and Base The Cover
Water Jets and Jet Sequencers
Air Jets, Blowers, Turbos and Aromatherapy
Motors and Pumps
Circulation Pumps vs. Two Speed Pumps We will start with the 2-speed pump system and if you look at the picture on the left you will see how it functions. The pump is hooked up in such a way that the water comes into it through the filter, passes through the heater and then goes back into the spa through the massage jets.
In a circulation pump system there is a separate pump whose only function is to circulate the water through the filter and the heater. So, instead of one pump doing both jobs you have two pumps, one for massage and one for circulation. The picture on the right illustrates how this functions. As you can see there is little difference between these systems aside from the higher cost of installing 2 pumps instead of one and consequent replacement costs.
The first disadvantage with this system is the fact that you cannot adjust a 24 hour circulation pump - it runs all the time, like it or not, which aside from any other consideration is not very energy efficient. The other problem is that it is set for the manufacturer's idea of "average use". The problem lies in what "average use" actually means and how much filtration is really being provided by this circulation pump. To find this out you should ask the dealer who should be able to tell you the flow rate of this pump. Next we need to know "How much filtration is required?" It may sound excessive to those who do not understand the mechanics of water filtration but the truth is that the filtration system has to be capable of filtering the total amount of water in the spa at least once an hour (or a total of 24 times a day). Sounds crazy, I know, and many spa salesmen will proudly claim that their circulation pump will turn over the spas water 6 times a day not even knowing that it's not enough! Now maybe you think that turning the water over 24 times a day is a lot too so to help you understand why this is I want you to imagine that you have a bucket of dirty water. Not filthy water, just water that is not really clean. Now imagine that you are going to attempt to clean that water by taking out one tablespoonful of dirty water at a time and then putting back one tablespoon of clean water. Imagine how long that would take and how many buckets of water it would take to dilute that dirty water until it was sparkling clean. Well, this is what a filtration pump does in a spa and that is why you have to be able to filter all the water at least once an hour to keep it clean - I say "be able" because, obviously, you don't have to do this all the time, only when necessary. Everything depends on bather load and this is why it is so important to be able to control filtration times. Luckily there are now spas on the market that have a new design using a larger circulation pump with a separate wet-end that can be set to run as many hours a day as are required and that can keep your spa clean no matter what! Another disadvantage associated with the fact that you cannot adjust the duration of the filtration cycle on 24 hour circulation pumps is rather unexpected. In summer these pumps actually heat the water and some manufacturers have had to incorporate a "summer" switch that turns the pump off for up to 12 hours to stop the water getting too hot!
It should also be noted here that each time the filtration cycle starts all pumps and blowers should be turned on for a few minutes in order to raise debris and particles (that have sunk to the floor of the spa) up into the water to be filtered out. This normally does not happen with a 24 hour circulation pump system and therefore the filtration is actually less efficient even though the circulation pump is always running and the result is more debris in the water when you get into the spa to use it. In conclusion it must be said that intrinsically there is nothing wrong with the circulation pump system per se, if the pump is large enough and you are able to control filtration times this system is as good as any. What you don't want is a 24 hour circulation pump for all the reasons outlined above. Remember to find out what the flow rate of the circulation system is, what control you have over its function and then you can set it to filter the right amount of water each day. The type of system doesn't matter what matters is that it works and that you can set it to be adequate for your use of the spa. Spa Control System and Display
Filters Ozonators
Water Purification Systems
Insulation and Heaters Heaters come in various varieties.
Illumination Systems Stereos, Televisions and Remote Controls What is in the Warranty? 
Making Your Choice Which Model? First of all you have to decide how big and deep a spa you want. Before deciding on a spa, estimate how many people will normally use it at one time and buy accordingly. You could save space and money. Next, once you know what you want, you should try it. Most dealers have demonstration models in their showrooms and are only too pleased to let you jump in, but, if you can’t bring yourself to get into one that is full of water at least climb into a dry spa and make sure that you feel comfortable! Never buy a spa out of a catalogue as they always look better in the picture and you are dooming yourself to disappointment.Which Manufacturer? As portable spas become more popular there are an increasing number of manufacturers and models and this makes it more difficult for a customer to decide "Which brand should I buy?" Luckily there are a few common-sense guidelines that can be followed. First find out exactly how long the company has been manufacturing and where the spas are built. As this is a technology that has been developed mainly in America it follows that many of the biggest companies are located in the U.S.A. Notice that I say the biggest, these are not necessarily the best, many times when a company gets big it is less likely to continue refining its products and you can end up with out-dated designs and technology. Next you can ask where the different parts that make up the spas come from. This is an important question for several reasons. As noted before a manufacturer who produces all his own parts can be more expensive while parts from the major parts suppliers can be cheaper and are certainly more available.All of the best manufacturers also do what is called "wet" testing on some or, preferably, all of their units as they come out of production which consists of fully filling the spa with water and completely testing it. So find out what the companies policy is and also what, if any, testing your dealer does. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say. Which Dealer? Choosing a great spa is of little use if you’ve picked a useless dealer! How much information does he offer about his products? Is he knowledgeable? Does the dealer offer full installation and after-sales service? Does the dealer seem like he knows his stuff or is he just trying to sell you? Are spas just one of his products or is he mainly a spa dealer? Can he supply you with all accessories and chemicals, water test kits, etc? Make sure your contract includes delivery terms, installation and hook-up dates, a complete listing of all components and services to be rendered. Make sure that any repair work can be undertaken by your dealer and don’t be afraid to ask questions before you buy as a reputable dealer will be happy to answer any questions. Beware of the dealer who side-steps any questions or gives you vague answers - "We are the best" is not a suitable answer! Look for professionalism - the dealer should insist on coming out to view the site and plan the installation. It is also advisable to ask for references as the best advertisement is a happy customer and if your dealer cannot produce one then beware. Shop Carefully!  |
you tend to get what you pay for in a spa so it helps to know what to look for and how to understand the specifications. Spas are a bit like cars in the sense that the more accessories you add to them the more expensive they become, also like cars the bigger the motor, or in the case of spas - the number of jets and pumps it has - the more luxurious it is and hence more expensive. We have tried to make a clear and concise summary here however if you find anything unclear or need more advice don't hesitate to contact us, we are happy to assist.
It goes without saying that you are not buying a spa because you need something to do and want to spend your time cleaning it so ask your dealer about the best options regarding colours and types of shells, surrounds and covers. Although the classic spa was always brown because wood was used to build the surrounds now that we have polymers and synthetic wood surrounds they are available in other colours. Brown and grey are the most commonly available colours and grey covers don't show the dust (that settles on all covers) as much as brown covers do so many people now elect grey for both the cover and surround. Make sure that the number of people you want to have in the spa will all fit comfortably and that the spa will fit nicely where you want to put it. Get as much technical information as you can and get them to be as specific as possible so that you can later compare the information on all the brands of spas you have seen to decide which is the best choice. Last, but by no means least, take a good look at the dealer and his setup and make sure that you can trust him and that he will be there when you need him, many times money saved on a cheap deal can be lost many times over because of a fly-by-night dealer.
Today's shells are so strong that they are practically indestructible, they are resistant to impact, sun damage, water-cleansing chemicals, and extreme temperatures. Many are also available with textured, non-slip surfaces as an added safety feature and some are even impregnated with anti-bacterials to reduce bacteria accumulation. Unfortunately some manufacturers skimp on their shells and a good clue to this is a very light spa (as the shell makes up more than half of the weight) or excessive structures holding the shell up. If this is the case or if you can push on the shell in any place and make it move - watch out.
It seems that some manufacturers do have some confusion in this area as some want the surround to do both jobs and have virtually no structure. Ask to look inside the spa and pay attention not only to the structure but also look at the paneling that makes up the surround, is it robust and thick enough? The structure should be made of materials that will not rot or otherwise deteriorate with the
best structures being made of specially treated, hardened wood and plastics or stainless steel. Today many manufacturers offer surrounds made out of special polymers that are mixtures of wood and plastic that look just like wood but require no upkeep (unlike wood that needs anual maintenance). These are obviously better buys as, after all, the only thing YOU want to do is enjoy a nice soak - not get soaked in paint and turps! The base of the spa should be sealed with a water resistant covering that also serves to keep rodents and insects out and the whole spa should be a completely closed unit.
The styrofoam should be a minimum of 7 cm. thick tapered to 5 cm for water run-off, be re-enforced at the center fold and the cover should have an efficient method of securing it against weather and curious children. Always remove the entire cover before climbing into the spa, replacing it when finished.
Most dealers also offer special cover "lifters" so that one person can remove the cover easily - a must for larger spas as although the cover is not heavy it is bulky and requires two people to remove it. Cover lifters are available in several types depending on the space available. Most tuck the cover into a space behind the spa but if there is no space available other models stow the cover vertically above the rim of the spa and there are also lifters that stow the cover on a shelf behind the spa. Your dealer should know which lifter is needed for your installation and be able to supply it.
The more adjustable
the jets are the better, you should be able to individually control the intensity of the water flow as well as the amount of air mixed with the water flowing through each jet or cluster of jets. Most spas include air venturi systems which allow air to be dragged in and mixed with the water before it comes out of the jets - this creates a stronger, more powerful massage. These venturis are controlled by valves on the top of the spa which can be turned on or off. Generally it is not the quantity of jets that is important but the type and quality of the jets. Some manufacturers have special groups of multi-jets that create a larger massage area or special "clusters" that massage specific areas. Look for variety, adjustability and versatility. A relatively new innovation in hydro massage is the Jet Sequencer which brings a whole new dimension into the spa. Now, instead of water streaming continuously out of all the jets with the same pressure, the sequencer either directs water first to one series of jets, then to another or varies the power of the pump so that it feels like a real massage. Only available on premium spas this is the single greatest advance in jet technology in the last decade.
An interesting innovation has been the addition of Aromatherapy to the air blower systems. Formerly any perfumes or scents had to be added directly to the water where they were quickly filtered out and eliminated and really only served to plug up the filter. Now, in spas equipped with a blower, the air is passed through a canister containing the chosen perfume or oil and this scented air comes bubbling up right under your nose in the spa! As the scent is in the air the water remains clean and the filter does too! Aroma sachets are available in many different scents but you don't even have to buy one as each spa comes supplied with one and when you want to change the scent simply wash out the sachet, drip or spray new scent onto it and you are ready to go!
Basically you need to ascertain that there are enough motors and pumps and that they are powerful enough to run the jets. There is no rule about how many jets you should have per pump however it is obvious that they should be balanced so it is also useful to ascertain how many horsepower the pumps are. Many dealers confuse the horsepower of the motors with that of the pumps as you can take a 2 Hp electrical motor and couple it to a 2, 3 o 4 horsepower pump with a consequent difference in the amount of water being pumped per minute. The important issue is not the power of the motor but that the pumps are matched to the optimal water flow which in turn depends on the size and quantity of the jets. Too many jets or not powerful enough pumps result in weak feeling jets that do not provide an optimal massage and if there are a lot of jets, as is common in the larger spas, you should have 2 or more jet pumps.
For filtration and heating purposes the low speed of the pump is used and when people are in the spa the high speed is used for massage. As it is not a 24 hour system the spa controller offers the possibility to set filtration times as well as to specify whether the heater heats whenever necessary or if it only heats during filtration cycles. This offers a more economical way of heating as you can set the spa to heat itself just before you normally get in which saves electricity. 
Perhaps it is for this reason that some of the more expensive American brands insist that a circulation pump system is better. Unfortunately many of the circulation pumps that are installed in spas have several disadvantages and this has more to do with the components and design than it has to do with the fact that it is a separate pump. For some reason many of these pumps are installed in such a way that they run all the time and hence are called 24 hour circulation pumps. On the surface it would seem a good idea to have a pump running all the time to keep the water filtered and clean and one of the main claims for this system is that it keeps your water cleaner. 
This is a serious disadvantage as in summer many people use their spas more frequently and also leave them uncovered so the spa requires more filtration as a result - not less, not to mention the fact that most people would probably prefer that the water was cooler... This problem occurs primarily because these small 24 hour circulation pumps have the pump, or wet end as it is called, incorporated into the body of the pump so any heat generated by the electrical motor gets passed directly to the pump and heats the water. So, if you are looking at a spa with a circulation pump you should make sure that the pump has the wet end separated from the electrical motor. In the two pictures here you will see one of these circulation pumps on the right, often referred to as a "baby" pump due to its small size and an exploded view of the same pump on the left. 
These include; temperature of the water, filtration, function of ozonators and other water purification systems, lights and any other accessory systems installed in the spa. The display acts as an interface and allows you to set the desired water temperature, time, filter cycles and any other functions of the spa pack. The vast majority of spas use spa packs manufactured in North America by the two main companies Balboa and Gecko although some companies build their own packs and there are other, smaller spa pack manufacturers. Most of these packs are quite similar however it must be noted that if the spa manufacturer is building its own spa packs these can be VERY expensive as they can only be purchased from the manufacturer of that brand of spa. Like some brands of cars the parts can be quite absurdly expensive so it is a good idea to ask for a spare parts price list so you know what you are getting into before it's too late!
back into the spa through some of the jets or, on some spas, through special dedicated jets. There are, of course, many different configurations but all the systems have these same basic functions. The important part is the filter itself. Filters are rated according to how much cloth they contain as the more cloth used to make the filter and the more pleats it has the more efficiently it cleans the water and the longer it lasts. A good filter can last up to three years while a bad one can disintegrate in as little as 6 months. Watch out for systems that use 4 or 5 filters as many times they have very little cloth in each filter and can cost much more to replace than a single filter that contains more paper than all of these put together! If there is more than one filter try to find out if the water passes through all the filters when it is being filtered or if it only passes through some of them. On some systems you can have 5 filters but only one is used for normal filtration with the others coming into play only when the jet pumps are on. Typically a filter should have between 40 and 50 square feet of cloth but large ones can go up to 100. Please follow the link below from the "Info" tab to our Water Chemistry Guide and our Daily Water Care Page for more information about spa water care.
Be sure that your spa comes with an ozonator as this will cut down on the amount of chemicals required to keep the water clean. An ozonator is a device which creates and injects ozone into the water while the filtration system is on. This ozone kills certain kinds of bacteria and can appreciably reduce the amount of chemicals needed to maintain the water. Please follow the link below from the "Info" tab to our Ozone Page if you would like more detailed technical information about ozone and ozonators.
Aside from the ozonators mentioned above used in conjunction with either a bromine or chlorine sanitation system there are other systems based on salt and electrolysis. These systems are almost completely automatic and simply put function by producing bromine or chlorine from salt that is dissolved in the water. The water does not taste salty and one has the impression that the water is simply fresh water without any chemicals because the chemicals produced eliminate the bacteria in the water and then convert back into salt. These systems are offered by some dealers as either standard or add-on and have been in use in the pool industry for many years most notably in the aqua parks. Please follow the link below from the "Info" tab to our Salt Systems Page if you would like more detailed technical information about how a salt water system works.
They love to burrow into that nice insulating foam and make comfy nests to bring up their families. Unfortunately they don’t know the difference between foam and pipes and often gnaw their way through the pipe work. This is a common problem and finding the leak requires ripping out all the foam which can cause even more damage. If you ever have a leak in a spa, which although it is not common it can and does happen with all brands of spas (no matter what they might say), finding it in a fully foamed spa is a nightmare. Many times the spa has to be returned to the factory and for spas built in the states and sold here in Europe this is not an option. In warm climates such as we have here on the coast full foam can cause overheating of the equipment because the equipment compartment is also encased in foam. Some fully foamed spas have fans installed to ventilate the heat created by the equipment out through vents installed in the surround of the spa. It seems a bit silly to be heating the spa on one hand while ventilating heat out on the other. The best system is the heat lock system which uses a thin layer of foam on the inside of the spa shell combined with insulation on the inside walls of the cabinet and on the floor of the spa. This keeps all the heat in and still provides enough air circulation so that the equipment doesn’t overheat and the heat generated by the pumps is not lost.
The most common is the immersion heater which has an element that is actually in contact with the water and is the same as the kind used in a domestic electric water heater. Once again there are manufacturers that have "special" heaters some of which are of the diffusion type and the heating element does not come in contact with the water. The heater element is placed alongside or around a tube that the water runs through and the heat is transmitted to the water through the pipe. These heaters are very expensive to run as they lose a lot of heat and because they are specific to that manufacturer are again often quite expensive. A few pointed questions about the makeup of the spa and the cost of spare parts can quickly clear up any doubts. If your dealer won't produce a spare parts price list that should be answer enough by itself.
come standard with at least one underwater light that is normally incandescent and the bulb can be changed from the inside without emptying the spa. Some lights have different intensities and/or coloured lenses to change the colour. In the last few years several new lighting systems have appeared. First came fiber optic lights which turned out to be too delicate for transport and often broke so these were replaced by LED lights which are much more reliable, have a longer life and are easier to replace than fiber optics. There are several systems available the most common of which are 1/ LED "bulbs" to replace existing incandescent bulbs like the one pictured here and 2/ LED "strings" which string lights together which can then be installed strategically around the spa or even in the jets! The beauty of these systems is that the lights can be set to different solid colours such as green or blue, etc. or can be set to rotate through the colour spectrum providing a soothing light show.
Stereos with Radio/CDs and pop-up speakers or LCD Flat screen TV's that rise out of the side of the spa for your viewing enjoyment are now available on some spas. Even bars with refrigerators and chilled ice buckets have appeared. Of course, these kinds of accessories are extremely expensive and it doesn't always make sense to pay so much just to have them built in to the spa. For the same money (or less) you can get stereos and TV's that won't be so much at risk as they are further away from the spa water. (We are still looking for a waterproof mobile phone...) 
Make sure that the spa you select and its component parts are covered with a good no-nonsense warranty, and make sure the parts are CE approved. Be aware that a spa warranty can vary from one component to the next in the same spa. A typical warranty, for example, will cover the shell for ten years, the main structure for five years and equipment like motors, heaters and water pumps for two years. Make sure you know what is covered, for how long and what, if any, limitations there are. Another difference between dealers can be how much they are going to charge you to come and fix the spa while it is under warranty. Remember that the warranty only covers parts, not the cost of the technician coming to your home and the time he spends there. So find out what the call out charge is especially if you are some distance away from the dealer! Look for a simple straightforward and above all clear warranty and choose a dealer that is going to live up to it! Read the warranty carefully, many are worded in such a way that they are quite meaningless as it will always be up to the manufacturer to decide if a part broke because of misuse or because it was faulty.
Quite often it is the little things that say the most. Before deciding check the quality and the finishing of the control panels, the handles, the surround and other trim and generally observe how well finished the product is. Look in the equipment compartment (even if you don’t know what all those bits are for) and try the spa out for size. Make sure it will fit where you want to put it and that you (and your family and friends) will fit inside it. You should feel confident in both the dealer and the product and buy where you feel best. Ask a lot of questions before you buy, it could make the difference between enjoying a hot soak and getting yourself into hot water.