Can I purchase just a Hot Tub Shell?

Question:

"We have an existing in-ground hot tub in our sun room which is very outdated. Would this be too much of a challange to purchase a new in ground hot tub to install in the same spot? And do companies normally remove the old hot tub or are we on our own? Please advise..."

Answer:

Many manufacturers will provide just a hot tub shell that you can "drop in" to an existing spot, but you will need to start by contacting them directly with dimensions. You might even be able to talk the manufacturer into taking the old unit as part of a "trade-in." If not, you can probably get the delivery team to remove the old unit as long as you notify the manufacturer ahead of time so they can make arrangements to dispose of it for you. Just don't surprise them at the last minute and expect them to cart it off for you for nothing. Recycling an old hot tub in today's world can be a little bit involved, and you just can't leave it by the side of any old road and hope for the best.

I suppose you could try putting it out in front of your house with a sign that says, "Free for the Taking" but if it stays more than a week I suspect that you will have to pay somebody to haul it away for you.

In any event, you should be able to find exactly what you are looking for, especially from one of the custom built hot tub manufacturers.

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Affordable Hot Tubs and Spas?

Question:

"My question is about two different spa companies. Viking and Reflections. Reflections is part of D&B Industries which makes Vita Spas. I know that these are lower end spas, but would like to know if you have heard any complaints or know of any problems with these hot tubs. I've already gone on several websites to see if I could get any information on them. There is some, but very little."

Answer:

Sorry, but I do not pass judgment on various spa manufacturers' products. There are so many variables in choosing and using a hot tub, that it's impossible for me to comment on them all. Even if I have heard complaints, there is no way for me to determine whether or not the complaint is valid.

A lower end spa may be perfectly suitable for occasional use, but if you give one to a college fraternity and let them do anything they want and it breaks after a non-stop party that lasts all year, is it the fault of the manufacturer or is it just a lower end spa that has been abused? And if somebody then complains in an online forum, who am I to say whether the spa is at fault, or that their expectations were just way too high.

The only thing I will say is that, "You get what you pay for." In other words, almost any car will occasionally take you from place to place, but it may not look great and you may have to take a hammer under the hood to get it to start up (I know - my first car was like this). So, if you want reliable transportation on a regular basis, you should spend the most that you can afford.

The same is true for hot tubs. You can get an inexpensive model that will hold a bunch of hot water, but it may not have many jets, and it may not last very long, but what exactly are you looking for? An occasional dip in hot water, or extensive warm water therapy?

Only you can answer that question and make that decision. In any event, I hope that you buy the best hot tub you can afford. You won't regret it!

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Our hot tub hasn't run in a long time...

Question:

"We just bought a house and it has a hottub in the addition room of our new home. What steps do I need to take to start my hottub for chemicals and so on. It has water in it, but it hasn't been run in a long time. What should I do after draining the hot tub? And cleaning the inside before filling it up?"

Answer:

Welcome to the wonderful world of hot tubs! You are right to drain the hot tub if it has been sitting idle for some time so you can start it out right with fresh water (who knows what's still swimming around in there).

But, before you drain it, you should run some jet line cleaner through it to flush the gunk out of the plumbing lines. There are several manufacturers of this type of product, and you can find it sold online. This important step will ensure that any bacteria in the plumbing lines is flushed out, and it is much easier to do before you drain the tub.

After the plumbing lines are clean, you can drain it and let it dry out. Then, you should probably clean and polish the shell, but first check with the manufacturer of the hot tub to find out what they recommend for cleaning products. For example, if the shell is made of acrylic you can find special hot tub acrylic polish and cleaner that will add luster to the shell and protect it.

Don't use regular car wax! It cannot withstand the higher temperatures that are found in hot tubs and you will soon find yourself sitting in hot water with melted wax floating on the surface!

The fresh water that you refill the hot tub with will need to be chemically treated, but this will depend upon the water source at your location. You do not need to go overboard with the chemicals, but you will definitely need something to kill off the bacteria.

Some simple hot tub test strips will tell you if the water needs to be hardened or softened, and whether the sanitizer that you are using is doing its job. These test strips can also be found online, and although it may seem a little troublesome at first, but you will quickly learn what is needed to keep your water crystal clean so you can enjoy your hot tub at a moment's notice.

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