- Mar 23, 2010
- 252
Several people I know are having their homes foreclosed on, and thus I have a chance to buy one of many cheap (sub $200) hot tubs/spas for my new place.
Most of these are 5-6 person units, and all have minor issues. Which one would you choose and why?
#1 - New heater and electronics a year ago. The pump in this one (a 1.5hp Hayward) seized up last fall and it's been sitting drained ever since. I can most likely buy a pump motor for around $100, so this spa would total $300 in parts. Cover, cabinet and everything else is reportedly fine.
#2 - Original heater and pump from 2002, but they reportedly work fine. This is just the shell and the guts. I'd need to buy a cover and build a cabinet/deck for it. Spa is $100. Figuring the lumber to build the rest would run me about another $200ish.
#3 - The best looking one, only 2 years old. This is also the biggest one, an 8 people tub at 8 foot x 7 foot x 4 foot deep. Cabinet is a beautiful rosewood, had something like 32 jets. Nice cover. Very nice looking. The problem? Heater hasn't worked in a year. Could be the heater, could be something electronic.
I'm looking for the best overall value, though I'm sure I'll be putting some money into this both for maintenance and for energy. Luckily, I have a 220 line already out there (is a slab that was once housing a shed the guy used for welding) and I've got both a pickup truck and trailer, so the "hard part" is making the choice and then making it right.
Any feedback on which you would buy?
Denis
Most of these are 5-6 person units, and all have minor issues. Which one would you choose and why?
#1 - New heater and electronics a year ago. The pump in this one (a 1.5hp Hayward) seized up last fall and it's been sitting drained ever since. I can most likely buy a pump motor for around $100, so this spa would total $300 in parts. Cover, cabinet and everything else is reportedly fine.
#2 - Original heater and pump from 2002, but they reportedly work fine. This is just the shell and the guts. I'd need to buy a cover and build a cabinet/deck for it. Spa is $100. Figuring the lumber to build the rest would run me about another $200ish.
#3 - The best looking one, only 2 years old. This is also the biggest one, an 8 people tub at 8 foot x 7 foot x 4 foot deep. Cabinet is a beautiful rosewood, had something like 32 jets. Nice cover. Very nice looking. The problem? Heater hasn't worked in a year. Could be the heater, could be something electronic.
I'm looking for the best overall value, though I'm sure I'll be putting some money into this both for maintenance and for energy. Luckily, I have a 220 line already out there (is a slab that was once housing a shed the guy used for welding) and I've got both a pickup truck and trailer, so the "hard part" is making the choice and then making it right.
Any feedback on which you would buy?
Denis