r/hottubs

Hi there, I am having an oily ring around my hot tub. We are a family of 6, and we use it a fair amount you could say. Any tips to get the ring off without scrubbing it hard all the time ? We use a microfibre cloth but it takes so much effort. My two daughters use body oils and my husband showers 99% of the time before using it but sometimes he doesn't. Thank you !

Hi all - long story, but my Hot Springs Pulse has a leak, somewhere in the bowels of the tubing and jets; not accessible by the component compartment. Not good. The tub is a bit over 10 years old, and I'm at one of those buy vs. repair decision points. The tub is in fabulous shape, as I was very diligent with cleaning and polishing the shell every 3 months (mostly). I also try to not contribute to the "throw it away" mentality of today's modern society. I've seen a few YouTube videos of shops where they bring the tub into their workspace, set it up on 4x4's, and identify and repair the leak. Does anyone know of a shop like this in the Connecticut area? Could be Mass, RI, NY, or NJ even. Seems to be a specialty, as the dealer where I purchased the tub does not offer such a service. As this tub would now cost about $18,000 to replace, and the cost of repairing a leaking joint is pretty much all labor, I would think a repair would be the correct economical decision. Just need to find the right place that has experience doing this. Thank you all, and happy soaking. I miss my tub!

Close to buying one the 3. Which one would you buy? First time hot tub buyer. Thank you

I’ve had 2 so far. The first was bigger and more comfortable but i bought it used and it broke down an required repairs regularly. It was good because it had a circulation pump that was quiet. The second is smaller and has a single pump, so it always makes a lot of noise. I’m pretty low maintenance, i dont want it to make a lot of noise or to require much effort. I understand salt water systems require less work. Also,i rarely turn on lights, sound systems or even jets, i just like soaking in a quiet hot tub. Any good recommendations? Biggest problem with current tub is the cover, its pretty shabby after 10 years.

Reading through this sub and r/hottub, I keep finding that most prospective hot tub buyers don't really know where to start in their search beyond price point. I wanted to write a little guide using budget as a jump point and what to think about beyond dollars. Especially for each unique need, what you should ask, and what gets missed. But in brief, price tends to reflect four things - how well it holds heat, how sturdy it is built, equipment inside it, and the support behind that. Jets, lights, and styling are all secondary considerations. And don't forget to factor in any cost of changes to your deck to hold the tub (or a quality rigid pad), an increase in electrical or water utilities, replacing foam covers, and whether your warranty covers just parts or labor. And if you are getting a salt system, extra for disposal and levels monitoring on top of generally shorter tub lifespans.

Economy tier (5k USD and below): mostly 2-4 seat shells, 100V plug-and-play models that use standard outlets. No electrician needed. Plus roto-molded builds that can do right by harsh climates. Common downside is that 110V reheats slower. Trade off is fewer jets with weaker power but some new multi-pump designs do get you close to 220V pressure. And some can be converted to 240V later but ideally, if that is a consideration, much better to start there. What is harder to spot in this tier is internal. Thin or partial foam insulation, basic controls, short warranties, and no service path. Best value in this price range is that full foam and spring for a quality sealed cover over features. Ask for it explicitly and if you have the right outlet, how long the warranty, and who fixes it?

Midrange tier (5k - 10k): This is where most people land. You get up to 5-7 seats, 220V, full (or at least, fuller) insulation, lounge seating, tougher cabinets, longer warrenties, and you start seeing water-care upgrades like ozone or UV. Jet count will dominate marketing but quality of placement beats quantity. Be wary of proprietary equipment. These bigger tubs start to really weigh in and can be north of 1k pounds empty so a level reinforced pad, delivery access, and electrical upgrades are real line items. Plan not just on the weight with water but bodies as well. Solid wood frames are more common and durable. Ask if the intended amount of people can sit comfortable, if equipment is industry standard, and how the warranty breaks across the shell, equipment, labor, etc.

Highend (10k+): most models will be of the +++ side of this range but can still find flagship shells, premium cabinets, advanced pumps, top insulation, and long warranties on the low cap. You start see swim spas which can get up around 20ft and run 40k or more with features like soak zones and cold plunge (but those deserve their own guide). The thing to be aware of here is diminishing returns. Sales stake on styling, badges, and complex features that will be the first to fail and hard to repair like audio and lighting. All the hallmarks of quality already mentioned should be standard. Now, you are really focusing on longevity and a good service network. Ask if you are paying for what you know you want, what you will still use in five years, and whether a midrange tub suits your needs already.

TL;DR: insulation is the biggest running cost. The cover is big for ongoing heat loss. How long your warranty is good for, yeah, but also what exactly it covers. Figure out your electrics and site prep. Everything leaks or breaks eventually so service is about parts and support. Ask for realistic numbers on day-to-day costs as well as financing if necessary. And sit in the shell if possible to make sure it is comfortable.

Also, ask and keep an eye out for discounts and check official websites. Waiting a month for clearance or seasonal sales can drop that price 10% or so. Hope this helps some. If anyone has questions, happy to answer.

Long time lurker first time poster. Bought a house with a hot tub in April. Hadn’t been used in a while, neighbors said probably 5 years as the prior owners never used the yard period. Was leaking from winter freeze damage; replaced some hoses and pvc where the flow switch mounts, new flow switch for good measure.

Filled it up today and turned on the power and it works! Jets are strong. Getting code FL 1 which says the flow switch is stuck in the open position.

Any thoughts on trouble shooting this? If I had the wires backwards on the flow switch, could that cause it?

To the people here with a hottub in the garden:
How often do you use in the winter?
I imagine it being so nice when it’s cold outside, maybe even snow lying around, and then jumping into the hot water

Newbie here. What is your go to chemical choices? Chlorine or Bromine? What else do u absolutely need beside shock and test strips? Any must haves or nice to haves?

A Warning about bogus salt cartridges. After 4 months with our new Hot Tub it was time for my first salt cartridge replacement. I thought I bought legit salt cartridges from Walmart dot com. I figured I could trust a major retailer like Walmart. It was a 3 pack. The packaging and product looked identical. I realized later there was subtle differences. They were counterfeit. They caused me a lot of trouble before I figure it out. I only buy them from the dealer now. The company they come from is called Anhengli Co., LTD.

Want to buy a Hot-tub for the backyard, snows in the winters here. What should I know? Tips and tricks for soon to be new proud hot-tub owner

EDIT: already have a 240v Circuit. Home owners prior had a hottub. All electrical and safety done. Had an electrician take a look at the setup.

Hello. We are looking to buy a new hot tub. We have it down between 2
Bullfrog a7 special edition. Has the upgraded lights , circulation pump, and stereo package. 4 jet packs. Also included steps, cover, cover lift, starter chemicals, and delivery and set up. Price before tax 10800
Other is vita spa 500 monarque Includes steps, cover, cover lifter, starter chemicals, delivery and set up. Price is 10999
Are these decent prices and are they decent tubs? Would you choose one over the other? Thanks in advance!

Hi Everyone,

I've owned a hot tub for a couple of years now and got pretty tired of keeping track of all the maintenance tasks. So I built an app that takes your readings and tells you exactly what to add, plus keeps track of your typical routine on a schedule with alerts. I'm hoping this helps others as well as it's helped me.

It isn't on the App Store yet. Before it launches, I'd like a few hot tub owners, who are interested in being early adopters, to try it and tell me honestly what's wrong or confusing — not just friends being polite.

If you have an iPhone and are willing to test it through TestFlight, comment or send me a message and I'll get you the invite. You'll have full access to everything in the app during the beta: the free version plus the paid features — at no cost, since it's all through Apple's TestFlight sandbox. That access is just for the test period; once the app leaves TestFlight, you'd need to buy the unlock like everyone else.

I'm looking for up to 20 testers. After the beta, the app should be on the App Store within the next few weeks either way, so if you miss this round, it'll be up soon.

Real feedback is what I'm after: does the math match what your pool store tells you, is anything confusing, does anything break.

Appreciate anyone willing to take a look. Thanks!