He and many in the field claim the bulk of buyers want clean water with less upkeep and therefore more time to enjoy their tub. Extras are nice but the basics are the best.

That said, hot tubs these days come with every­thing from LCD televisions to top-of-the line stereo systems, iPod docking stations, waterfalls and LED mood lighting.

All good, but Darren Jordison, managing partner with Jacuzzi Premium Spas of  Calgary urges people to take a look at technology, too, the heating, filtration and hydro­therapy systems.

He suggest finding a tub with a minimum five-year parts and labour warranty on pumps, motors, plumbing and electronics and a ten-year gua­rantee on the tub’s shell.
And soak before you buy.

“You would not buy a vehicle without taking it for a drive,” Jor­dison says, adding, “you wouldn’t just sit on the lot and have the sales guy say, ‘OK, now imagine we’re taking a right turn’ … give it the proper test.”

One look in the Yellow Pages and its apparent there are a lot of dealers—a reality that can leave a would-be buyer’s head swirling. While many claim there isn’t necessarily just one right tub, there is a right tub for everyone.
Calgarian Jeremy Keyes agrees.

His Beachcomber instantly became a regular hot spot for his entire family or simply a tranquil retreat after a stressful day. Whether a sleepy soak under the stars or as a way to jet-start his day, Keyes says his tub is prime time.

“There’s nothing better than the feeling of the hot-tub sensation just before you go to bed,” the 34-year-old says. “It also starts you off the right way in the morning. It’s like hav­ing a coffee that tastes just right—all those warm and fuzzy feelings.”

Keyes spends about $35 a month to run his hot tub, and $10 to $15 on chemicals to keep the water clean, and he says the cost is well worth it. Despite a plethora of options, he notes investing in the perfect tub meant simplifying what he wanted out of it.

“To be quite honest, you get mesmerized by all the jets, the waterfalls and the TVs and stereos and all that stuff,” he says, adding, “that’s fine for people who want that but I just wanted somewhere to soak in, outside, to just forget about the day-to-day grind.”

“We don’t even use the jets. I find it’s too much action and we’re trying to get away from that.”

There are hot tubs for as low as $2,500 but to avoid trouble down the road, it’s best to go with a reputable dealer and pay a bit more, advise the experts. In that case, expect to shell out $5,000 to $7,000 for a starter spa.

Pete Morissette, president of Paradise Bay Leisure Products, says many want systems which allow them to soak in fewer chemicals as they soak up the spa experience.

“There is new UV light technology, a high-spectrum UV light, the same type used to clean sur­gi­cal instruments, which cuts down on the amount of sanitization needed because it is designed to kill bac­teria,” he says.

“People are putting in stereos and things like that but people are looking for the least amount of main­tenance possible.”

Morissette says a savvy buyer will sample the wide array of what’s available. “People who sell just one line say, ‘Buy mine, it’s the best,’ ” he says. “We’ve learned there’s more than one way to build a good hot tub and the customers can make the decision.”
Jordison says the best buy will ensure window dressing doesn’t compromise quality.

“We can shine these up as much as we want with glittering lights and fancy jets ... you can put lip­stick on a pig and it’s still a pig,” he says.“The unfortunate thing is, there will always be snake oil salesmen and people who believe in the tooth fairy.”

Although technology behind hot tubs has changed little, the basics have improved—tubs that once roared now purr and most have full foam insulation to withstand harsh weather and help deaden the sound of the jets.

Crude exteriors of yesteryear are replaced with weather­­proof, maintenance-free skirting.

And people are soaking it up.

“People are looking more to making their backyard a destination,” Chateau says.

He adds that quality makes the difference in the long run. “Filtration, filtration, filtration,” he says, adding a good system means changing water maybe once a year instead of every few months. “In our 400 series  we’ve got people who have a huge hot tub they use all the  time and change the water only once a year.”

Chateau knows it’s “not sexy” to talk about dry, technical stuff but buyers who ignore it run the risk of getting hosed. “It’s not just about pushing around a bunch of hot water.”

Once the basics are down, the extras abound. There are marine-grade speakers designed to operate underwater with a waterproof, floating remote control. Jacuzzi offers a hot tub with different massage stations in every seat, including one with just two jets designed to increase circulation in the liver and kidneys, another giving a Shiatzu-type massage or delivering deep-tissue treatment.

The recently introduced PowerPro RX massages the back with the sensation of a million fingers. Meanwhile, SunSpa offers the Optima—perfect for enter­taining with a foot-well area to soothe sore feet after a day on the slopes or at work. Add a 32-inch TV for $6,000 or a stereo system for about $1,800.

Big spenders might be interested in an aqua trainer which is set up so people can swim against the current while pretty much staying stationary.

The 14- or 17-foot model made by Hydropool, is about four-feet deep and holds about 2,000 litres of water.

When you’re done swimming, crank the temperature and have a massage, says SunSpa co-owner, Dan Windle. “By the time you get it set up you are looking at $30,000 to $50,000,” Windle says. “Some people have that kind of money. I’ve seen people do $50,000 to $100,000 in renovations just to put it in.”

That said, 99 per cent of buyers simply want a good soak. “When you flip the cover open you want clean, clear water and good massage,” says Windle, who carries Sun­dance Spas. “Some people want 100 jets, 16 horse­power pumps—it’s getting to be a num­bers game.

“We don’t have too many bells and whistles. If you’re looking for something fancy-dancy I can’t give you that but I can give you a massage you won’t get anywhere else.”

Windle says SunSpa, which open­ed in 1977, is the oldest dealer in a city where there is now a heap of competition. Like in any large pur­chase, the experts advise a little legwork homework before taking the spa plunge.

“Whether you like my store or some­one else’s, it’s buyer beware,” he says. “There’s a lot of junk out there and guys selling spas out of warehouses. The price is right, but when you have a problem it’s a 1-800 number to a guy in Florida, what kind of service are you going to get?” NL

Keeping a cool head with a hot tub purchase
• Hit the Internet first. Make sure the sites “provide useful infor-­mation not just a teaser,” says Jacuzzi’s Darren Jordison, who urges people to do their research. “Don't dive in head first.”
• Check in with the Better Business Bureau and Health Canada guidelines
• Get a manufacturer’s warranty so if a company goes belly up, your investment is protected, and check whether labour costs are covered.
• Look for ISO 9001 manufacturing standards
• Expect to spend several dollars hundred a year in maintenance an operation costs.
• Take a few minutes a week to check water chemical levels, count on changing the water every six months to a year and having your spa for up to 20 years. “If you spend more than five to ten min-utes a week looking after the tub then we haven’t done our job pro-perly,” SunSpa’s Dan Windle says.
• Salt-water systems, for about $1,000 extra, have mixed reviews. Some swear by them to cut down on chemicals, while critics claim they reduce the life of a machine and don’t clean as well as other systems.