Building Cheap Hot Tubs for Sale - Part 2
We offer this list, because as the saying goes, price is remembered only for a while, quality is remembered forever.
(click here to read Part 1)
Helpful Hint: check out a company by searching their name along with the words rip off, or perhaps scam. You may be glad you did.
Car or Marine Stereos instead of Proper Spa Stereos
Car stereos and most marine stereos are not suitable for hot tubs because they have cooling vents in the chassis. These vents can let moisture in that will ruin the stereo (an outdoor hot tub is a moist environment). But these stereos are attractive to cheap factories as they are very inexpensive. A common practice is to tape over the vents and hope the stereo does not overheat in the hot tub. Spas And Stuff uses proper hot tub stereos, designed for spa installation, with a sealed chassis and heat syncs for cooling.
Extruded Acrylic instead of Cast Acrylic
Continuous Cast acrylic is the industry standard for the best hot tubs. Less expensive brands use extruded acrylic to save money. Although they appear to be the same from an aesthetic standpoint, extruded acrylics are much thinner than cast acrylic. They are also prone to crack easier and will fade over time. Spas And Stuff hot tubs use cast acrylic.
Frame Construction
For best quality, a hot tub frame should be made from construction grade lumber, as ours are. We also use pressure treated lumber on all parts of the frame that would come in contact with the ground. Lesser brands will use cheap 2x2’s that are commonly used for strapping in construction and not for structural purposes. 2x2’s are generally cut from the center of the log and are more prone to warping. Some companies market steel frames. Although they look nice, they are made from a very thin steel. Properly built wood frames are stronger than steel and will not bend or rust.
Screws (non-coated or capped)
Our screws are coated to JS500 hours salt spray exposure standards to ensure that they will not rust. Many manufacturers use coated deck screws that will rust in a short period of time, and that will look terrible on your hot tub cabinet. We also cover our screws with a decorative cap to ensure that they match the hot tub cabinet.
Heater Element
Our heating elements are made form an 825 incoloy element to resist corrosion from chemical imbalances in the water and reduce the chance of calcium build up on the element. Incoloy heater elements last longer and operate more efficiently than standard heating elements.
Hot Tub Cover Quality
An area that is often overlooked when purchasing a hot tub is the quality of the "free cover." Check the specifications to ensure the hot tub cover has a vapor barrier, adequate skirt length, thick marine grade vinyl, at least a 1.5 lb foam density, and that it is tapered to provide for water runoff. Even a well insulated hot tub can cost more to heat if the cover isn't good quality.
Plumbing Shortcuts
This is very important, especially if you are buying a factory direct hot tub. Our factory water tests every hot tub to ensure it does not leak and that everything works correctly. That means when you start up your new spa, it should work properly. In contrast, lower quality mass production factories may only water test every 10th or 20th hot tub.
Spas And Stuff offers great discount hot tub prices every day. Please also see our beautiful, quality outdoor kitchens for your backyard, as well as our very popular indoor infrared saunas.
(click here to read Part 1)
Helpful Hint: check out a company by searching their name along with the words rip off, or perhaps scam. You may be glad you did.
Car or Marine Stereos instead of Proper Spa Stereos
Car stereos and most marine stereos are not suitable for hot tubs because they have cooling vents in the chassis. These vents can let moisture in that will ruin the stereo (an outdoor hot tub is a moist environment). But these stereos are attractive to cheap factories as they are very inexpensive. A common practice is to tape over the vents and hope the stereo does not overheat in the hot tub. Spas And Stuff uses proper hot tub stereos, designed for spa installation, with a sealed chassis and heat syncs for cooling.
Extruded Acrylic instead of Cast Acrylic
Continuous Cast acrylic is the industry standard for the best hot tubs. Less expensive brands use extruded acrylic to save money. Although they appear to be the same from an aesthetic standpoint, extruded acrylics are much thinner than cast acrylic. They are also prone to crack easier and will fade over time. Spas And Stuff hot tubs use cast acrylic.
Frame Construction
For best quality, a hot tub frame should be made from construction grade lumber, as ours are. We also use pressure treated lumber on all parts of the frame that would come in contact with the ground. Lesser brands will use cheap 2x2’s that are commonly used for strapping in construction and not for structural purposes. 2x2’s are generally cut from the center of the log and are more prone to warping. Some companies market steel frames. Although they look nice, they are made from a very thin steel. Properly built wood frames are stronger than steel and will not bend or rust.
Screws (non-coated or capped)
Our screws are coated to JS500 hours salt spray exposure standards to ensure that they will not rust. Many manufacturers use coated deck screws that will rust in a short period of time, and that will look terrible on your hot tub cabinet. We also cover our screws with a decorative cap to ensure that they match the hot tub cabinet.
Heater Element
Our heating elements are made form an 825 incoloy element to resist corrosion from chemical imbalances in the water and reduce the chance of calcium build up on the element. Incoloy heater elements last longer and operate more efficiently than standard heating elements.
Hot Tub Cover Quality
An area that is often overlooked when purchasing a hot tub is the quality of the "free cover." Check the specifications to ensure the hot tub cover has a vapor barrier, adequate skirt length, thick marine grade vinyl, at least a 1.5 lb foam density, and that it is tapered to provide for water runoff. Even a well insulated hot tub can cost more to heat if the cover isn't good quality.
Plumbing Shortcuts
- Smaller piping - allows for okay pressure if the hot tubs are built with smaller jets, but you may not have nice water flow overall.
- No clamps on jets - Just gluing the water hose to the back of the jet mount.
- No glue on jets - Just clamping the water hose to the back of the jet mounts...our hot tub factory both glues the hose on and then clamps it, to prevent water leaks.
- No silicone on spa jet mounts - fast method, use only preformed silicone rings to seal the jets mount to the spa shell. Our spa factory uses both liquid silicone and silicone rings. It takes longer, but practically eliminates the chance of a leak.
This is very important, especially if you are buying a factory direct hot tub. Our factory water tests every hot tub to ensure it does not leak and that everything works correctly. That means when you start up your new spa, it should work properly. In contrast, lower quality mass production factories may only water test every 10th or 20th hot tub.
Spas And Stuff offers great discount hot tub prices every day. Please also see our beautiful, quality outdoor kitchens for your backyard, as well as our very popular indoor infrared saunas.
Labels: best hot tubs, hot tub quality, hot tub shell, hot tubs for sale, portable hot tubs, wholesale hot tubs
