mommabuys

Thanks for the info on drying/etc....how much bleach to water ratio would you suggest? We do have a cover lifter and it is outdoors. WE LOVE OUR TUB! We actually use it MORE than we thought we would.

We check the chlorine daily and add Leisure Time "Spa56" as needed (usually every 1-2 days), add Defender once a week and rinse filters. We bought "Clean & Pertect" from Natural Chemestry to clean the cover, but it didn't completely remove the "mildew" spots. We don't want to ruin the cover with the wrong product, but the clean-freak in me doesn't like looking at mildew spots while relaxing in my spa!

I have a spa that is three months old now and am starting to see some mildew spots inside the spa cover. The mildew is where the cover touches the spa when the cover is closed. I used an all-surface cleaner from the pool store, but it doesn't seem to clean the mildew very well. What is the best thing to use to clean this without harming the cover?

I agree both have genuine upsides to them, I am not one who thinks 24 hours of ozone is an absolute necessity, As I have find with both systems that the higher flow seems to offset the need for 24 ozone, however as the fine Mr. Spatech points out both work. I think both sides here have some untruths in them and that is the small circ pumps can still be costly for some and troublesome to have to deal with should it break, however I am not saying they will it is just that to dismiss them as cheap to replace sounds good up until your writing the check to do so, also the large filtering is louder than a circ pump but rarely would it be an issue for most people about the only you may really hear it is when it comes on once its running it hardly noticeable. I think the bottom line is find the spa you like and most of todays spas no matter the method will filter the water fine. Tinybubbles: You outed me with the dealer today! mommabuys

Glad to know. The rep tells us they usually use 2x4's "ripped" down to level out the angle of the tub (it's a Jacuzzi model, so has a solid bottom). I don't know how many 2x4's, but they would make the tub appear to be "hovering" on the high end. My biggest concern is critters and such finding a nice warm home underneath my hot tub. A friend recommended packing gravel between the 2x4's to allow it to drain well, but not leaving enough room to make a home for anyone. Does that sound like a good plan?

We are planning on laying slate tile over our poured concrete slab, prior to installling our hot tub. I know slate is a soft stone...does anyone know if it will be able to handle the 6 person tub we are planning to put on it? OR would we be better off saving the $ to slate underneath the tub and just lay tile around it? (Obviously leaving a lovely untiled square area, if we are ever without a hot tub!)

It depends - on the electrician, the cost of copper, the weather, the electrician's kid's college tuition, etc. We got two quotes - the first one was $1400 and the second one was $450. Go figure. I'm hoping for something in-between. I'll let you know.

How wide of an area are you talking about? Assuming you're talking about the 8' or so where the spa will go, that's probably fine. Most pads are poured with a slope of 1/4" per foot, so two inches over 8 feet would be about right. Good to know that our patio doesn't REALLY look like the Titanic. The tub we are looking at is 91x91 or91x84; you don't think we need to have a pad built or anything to level it out? The scope-creep of this project is starting to rattle my brain. Speaking of...what is an acceptable rate to have the electrician put in the 60amp/disconnect box/etc. required for this size tub? We are still waiting for that bomb to drop (our electrician is calling tomorrow with the cost).

OK, we are a day or so away from deciding on which hot tub to buy and my neighbor comes over with this crazy laser level thing and the horizontal drop from 18" from my house (where the spa will go) is 1.75", the diagonal drop is 2.0" and the vertical (front to back is .25". We are putting the spa on a previously poured concrete patio which, is obviously sloped away from the house. Is this slope too much and do we now need to have a pad built to level it out better? We are looking at either an Artesian or Jacuzzi model.

funny.

funny.

I'm in central Ohio, and I'm not sure how prices are here compared to Georgia. But, if it helps any, I saw these prices this weekend for some Artesian tubs at a local home show (representing the local dealer, and not a traveling show, as far as I could tell). They include an ozonator, cover, and local delivery: Piper Glen $9700 Quail Ridge $8700 Antigua (52 jet version) $6500 Bahama (52 jet version) $6700 They must really like you! Those prices are at least $1300 less than I'm getting to here in Georgia. Can anyone tell me if the home shows make a really big difference in the price you can get? There is one here in a few weeks, but we would like to get ours ordered prior to, if possible. If it's worth the wait, we will. On the other hand, if we order our tub and find out at the home show that we could have saved $500 more, I'll spontaniously combust. (I should have been an accountant) Momma, when and where is the home show? I know there is a spa show in November, but I don't want to wait that long. It's at the Cobb Galleria on Sept 27-30th. It's the fall home show; I know the Jacuzzi and Artesian dealers will be there, but the Bullfrog dealer said she was not planning on attending when I spoke with her a week or so ago.

I'm in central Ohio, and I'm not sure how prices are here compared to Georgia. But, if it helps any, I saw these prices this weekend for some Artesian tubs at a local home show (representing the local dealer, and not a traveling show, as far as I could tell). They include an ozonator, cover, and local delivery: Piper Glen $9700 Quail Ridge $8700 Antigua (52 jet version) $6500 Bahama (52 jet version) $6700 They must really like you! Those prices are at least $1300 less than I'm getting to here in Georgia. Can anyone tell me if the home shows make a really big difference in the price you can get? There is one here in a few weeks, but we would like to get ours ordered prior to, if possible. If it's worth the wait, we will. On the other hand, if we order our tub and find out at the home show that we could have saved $500 more, I'll spontaniously combust. (I should have been an accountant)

momma, you and I are shopping the same market right now. I can also tell you that you do NOT want ALS. Prices are low because the quality is low. That company also sells pools and they are junk. I almost bought a jacuzzi but have since learned that there has been a problem gettting parts for them. Apparently, they are transitioning and alot of parts are coming from Mexico. I think we are going to go with Artesian. Where is the Artesian dealer that you are dealing with? There is a great one in Marietta. Worth the drive. Same dealer. We do like them and just got a call from them that they have a new spa in their Platinum line that is $1500 less than the piper glen model, but not as many jets or pumps. We are going to wet-try the J365 just to see if the size with work. Did you get the parts scoop from someone with a Jacuzzi? A trusted friend in the wholesale pool/spa parts business. They don't sell retail and they don't sell spas, so there is no reason for them to mislead me. Apparently, jacuzzi is using some oddball parts. It seems the problems Jacuzzi is having don't cross over into the Sundance line. Good luck with your spa shopping, it's about to drive me INSANE! I'm with you on the insanity line. We have bounced back and forth for a few weeks and I am SO ready to have this decision made! Which Aretisian model do you think you will buy?

momma, you and I are shopping the same market right now. I can also tell you that you do NOT want ALS. Prices are low because the quality is low. That company also sells pools and they are junk. I almost bought a jacuzzi but have since learned that there has been a problem gettting parts for them. Apparently, they are transitioning and alot of parts are coming from Mexico. I think we are going to go with Artesian. Where is the Artesian dealer that you are dealing with? There is a great one in Marietta. Worth the drive. Same dealer. We do like them and just got a call from them that they have a new spa in their Platinum line that is $1500 less than the piper glen model, but not as many jets or pumps. We are going to wet-try the J365 just to see if the size with work. Did you get the parts scoop from someone with a Jacuzzi?

Wow! You have sure helped clear my head a little bit on a number of issues. Thank you so much for the insight. P.S. I think my landscaping "friend" is just mad because my yard looks better than his this year!

Thank you for saving me the trip to the other side of the city! I was not comfortable with the idea, given that my husband and I have practically spent every spare moment in our lives researching the reputable companies and trying out hot tubs over the past few weeks and NOT being able to find any info on the ALPs. What do you personally recommend as your "handful of quality spas"? I guess my specific question is how do you like the Jacuzzi 365?

After narrowing our search down to the Artesian Piper Glen and the Jacuzzi 470 models, a friend in the landscaping business mentioned the locally manufactured ALPS hot tubs. Has anyone had any experience with this Atlanta, GA manufacturer? When we looked at the demo Artesian Piper Glen, the top to the filter casing had really turned (due to ozone per the salesman). Do any Artesian owners have a +/- comment on the wear and tear of the non-acrylic parts on their tub? Thanks for your help!

Our initial quote is $10995 (without stereo) with $500 in options (cover lifter, steps, etc.), but we are sure we can get them to come down quite a bit because of the slow market in Atlanta in August (it was over 100 degrees 15 days in a row). What price did you pay a year ago? Not bad....we paid 10K and that included cover lifter, steps, chems (no stereo) and we're in Northern NJ. The Jacuzzi 480 quote we have is $10495 (with steps, cover lifter, chem's...) and the Artesian salesman says $10995 is his best deal. We were leaning toward the 480 anyway (because my 14 year old found it more comfortable and I was not fond of the look of the filter setup on the Aretesian line), so I think we will probably go with the Jacuzzi. Any last thoughts from anyone before we literally dive in?

Our initial quote is $10995 (without stereo) with $500 in options (cover lifter, steps, etc.), but we are sure we can get them to come down quite a bit because of the slow market in Atlanta in August (it was over 100 degrees 15 days in a row). What price did you pay a year ago?

There's not much about construction in the downloadable 400 series brochure on Jacuzzi's site, but the 300 brochure goes into a little more detail. Suffice it to say that the Jacuzzis are fully foamed. I would wet test both models, and go with the one you like better. The Jacuzzi 400 series and the Artesian Platinum series are two of the best spa lines out there. I think you'll be extremely satisfied with either one. Thanks for the info. We did wet test both (as well as Bullfrog, Sundance) and both have higher seat areas that would work for my kids. Have you heard anyone have mildew issues with the rubber trim around the lip of the Artesian spas? (I know, I'm getting picky here!) Also...The quote we received (SouthEast area) for the J470 was just at $10k...how much wiggle room do you think we have on negotiating? It seems like August '07 was a pretty slow month for sales on hut tubs around here.

There's not much about construction in the downloadable 400 series brochure on Jacuzzi's site, but the 300 brochure goes into a little more detail. Suffice it to say that the Jacuzzis are fully foamed. I would wet test both models, and go with the one you like better. The Jacuzzi 400 series and the Artesian Platinum series are two of the best spa lines out there. I think you'll be extremely satisfied with either one. Thanks for the info. We did wet test both (as well as Bullfrog, Sundance) and both have higher seat areas that would work for my kids. Have you heard anyone have mildew issues with the rubber trim around the lip of the Artesian spas? (I know, I'm getting picky here!)

Based on my research, Bull Frog makes a nice spa. It is obvious that an engineer runs the company. It is high quality and just plain smart.... it is not pretty though. More importanly, you need to try it out. The jet packs are great to allow you to choose what you like. I found the seating to be awkward for me though.

We have narrowed our search down to the Jacuzzi 470 or the Artesian Piper Glen (we ruled out the Sundance Optima because of the retailer). Artesian boasts the "full foam insulation" in their spas, but we cannot find anything re: insulation on the Jacuzzi 470 or 480 models. Is anyone familiar with the differences between these two, and is this really important? Any other tips on choosing between these spas?